Drax Golf Club, an East Riding Union of Golf Clubs member since 2023, have hosted their first East Riding Championship. This well presented 12 hole course with 17 different tees was an ideal venue to hold the 2025 Millennium Championship. June 1st was also, coincidently, the 35th anniversary of the opening of the original 9 hole course. Initially it was just for members of Drax Power Station and their social club, but now it is an independently run club with a small number of staff but plenty of volunteers.
Drax officials, members and staff put on a great show with complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits at the registration point and halfway house as a starter, followed by sandwiches and drinks as players passed by. Cards were then returned to the Drax club where drinks and meals were served throughout the day. Drax provided wardens to direct players around the course with a special mention to Alan Puddyford (below) who was up at 4am to help on the course, then had an 11 hour stint as starter and marshall to ensure the players were well looked after.
Most of the field of 54 players from 19 different East Riding clubs had not played the course before and quickly realised the relatively short layout belies a tough challenge, with excellent greens, which all enjoyed.
The winner of division one was Paul Norrie of Springhead Park Golf Club with a very good score of 39 points, the highest score of the day with only two scores over 36 points. Simon Heard of Cave Castle GC with 34 points was in second place beating Gary Acton of Hull GC also on 34 points on countback.
Below is ERUGC President Dave Greenwood presenting Paul with the Division One Millennium Shield.
The second division was won by Joey Singer from Cottingham Parks GC with 31 points. Second was D Plummer of Sutton Park GC with 29 points beating Tom Donnelly of Ganstead Park GC also with 29 points on countback.
Division 3 saw Philip Cawthra from Hull GC take the honours with an excellent 37 points. Joe McCabe of Beverley & ER GC was second on 33 points with Daniel Duckett from home club Drax GC 3rd with 32 points. ER Executive member Jonathan Clark presented Phil with his Division 3 Millennium Shield.
All the players complimented both the challenge and the condition of the course that many didn't even know existed in the shadow of the cooling towers.
Full results & event statistics can be found here -
Millennium Trophy - Drax Golf Club Event :: Event Information
Any prize vouchers not issued on the day will be forwarded to your home club.
Thanks to all the clubs for entering their qualifying players, it was a throroughly enjoyable day where higher handicap players can represent their home club on an individual basis.
Again thank you for Drax for hosting and the time put in to prepare the course and welcome. A big thankyou to Competition Secretary Ian Jeffrey for coordinating and organising the event.
Our next Championship is the East Riding Amateur which can be entered via this website www.erugc.co.uk
Please register for Golf Genius to see all the events East Riding Members can sign up for and enjoy....
