INCREASING membership – with special emphasis on the ladies’ and junior sections – is among the top priorities of the new captains at Barnard Castle Golf Club.
Colin MacLeod, a 13 handicapper, has taken over as men’s captain, while retired maths teacher Janet Graham will head the ladies’ section for the coming year.
In addition to their ambassadorial roles representing the club and supporting the members, both form part of the club’s management group.
Looking ahead, Mr MacLeod, a manufacturing manager for a global science-based technology company, said: “It’s about growing and developing the membership.
“It’s very easy to perceive golf as being male – we want to target the other demographics.
“We are also looking to work on developing the course, making it a really good visitor attraction and giving the best possible experience to our membership.”
Ms Graham, who joined the club in 2012 and plays off 27, said she too was keen to attract more women to the sport.
“There are about 30 ladies who are active members and we don’t have many younger women.
“I have an active role in attracting more ladies and more young girls into the club.”
She added: “I used to play a lot of netball and when I was in my 40s I realised I could not go on doing it.
“A friend set me up with a Get into Golf course as I was looking for something else to do.”
Ms Graham said she hoped to work with club pro Martyn Stubbings to set up some women-only Get into Golf session later in the summer so others could follow suit.
“The club has seen an increase in membership during Covid – but not ladies.
“It has been men who have come from cricket, football or rugby,” she added.
“Ladies have not come in the same way.
“We also have quite a lot of male members here whose wives play elsewhere and I want to find out why.”
While the club has some excellent junior golfers who play at county level, more youngsters are needed.
Mr MacLeod said: “I think we have got to get out an find the juniors.
“I have a lot of confidence in Martyn’s ideas for doing that.”
During their tenure, Ms Graham will be raising money for the Great North Air Ambulance, while Mr MacLeod’s chosen charity is The Clique, in Barnard Castle.
