Whitby Golf Club: Life member and September competition success

A golfer given lifetime membership at Whitby Golf Club for having been a member for 50 years jokes he isn’t saving a penny because he now pays for his son to play.

Dave Upton has actually joined Whitby Golf Club twice, but this year is 50 years since he joined the second time.

The first time was back in 1973 when he was in his mid 20s, until he emigrated to Australia for work.

When he returned to Whitby two and a half years later he joined again in 1976.

Dave used to play football for Fishburn Park, the Arcadians and Albion but was persuaded to swap his boots for clubs by Whitby’s local insurance man, Billy Hardy who was also an honorary member at the time.

He ended up signing up with three other pals but is the only one to have stuck at the game.

To this day, Dave, of Kingfisher Drive, still plays on a Wednesday and a Saturday as well as competition matches on a Sunday.

“It is just something I enjoy”, he told The Anchor. “There is the exercise, the fresh air, having a natter with the lads and a bit of everything.

“We had a lot of characters back then and now there are younger lads playing and that is lovely to see.”

Being a painter and decorator, over the years, Dave reckons he has painted every part of the club house at some point for free.

And despite now having honorary membership, he jokes he will still be out of pocket.

Dave said: “My son Colin is a really good golfer but with his new job as a postman he was only getting a bit of time off to get the most out of his membership. He is thinking of re-joining next year and I will pay his membership.”

Whitby Golf Club’s fundraising appeal for a new bridge over the ravine to link the seventh tee to the seventh fairway and in turn, the 18th tee and fairway is driving forward.

The old bridge, familiar to beach-goers and dog walkers for years as well as golfers, was dismantled and taken down in October last year after structural engineers deemed it unsafe.

Earlier this summer, Whitby Golf Club launched a fundraiser to re-instate the footbridge to keep the two sections of the course connected – and to make the golf more accessible and appealing for years to come.

The target is an ambitious £300,000 but donations have been flooding in from members and visitors and with some “significant” individual contributions the first month’s total raised is £23,850.00. The target for the end of November is £75,000.

A number of fundraisers are in the pipeline and the club would love to see old photos and hear memories from readers and members of using Whitby Golf Club bridges over the years.

Also, this month the final of the men’s President’s Putter knockout competition was held and is one of the most unusual trophies in the cabinet.

It is an old wooden golf club bearing a chain with silver tags engraved with the names of the winners from each year.

The name of Simon Walker will be added to the chain after he was crowned this year’s winner, also receiving a pint bought for him by the club president Barbara Sleightholme.

Names of some past winners you might remember are C Upton (2016); R.E.Brown (2006); M Pennock (1996);  the afore-mentioned D.G.Upton (1986); G H Frampton (1976) and L Lewsey (1966).

September has also been a strong month for competition with results as follows…

Dave Hale won in the Seniors Steve Stephenson Trophy. Second place went to Marcus Meadows.

Men’s Dave Clarkson Cup: 1, Loui Fergus and Chad Dickinson; 2, Richard Barker and Dave Weatherill; 3, Rob Thompson and Andy Lax.                       

Mixed Open was won by Brian and Jakki Mather from Morpeth Golf Club.

Mens Daily Mail Foursomes Qualifier was won by Simon Walker and Andy Lawler, who will now represent the club in next year’s national knockout competition. 

Ladies Seaton Gray was won by Kate Tan.  

The ladies away day to Sandburn Hall played for in a waltz format was won by Jane Hale, Ellie Norman and Lianna Bennett

Jacob and Ben finished second and fifth respectively in the first Junior Nines tournament held at Snainton Golf Centre.

Whitby Juniors held the penultimate monthly competition of the season and despite a strong wind produced some excellent results.

Red tee nine hole Greensomes: winners, Charlie Duffill and Oscar Cook after count back 55(14); runners-up, Harry Glasby and Miles Cook 55(18)

Blue tee Texas scramble: Winners, Blake Champion/ Isabella Wright/ Harry Lacae 18(-2); runners-up, Finn Hurworth/ Adeline Maxwell/ Katie Beamer/ Billy Usher 20.

Thanks to Beacon Farm for sponsoring the September Junior Competition.