Three new captains have been appointed at Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club.
They used a ceremonial hickory-shafted club to drive off the first tee at a Captains’ Drive-in event which marked the launch of the new season.
The new club captain is Richard Foster, 48, who has spent his career in local government and whose current role is heading up the library service for Cumberland Council.
Richard, who lives in Kendal and attended St Thomas’s School and Kirkbie Kendal School, has played golf since he was a youngster.
“I was good friends with a lad at primary school who played left-handed and had a set of left-handed clubs – I started playing and learned quite quickly that I was right-handed!” he said. “I got my own set of clubs at the age of 11, found I loved everything about golf and it has been part of my life since then.”
Richard, who has been a member at Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club for four years, said: “I like competitive golf and play in the weekend competitions. I also play for the club in the Lunesdale League and at county events. But I also just like playing golf for fun on beautiful days – it is a lovely way to socialise with friends.
“The strength of Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club is, first and foremost, that it is a stunning golf course. It is also a very social club where the atmosphere is warm, friendly and open.”
He said the 16th was his favourite hole. “It suits my eye,” he said. “I like the elevated position of the tee. You can see exactly the shot you need to play which will leave you with a nice yardage into the green. There are also fantastic views of most of the course and of the surrounding Barbon fells.”
He said the previous season the focus had been on getting more members, visitors and juniors playing golf and he wanted to continue that momentum during his year of office.
His and the lady captain’s charity would be North West Blood Bikes Lancs and Lakes. “My late father Peter was a passionate advocate of the charity,” said Richard.
Richard has taken over as club captain from Mark Butterworth.
The new lady captain is Shirley Mørch, who lives at Kirkby Lonsdale. She is a chartered accountant who worked in the City and was director of finance and resources at St John’s Hospice at Lancaster for 11 years until she retired in 2021. She is also a magistrate.
Shirley started playing golf about 12 years ago. “I enjoy the social aspect – playing with friends and all the camaraderie,” she said. “I do, however, take part in competitions and play for Kirkby Lonsdale in the Three Counties Low Handicap League and for the club’s Silver team.
“Kirkby Lonsdale has a very strong, cohesive ladies’ section and there is always good support for ladies’ events.
“During my year of office, I shall try to strengthen even further the women’s section at the club. I am working with head teaching professional Ellie Broome to welcome members of her beginners’ group into the ladies’ section. As part of my lady captaincy, I have arranged a golf break for the ladies’ section to Shaw Hill golf resort near Chorley.”
Shirley has taken over as lady captain from Kate Rhodes.
The new seniors’ captain is Graham Mason, who retired in 2018 after teaching for 33 years at Rivington and Blackrod High School in Horwich. He moved to Kirkby Lonsdale about five years ago.
“I took up golf nearly 30 years ago after I stopped playing amateur football,” said Graham. “I was a member at Harwood Golf Club and then at Turton Golf Club for more than 20 years before I joined Kirkby Lonsdale.
“I am captain of the seniors’ team. We will be playing 23 friendly matches this year against 12 other teams from around Cumbria and north Lancashire.
“What I like about golf is the combination of the camaraderie, a little bit of exercise and a little bit of competition.
“I have taken over as seniors’ captain from Jack Waite, who has done it for two years and has done a fantastic job and I am just hoping to continue in that same vein.”
One hundred and sixteen members took part in the Captains’ Drive-in event.
Richard Foster said it was a special day because everyone came together to support the new captains and watch them tee-off and then there was a shotgun start so people started and finished at the same time and met socially in the clubhouse afterwards.
The winner of the gents’ competition (white tees) at the event was Robbie Pickard. Christine Handley won the ladies’ competition and Rob Burke won the gents’ competition (yellow tees).
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 local charities. The winners were: Pete Green (captain’s drive); Steve Clode (lady captain’s drive); and Gareth Parry (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.
