A wet welcome for the new pro at Flamborough

When Dayne Hawkins agreed to take up his new role as professional at Flamborough Head Golf Club, he probably thought the start of March would be an ideal time to start.
New pro Dayne HawkinsNew pro Dayne Hawkins
New pro Dayne Hawkins

Flamborough Head Golf Club’s new professional has discovered that the welcome at the club is warm, even if the climate isn’t.

Dayne Hawkins started work at the club at the start of the month, but so far he has found that the weather is hampering some of his plans.

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“We have been hit by bad weather which has made things difficult for us,” said Hawkins on Tuesday, when the course was shrouded in mist, less than a week after being hit by flooding.

New Flamborough club pro Dayne HawkinsNew Flamborough club pro Dayne Hawkins
New Flamborough club pro Dayne Hawkins

“I will be offering golf lessons on a daily basis but have only been able to do a handful so far because of the conditions.”

The club has had to close in recent days and is currently operating with temporary greens, after torrential rain last week.

Flamborough is not alone. Bridlington Links only had seven holes open earlier this week and Bridlington Golf Club’s Belvedere course was closed for several days after last week’s downpour.

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Hawkins is hoping the worst of the winter weather is over and that he can start to push ahead with his plans for the Flamborough club.

New Flamborough club pro Dayne HawkinsNew Flamborough club pro Dayne Hawkins
New Flamborough club pro Dayne Hawkins

“The junior golf academy will be my first main project, and I am hoping we can start that next month.

“We want to attract more junior members, and also adults who have never moved beyond the driving range.

“We have got a really good practice area so I am hoping I will be able to start more lessons soon, because a lot of golfers prefer that to a driving range because it is a more natural environment.”

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While the weather has limited his outdoor plans in the first few weeks, Hawkins has spent his time getting to grips with office jobs around the club.

New Flamborough club pro Dayne HawkinsNew Flamborough club pro Dayne Hawkins
New Flamborough club pro Dayne Hawkins

He said: “I’m just getting to know everybody, and have spent the last few days getting paper records transferred into an electronic version.

“I’m hoping to work on the website too.

“This club lives up to its billing as the friendliest club on the Yorkshire coast, but I have to say people at our other local clubs have been very, very helpful.”

The Flamborough course is hoping to be back to normal for tomorrow’s final of the Humber Alliance and Sunday’s captain’s drive-in.

“After that, I am hoping we can get the teaching academy up and running and I am really looking forward to my first Bridlington Golf Festival week in May,” added Hawkins, who has arrived from Kent.