Yorkshire’s oldest golf club this year celebrates its 125th birthday with a wide range of events highlighted by a commemorative pro-am in July with top professionals from across the region.
The Westwood club is also playing host to the area’s premier competition, the East Riding Open Championship, on September 4.
Club captain Mike Helyard said: “This is an incredible year for the club and we are determined to celebrate it to the utmost. Our history is unparalleled in the UK’s biggest county and we want a season to match that heritage.”
Mr Helyard, a member for nearly two decades and a well known local engineering manager, has cause for double celebrations – not only is he captain for the club’s birthday bash, but he’s also the proud father of one of the region’s up-and-coming professional golfers.
Twenty-two-year old Mike Helyard junior, assistant pro at the club, has provided the icing on the Helyard and Westwood club family cake by qualifying for full exemption on the Europro Tour.
“Everyone’s very proud of his achievements – it’s a great honour for our family but also Beverley golf club to have what we all hope is a future champion in our ranks,” Mr Helyard Snr added.
A further highlight in 2014 is a planned retro day when the club hosts a very special day of remembrance, harking back to its Victorian heritage.
Club manager Rich Reynolds explained: “We’re staging a Victorian day with, we hope, everyone taking part in clothing appropriate to 1889 when the club was born. It’s all hush-hush at the moment and we’ll be revealing full details soon.”
The local community, of which the club feels a key part, is also helping the celebrations. Morrisons supermarket has decked out the clubhouse patio with hanging baskets while 60 tons of topsoil for course alterations have been given by Stoneledge, Hague Plant and Birse Civils.
“We’re hugely grateful for these donations and we’re hoping others in the area will contribute to the club’s development plans,” said Mr Reynolds. “We all firmly believe our future is inextricably linked with the local community and any way we can involve individuals and businesses alike will benefit everyone.”
Among the club’s ambitious plans are refurbishment of the clubhouse plus new machinery to keep the course in tip-top condition to ensure it maintains its reputation as one of the best in the region.
“While the recent trend has been for golf clubs to struggle in a difficult economic environment, we have managed to stay ahead of the game which means we are in an excellent position to implement our aims, which include a five-year plan for improving our greens which are already regarded as among the finest,” said Mr Reynolds.
Mr Reynolds’ own appointment as club manager after a spell as assistant pro, is just one of a number of recent changes designed to move the club forwards despite the recession. Further appointments have included well-known local scratch golfer Neil Burnley as head greenkeeper and Ben Healey, former landlord of the Lincoln Arms In Beverley, as the new steward.
Club professional Alex Ashby is also doing his bit to add value to the club in the 21st century by ensuring his wide-range of golfing stock is priced competitively to match – and even surpass – the internet.
Having Mike Helyard Jnr as assistant pro to give lessons when he’s not on tour, completes the package available not just for members, but visitors alike.
Juniors – the future of the club – are also a high priority with a number of initiatives, including summer tuition, top of the agenda. Full details will be announced by the club in the coming weeks.
The club’s own major event, the Order of Merit, is a key part of the celebrations for 2014. “It’s the third year running that we’ve teamed up with a local charity, the Stiff Person Syndrome Support Group run by Beverley sufferer Liz Blows, and it’s rapidly become an essential part of our calendar,” said Mr Reynolds.
“It’s not only an opportunity for members to take part in a season-long competition to find the club’s champion golfer, but it also raises much-needed funds for a very deserving charity.”
The featured tournaments in the anniversary calendar are:
Men’s Senior (Over 50s) Spring Open, Wednesday May 14th. £50 per team of four
Ladies Spring Open, Friday June 6th, £48 per team
Pro-Am, Wednesday July 16th, £210 per team including a Yorkshire-based professional
Mixed Open, Saturday July 26th, £50 per team
Men’s Senior Autumn Open, Wednesday August 13th, £50 per team
East Riding Open Championship, Thursday September 4th
Ladies Autumn Open, Friday September 5th, £86 per team
Christmas Open, Wednesday October 8th, £20 per team
For more information, contact Mr Reynolds on 01482 868757 or Mr Ashby on 01482 869519, or email the golf club on golf@beverleygolfclub.karoo.co.uk Visit the club’s website at: www.beverleygolfclub.co.uk
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