Hurworth venue hosted event last year, and success suggests golfers and fans can expect more of the same when the Tour returns in August
Top golf action returns to Rockliffe Hall as preparations begin for the European Senior Tour English Senior Open.
The Hurworth venue hosted the event last year, and its success suggests that golfers and fans can expect more of the same when the Tour returns in August.
Managing director of the European Senior Tour, Andy Stubbs, and 2013’s Order of Merit winner, Paul Wesselingh, joined Rockliffe Hall’s chairman, Warwick Brindle, to announce details about the prestigious tournament which will this year include a charity partnership with Catterick-based Help for Heroes Phoenix House Recovery Centre, which works with recovering veterans and service personnel.
In the pre-tournament pro-am event, Rockliffe Hall will sponsor a team from Phoenix House, who will undergo a period of intensive golf coaching with Rockliffe PGA professionals and Paul Wesselingh, to bring them up to pro-am standard.
In addition, Rockliffe Hall announced that this year’s English Senior Open will also have a title sponsor which will be revealed in the coming months.
Last year, the prestigious tournament attracted players such as Carl Mason, former Ryder Cup captain Mark James and Senior Tour favourites such as Barry Lane, Des Smyth and Peter Fowler, as well as Wesselingh who will return this year.
The winner was Steen Tinning who scooped the prize fund in dramatic style in front of more than 2,000 spectators, having broken the course record with a 63 on the Saturday. Tinning carded a final round of 67 to finish on 17 under.
The English Senior Open will be the biggest one-off sporting tournament of its kind to be held in the North-east this year, with around 10,000 spectators expected during the three-day event which takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday until Sunday, August 22-24, with a pro-am tournament on the Thursday 21.
Warwick Brindle, chairman of Rockliffe Hall, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be the hosts of what will be the biggest one-off sporting event in the North-east this year. We’re expecting even more interest in the tournament this year as people travelled from all over the North to watch. The feedback from spectators, the European Senior Tour and the players was superb.”
Managing director of the European Senior Tour, Andy Stubbs, added: “After the immense success of last year’s English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall and the incredible support we got from the North-east, it’s great to be back again.
“It really is a five star venue that put on a great tournament for us and we’re looking forward to announcing a strong field of players in the coming months.”
Paul Wesselingh, who won last year’s Order of Merit and will return to Rockliffe in August, said: “It really was a wonderful tournament last year and all of my fellow players were incredibly impressed with the standard of the course.”
Former Open de France winner Graeme Storm is another professional attached to Rockliffe. He added: “We really do have a magnificent golf course at the heart of the North-east and I am really proud to work with the team who make it such a success.”
Rockliffe’s golf club was recently named as one of the best in Europe, collecting the 59 Club’s Gold Flag award which is seen as the industry benchmark.
The course, which opened five years ago, was designed by leading golf architect Marc Westonborg. Its engineering and construction allows the course to remain open all year round with no winter greens.
Rockliffe is home to a highly-regarded golf academy with coaching from respected PGA professionals and is a Cleveland Golf and Srixon Centre of Excellence.
For further title sponsorship details contact 01325 729999 or enquiries@rockliffehall.com.
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