Rockliffe ready to host another English Senior Open

Following the success of last year’s English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall (pictured), Co. Durham, the luxury resort is poised to unveil its plans for this year’s event.

Representatives from the European Senior Tour will be at Rockliffe Hall tomorrow (Tuesday) to announce details about the prestigious tournament which will this year include a charity partnership with Catterick-based Help for Heroes Phoenix House Recovery Centre, which works with recovering veterans and service personnel.

In the pre-tournament pro-am event, Rockliffe Hall will be sponsoring a team of service veterans from Phoenix House, who will undergo a period of intensive golf coaching with Rockliffe Hall’s PGA professionals, between now and August, to bring them up to pro-am standard.

In addition, Paul Wesselingh will attend the launch event to share his experiences, including being crowned 2013’s Order of Merit winner.

Last year, the English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall, attracted names such as Carl Mason, former Ryder Cup captain Mark James and Senior Tour favourites such as Barry Lane, Des Smyth and Peter Fowler.

The eventual winner was Steen Tinning who scooped the prize fund in dramatic style in front over 2000 spectators and having broken the course record with a 63 on the Saturday.

The English Senior Open will be the biggest one-off sporting tournament of its kind to be held in the North East this year with over ten thousand spectators expected during the three day event which takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday 22nd until Sunday 24th, with a pro-am tournament on Thursday 21st.

Warwick Brindle, chairman of Rockliffe Hall, said: “This year’s English Senior Open promises to be even bigger and better after the outstanding success of last year. We were incredibly buoyed by how much interest there was in the tournament as it was a new addition to the European Senior Tour in 2013. People travelled from all over the North to watch and the feedback we had was superb.

“This year will be even more exciting as we’re hoping for some more major names and we also have a nominated charity partner. The Phoenix House veterans are so enthusiastic to take part in the pro-am and it’s going to be really interesting to see how they develop their game with our pros in the coming months.

Managing director of the European Senior Tour, Andy Stubbs, added: “The inaugural English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall was a great success and witnessed one of the performances of the year when Steen Tinning held off the magnificent challenge from Santiago Luna. All of the European Senior Tour players remarked on the wonderful facilities at Rockliffe Hall, the hospitality shown to them by the staff and the warm reception from the local golfing community.”

Former Open de France winner Graeme Storm is the professional attached to Rockliffe Hall. Graeme added: “Last year’s Tour was a phenomenal success and everyone’s even more excited about this year. This is a major tournament and for Rockliffe Hall to host an event of this level for the second year running- only five years after its launch- proves what I have always believed- we really do have a magnificent golf course at the heart of the North East and I am really proud to work with the team who make it such a success.”

Despite only opening five years ago, Rockliffe Hall has quickly gained a reputation as a world-class golf resort and has hosted a variety of high profile golf tournaments including the William Hunt Trilby Tour Grand Final and the Northern Golf Masters.

The course was designed by leading architect Marc Westonborg and is in excellent year-round condition.