A HISTORIC golf club in the heart of Herriot Country is celebrating its 100th birthday this year with support from a new funding arrangement from Yorkshire Bank.

Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club, established in 1914, is a picturesque parkland 18-hole golf course in the middle of Thirsk. The course is nestled in the stunning North Yorkshire countryside and enjoys a splendid backdrop of the rolling hills on one side and lush vales on the other.

Andrew Wilson, chairman of finance at Thirsk & Northallerton, is a former bank director and led the discussions which resulted in moving to Yorkshire Bank from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

He explained: “It’s encouraging to hear compliments about the quality of the course and the way the club is run. We have a proud history and have always been an equal opportunities golf course.

“We have one of the biggest ladies’ section in the area and while memberships in golf courses have be on the decline in-line with national statistics, our ladies’ section is very much holding its own.

“Our new working relationship has involved moving all banking facilities to Yorkshire Bank. The Bank has also joined the club as a corporate member and as well as being able to bring clients along to play the course, it has sponsored the 15th tee.”

Brian De Vere, relationship manager with the Bank’s North Yorkshire Business and Private Banking Centre in York, said: “Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club has an extremely commercial and forward-thinking committee, and that has brought continued success both in a business sense and at club level.”

ONE of the North of England’s top golf clubs has promoted two members of its team as it continues to grow in popularity.

Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, near Darlington, has become well-known for attracting a host of Ryder Cup captains when it held the European Senior Tour English Senior Open in August.

Since then, player and member numbers have steadily increased and to cope with the on-going growth plans, David Cuthbertson has been promoted from golf course and estate manager to golf and estate director while Pete Newton, previously head greenkeeper, becomes course manager.

David, who has been with Rockliffe Hall since January 2008, will now be responsible for the management of the golf course, the Rockliffe Hall estate and its gardens as well as golf membership, daily operations and sales.

Pete, who joined Rockliffe Hall in February 2008, takes on the day to day running of the Championship golf course and the planning and management of course maintenance.