Woosie woos the North East
Jun 25 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal
ONLY two Britons have been the world No 1 golfer since the official rankings started 23 years ago, Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam.
Former US Masters champion Woosnam, who is playing in the Seniors at Slaley this week, has already won over a few hearts and minds in the North East.
On Tuesday evening, he spent over an hour encouraging pupils from Newcastle’s Wingrove Primary School in a Golf Foundation Tri-Golf clinic involving plastic clubs and sponge balls.
As the youngsters played golf relay and target games on a sunlit evening in the sumptuous hotel grounds, Woosnam and fellow Seniors Tour pros Costantino Rocca and DJ Russell, one of Woosnam’s vice-captains at the K Club Ryder Cup, were acting as their team captains.
The kids loved every minute of it. But not as much as the pros. Super troupers, they were clearly in their element as they cheered on their teams on and gave them golf tips. Woosnam then happily posed for a Journal picture with two of the North East’s achievers in the women’s game, Chloe Beckwith and Lesley Marsh. It is a picture which illustrates the fact golf is a sport for all ages.
