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I pen this item mid-way across the Atlantic on a 9 hour flight to Seattle - I always find that sitting quietly on an aircraft provides me with the opportunity to contemplate the "meaning of life" or on this particular occasion, "what's happening to golf?” I'm not sure that right now at grass roots level, it's in the desperate state that the more pessimistic would have us believe. However, I do feel that it is somewhere on the slippery slope and that at Club level it needs to take a long hard look at itself. In our own case, we have been blessed with a considerable infusion of Environmental Agency monies following our agreement to help alleviate a long-standing flood issue in Skipton (click here to read more) but whilst this may have provided valuable funds, it also allowed our competitors to spread “Fake News” by suggesting that we weren’t offering an 18 hole golf course to members and visitors alike. Actually, we have never offered anything but 18 holes and with the course development now undertaken and maturing rapidly, we believe that we will be providing in the future, one of the finest golf courses in the North of England. Record crowds For us at Skipton Golf Club or any other club for that matter, a “windfall” could be a recipe for complacency but as anyone should know, complacency can also lead to disaster.  We are confident that this won’t happen at Skipton. Strangely, at a Professional level, the game has never seen so much prize money available as there is right now.  Consider a $10 million bonus for the winner of the FedEx series in America.  It's a touch obscene and yet [...]

Five Skipton Golf Club members have just returned from Dubai after working as volunteers on the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the final European Tour event in the “Race to Dubai”. This is one of the most high profile events on the European Tour and brings together the top 60 golfers, the top 10 of whom compete for a Bonus Pool of some $5,000,000. The tournament itself has a prize fund of some $8,000,000! Needless to say, every golfer wants to be in a position to play for this Prize Fund. Lee Westwood and Skipton member Alistair Coy The interest in volunteering began when Alistair Coy first went out to work on the tournament in 2009, a year when Lee Westwood won both titles and returned home with a cool £1.6 million! Alistair enjoyed the experience so much that he came back enthusing to other Skipton members, enthusiasm which clearly captivated them and this year saw Paul and Amanda Kilner, Sophie Eddison and Steve Willock join him on the fairways of the Earth Course. Like Alistair, Paul and Amanda had worked on the tournament in previous years and are similarly enthusiastic about the volunteering opportunity. Not only does it give you the chance to work closely alongside and observe some of the world’s most famous golfers ply their trade, it also allows you to mix volunteering with a holiday in Dubai, all this under glorious and sun-filled blue skies. Skipton GC members and honorary Skipton member The volunteering opportunities on the tournament are varied and range from Marshalling, Scoring or acting as TV Support. It’s a personal choice and one that Chief Marshal, Jenni Hoskins tries to fulfil. In [...]

This week sees five of our members at Skipton Golf Club travel to Dubai to work as volunteers on the DP World Tour Championship. The final event of the European PGA season will see the top 60 players vying for the $8 million prize money. Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett, Alex Noren and Rory McIlroy are also all still in contention to win the season-long Race to Dubai. Our members travelling to Dubai are Alistair Coy, Amanda & Paul Kilner, Steve Willock and this year’s Lady Captain, Sophie Eddison. Alistair has worked on this tournament several times before and inspired Amanda & Paul to have a go. Amanda & Paul’s enthusiasm for the week has rubbed off on Steve and Sophie who will be experiencing the tournament for the first time. Alistair has been writing a blog about his travels for many years and this trip will be no different. For a taste of life ‘inside the ropes’ and what it’s like to meet some of the most famous golfers in the world, please follow this link: www.alindubai.blogspot.com