The government has identified an urgent need to introduce new restrictions on public life and on non-essential businesses opening their doors.

This has been done to limit the spread of the coronavirus and relieve the growing pressure on our National Health Service.

Keeping golf courses open is simply no longer compatible with the updated policy of government which is designed to save lives in a time of national emergency.

The health and wellbeing of the nation is the only consideration that matters at this moment in our history.

These are incredibly testing times for the country. The golf industry cannot be shielded from the economic and social ramifications caused by this temporary shutdown of normal life.

We would like to assure the golfing community that England Golf staff will continue to work remotely with all affiliated golfers, clubs and counties to try and minimise the damage caused by this suspension of regular golf club life.

We will continue to signpost clubs and counties to the latest government advice and schemes designed to help the economy cope with the disruption caused by coronavirus.

After much consultation between the executive, and following guidance from governing bodies et al, we have regrettably decided to POSTPONE the East Riding Union Dinner until further notice as a result of the COVID 19 crisis. The consensus was that we had little choice but to make this decision.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and hope that we will be given the opportunity to rearrange at a later date.

What is Safe Golf?

SafeGolf is a partnership of UK golf bodies committed to promoting a safe and positive environment for all those participating, working and volunteering in the sport of golf.

As part of England Golf's commitment to SafeGolf, all Unions, clubs and golf bodies must become SafeGolf certified by 2021, and the ERUGC is one of the first Unions in the country to do so, after the Yorkshire Union was the first county to achieve the award.

A big thank you to Phil Woodcock who has worked hard on achieving this award for the Union.

The photo to the left is of our President Chris Clarkson receiving the SafeGolf Certificate from Rob Moore, England Golf Club Support Officer for the North of England.

If your club is not working towards SafeGolf, or needs help in doing so please contact Rob at rob.moore@englandgolf.org as this will be a requirement of your affiliation to England Golf in 2021.

Hornsea have now confirmed their status as the East Riding’s top scratch team by winning both ERUGC Scratch League Finals at Ganton Golf Club on Tuesday 27th August 2019.

Drawn against Scarborough North Cliff in the main final, Hornsea’s team of three plus handicap players certainly on paper seemed to have the edge.

In the top match Jack Maxey (+2), this season’s Yorkshire Under-18 Captain, was up against his County colleague Tom Duck playing off one.

Duck has dual membership at North Cliff and Ganton and his knowledge of the nuances of the championship course proved to be pivotal as he got the better of his County Captain by 4 and 2.

That was close as North Cliff got to springing a surprise as Hornsea’s strength in depth saw them home.

In the second match this season’s Union Open Champion Nick Raybould prevailed over Andy Allcock (3), with the plus one man having to pull out all the stops before edging home on the 17th green by 3 and 1.

In the decider experienced County player Luke Robinson (+1) was up against 14-year-old Tommy Risker (4).

Risker has proved one of the success stories in this season’s Union Under 18 team and is one to watch for the future but at Ganton this week he was just outgunned by the hugely experienced Robinson, who won by 5 & 3 ensuring Hornsea added more silverware to their trophy cabinet.

Despite the defeat Risker will long savour his day at Ganton as on the par-three 158-yard fifth hole his crisply struck 8 iron shot flew straight and true into the cup for his first golfing career hole in one.

In the Plate Final Hornsea B faced Beverley A with the Westwood club having England Senior International Richard Norton (+2) playing at one in the order.

Up against Norton was Tom Broadley (2), who has this season proved his worth in East Riding’s Union team.

The disparity of four in the handicaps was never evident as in a ding dong match the pair shook hands on the 18th green with the match level.

In match 2 it was Beverley’s Ian Goldie (3) who just got the better of Andy Fox (4) winning on the last hole.

Match No 3 pitched Sam Middleton (5) against Beverley’s Theo Blake (4) and it was Middleton’s day as he proved too strong, the Westwood teenager winning by 6 and 5.

