Burley-in-Wharfedale's Ryder Cup professional golfer Mark James will represent Northumberland's Longhirst Hall in the PGA tournaments worldwide and is to set up the North of England Golf Academy at Longhirst Hall.
Longhirst Hall, a stately home built in the 1820s, was converted into a conference centre, hotel and golf course complex five years ago and includes a post-graduate education centre,
Longhirst has recently announced major expansion plans adding 50 more double bedrooms and a 250 seat conference room to its facilities.
The partnership with Mark James adds greatly to the growing reputation of the site.
Under Mark's supervision the soon to open academy will offer PGA approved training by top teaching professionals.
Mark will also be available for corporate golf days.
The Academy will supply the caching staff for the North of England's first three year golfing scholarship at the University of Northumbria which has a campus ast Longhirst Hall.
'I am very excited about my new association with Longhirst Hall and I am very impressed with the way facilities have developed there since the course opened a couple of years ago,' said Mark.
'The University of Northumbria's golf scholarship is exactly what is needed to promote golf in this country,' he added.
Longhirst's Director of Golf Andrew Mair said: 'It has been painfully clear for some years that too many quality young players have been going to America for golf scholarships and turning pro on their return.
They have thus been lost to our amateur game because of the rarity of golf scholarships in the UK.'
He added: 'We are particularly keen to promote junior golf at Longhirst. We hold the Longhirst Golf Challenge for golfers aged 21 and under with handicaps of 10 and under and this competition, now in its third year, will be re-named the Mark James Golf Challenge.
It is unique in that it is played over 72 holes and the competitiors stay in Longhirst's holiday village accomodation.'
l The Longhirst Challenge was this year won by 20 year-old Burley-in-Wharfedale golfer Nick Brook, a seven handicap member of Ben Rhydding Golf Club.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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