(L to R) Mark Butterworth, Kate Rhodes and Jack Waite, the new captains at Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club (Image: Robin Ree)
Three new captains have been appointed at Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club.
They were announced at the Captains’ Drive-in event, which marks the start of the new season.
Mark Butterworth, 55, the new club captain, owns Butterworth Cleaning Services, and has been playing golf since his school days at Queen Elizabeth School.
He said: “We used to cycle up to the club, when it was based at Casterton, with our clubs on our backs during the school holidays.
“I was still a teenager when the club moved to its current site and played a round during the club’s opening day.”
Mr Butterworth, who has a handicap of 13, has been a member of the club at various times since then and, latterly, since 2018.
He said: “I play in the Winter League and in as many competitions as I can during the summer season.
“Last year I was asked to be captain of the Kirkby Lonsdale team which competed against Sedbergh in The Lune Spoon competition.
“We ended up winning and when I looked at the shield, I saw we had not won it for 30 years.
“I could not believe it.”
Kate Rhodes, 65, who lives at New Hutton, is the club’s new lady captain.
She started playing golf around 20 years ago.
Ms Rhodes said: “I had always fancied having a go at golf and wanted an activity that meant you were out in the fresh air.
“Kirkby Lonsdale is a very friendly club with a really good ladies’ section.
“The course is beautiful and it’s just a nice place where you can be around friends.”
It is Ms Rhodes’ second time as captain, having previously held the role in 2016.
Jack Waite, 64, a retired police officer who still works as a contractor for the Pensions Regulator, is the club’s new seniors’ captain.
He said: “It is my privilege to be seniors’ captain for a second consecutive year.
“During my year in office I hope we get even more people wanting to play and be involved in the seniors and build on what I consider to have been a successful year last year.”
Mark Butterworth, the new club captain, drives off the first tee (Image: Robin Ree) 97 members took part in the Captains’ Drive-in event, which saw members watch the captains tee-off.
There was also a shotgun start so people could start and finish at the same time in order to met socially in the clubhouse afterwards.
The winner of the gents’ competition at the event was Graham Procter.
Joanne Gascoigne won the ladies’ competition and David Hacking won the seniors’ competition.
People were also able to buy markers to predict where each captain’s first shot would land on the fairway.
Those who were closest won a bottle of wine, and the competition also raised money for charities in the area.
Winners were: Dave Towers (captain’s drive); Ed Waller (lady captain’s drive); and Tony Watson (seniors’ captain’s drive).
Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club was established in 1906 and has been at its present site since 1991.
The 18-hole course measures 6,594 yards and is laid out in more than 160 acres of countryside.
The layout provides two nine-hole loops out and back to the clubhouse.
Other facilities include a swing room with launch monitor; a short game chipping area; a pro shop selling equipment and clothing; and ten driving range bays, four of which are covered.
