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, which was 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.
This inclusive club, which has an active membership of more than 475, provides a competitive fixture schedule for all levels of ability and a variety of memberships, including a recently introduced family option to encourage junior golfers into the sport. The recently introduced members’ loan scheme has also been a valuable way for those that are using the club to have a sense of ownership and the ability to influence change.
Following continued investment, the course was extended from nine-holes in 1997. There was a major overhaul of the changing rooms in 2005. The clubhouse, which is the third in the club’s history, has a wide range of facilities available including a function room which can be used as part of a corporate or social golf day.
Andrew Wilson, chairman of finance at Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club, 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, our new manager, has a very traditional style of customer service, which I appreciate, and the move has been very straightforward.”
Herriot Country was made famous by the vet and author Alf Wight, who wrote the books that inspired TV series All Creatures Great and Small under the pen name James Herriot. Alf was a former member of Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club and his daughter, Rosie Page, remains a member today.
Such is his legacy that a bronze statue in his honour was revealed last month at The James Herriot Hall at Thirsk Racecourse and is shortly to be exhibited permanently at The World of James Herriot, an award-winning museum celebrating his life, which is around a mile from the course.
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. The new lending package provided by Yorkshire Bank coupled with the new members’ loans initiative has successfully revised the club’s finances going forward to the mutual benefit of all concerned.
“As the economic outlook continues to improve, Yorkshire Bank remains focused on supporting the growth ambitions of businesses in Yorkshire.”
Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club www.tngc.co.uk