With the match tied a sudden death decider was required with Richard Norton and Tom Broadley heading down the first hole in fading light and a storm brewing in the distance, it was the Hornsea man who held his nerve, his birdie three enabling the seasiders to round off a memorable Scratch League season.

Alan took an early lead at the 1st hole with a par 4 when Nick failed to get down in two from the edge of the green. After halving the 2nd Nick levelled the match on the 3rd with a 4 after Alan had driven into one of Ganton’s huge bunkers.  Alan was in more trouble down the 4th and Nick capitalised on this and went one up with a par 4. Both players achieved par three’s at the 5th.On the 6th Nick hit a prodigious, drive well over 300 yards, leaving him only a wedge into this par 5 hole although he pulled his 2nd shot into a green-side bunker he hit a magnificent bunker shot to within 2 foot and record a birdie to take him to 2 up.

Down the 8th Alan got his driving back on track whilst Nick’s drive ended up in deep rough, although Nick hit a great recovery shot, he ended up in a greenside bunker and went on to lose this hole. The 9th saw both players hit long and straight drives, Nick hit a great 5 iron to within 20 foot of the pin but Alan’s response was a magnificent 7 iron to within 2 feet which was conceded for his eagle to return the match to all square after 9 holes.

The par three 169 yard 10th saw Alan’s 9 iron finish 5 foot from the hole but when he failed to hole-out for his birdie the hole was halved.

Alan’s poor drive on the 11th was lost in the deep gorse giving Nick a one-hole advantage. Alan’s woes continued at the 13th when he drove into another of Ganton’s deep fairway bunkers consequently giving Nick a two-hole advantage.

The 15th saw both players hit 300 yard fairway splitting drives but Nick took the advantage hitting a wedge to within 15 foot to record his par whilst Alan 3 putted to go 3 holes behind. On the 16th both players were in the same green-side bunker for two shots, Alan made a great bunker shot and holed his putt for par he reduced the deficit to two holes. So it remained until Nick holed out for birdie at the 18th to give him a 3 shot lead after the first 18 holes.

When Nick birdied the 1st hole of the second round it looked as if the game was all but over but the 2nd hole saw Alan fight back begin when he won the 2nd with a par 4. The 4th hole also went Alan’s way when Nick’s putter badly let him down with him three putting from no more than 6 foot. Nick’s putting touch returned on the 5th when he hold from 10 foot for birdie taking him back to 3 up.

Alan’s fighting spirit then saw him get the game back to all-square over the next three holes when he returned: an eagle, par and birdie over the next three holes. The 9th & 10th saw each of the players securing wins with pars. On the 11th Alan had an enormous piece of luck when his drive hit a rake which prevented the ball going into a deep fairway bunker, taking advantage of this and secured a half in par. On the 12th hole Alan’s luck ran out when he found deep rough with his drive gifting the hole to Nick. The 13th was halved in par then both players struggled at the short 14th hole with Alan’s scrappy bogey 5 winning the hole to make the match all-square again. The 15th saw Alan have more bunker trouble and he had to concede the hole to put Nick back in the driving seat.

After a wayward drive by Alan at the long par 4 - 16th hole the game looked to be heading back to Nick’s favour but a magnificent ‘Ballesteros’ type shot from the trees enabled Alan to secure a par 4 and win the hole when Nick missed a short putt. Back to all-square.

The drama continued. Nick birdied the par four 17th to go 1 up again and when Alan bunkered his second shot on the 18th the game looked to be all over but not to be. Nick had hit the green in two, albeit some 40 foot away, Alan then proceeded to hit his bunker shot to within 10 foot of the pin and then managed to hole out for his par.  When Nick missed an 8 footer to win the game it was all square after 36 holes and so the game went to sudden death.

The 37th hole saw Alan take driver from the tee but his slightly pushed tee shot saw him impeded by one of Ganton’s many gorse bushes. In the meantime Nick had played iron for safety which certainly paid off when he managed to secured his par to win the hole, the match and title East Riding Union of Golf Club’s Match-play Champion for 2019.

At the after match-dinner the President, Mr. Chris Clarkson presented Nick Raybould the Trophy.