New Year’s Eve: Toasting a Flourishing 2025 and Driving Into 2026

As the sun sets on 2025, there is a palpable sense of pride echoing through the clubhouse here at Yorkshire’s Hidden Gem. Tonight, as we prepare to ring in the New Year, we reflect on a season that has seen Drax Golf Club flourish both on and off the course.

From the nerve-wracking but successful Captains' Drive-in back in April to our final festive scrambles, 2025 has been a year of community, charity, and championship glory.

A Year of Unprecedented Success

We set the bar incredibly high this year, and our members rose to the challenge at every turn. We aren't just looking to start a new season; we are looking to emulate the golden standard set over the last twelve months:

• Championship Pedigree: Becoming the NERGA Champions was a landmark moment for our club, proving that our North Yorkshire Golfing community can compete with the very best.

• National Recognition: We cheered on David Stokes in the England Golf Captain’s National Final and stood behind Darren Swales and Sam Fountain as they reached the Daily Mail Foursomes final.

• Community Spirit: Captain Ian’s tenure saw "full-to-capacity" team events, from the Burns Night Scramble to the Christmas Pairs. This is the energy we want to carry into every competition in 2026!

  
  

Golf with a Heart: The Captains’ Charity Pond

One of the most touching successes of 2025 was the introduction of the Captains’ Charity Pond. Thanks to your "generosity and errant golf shots," this initiative raised in excess of £400 for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Julie and Ian’s joint efforts have shown that Drax is more than just a golf course in North Yorkshire; it is a community that cares.

Looking Ahead: Our 2026 Vision

As we transition from the fantastic leadership of Captain Ian to our incoming 2026 Captain, Nick Heaney, our goals are clear:

1. Forging Stronger Relationships: We want to continue the work done this year in integrating our club even further. Seeing Lynda Robinson win the Captain’s Day Shield was a highlight of 2025, and we want to see even more ladies and seniors taking centre stage in 2026.

2. Increasing Competition Entries: Let’s fill the sheets! Whether it's the Academia Golf Club Classic, NERGA, INTER, or the Daily Mail Foursomes, we want record participation.

3. Mastering the Game: To help you reach those competitive heights, our North Yorkshire golf lessons via Mick Beck will be available to help you find your best form yet.

4. Expanded Knockout Competitions: To provide a more diverse competitive experience, we are expanding our summer knockout schedule. This year will feature Singles, Betterball, and Scratch knockouts, along with the exciting addition of a Foursomes Knockout.

   1. The Foursomes Format: This competition will utilise the "alternate shot" format with your partner, requiring high levels of teamwork and strategy.

   2. The "Sociability Rule": To encourage members to branch out and meet new people, you are not allowed to play with the same partner in both the Betterball and Foursomes competitions. We want to foster a more connected club culture, so start thinking about who your different partners might be!

5. Revitalising the Junior Section: Historically, Drax has a proud legacy of junior golf, once boasting a thriving section led by Dale Banks. More recently, we have seen the incredible success of juniors like Lucas and Ruby. While their achievements were primarily driven by dedicated parental support and club fundraising, our goal for 2026 is to provide a more robust, club-led structure for all young golfers. With a huge increase in junior membership over the last year, we are launching a series of dedicated competitions:

   1. Holiday Competition Series: Dedicated tournaments held during both the Easter and Summer holidays.

   2. Pathway to Excellence: With the full support of the Competitions Committee and our Professional, Mick Beck, we are working toward becoming an England Golf Junior Hub. This will provide a clear, professional pathway for our young players to develop their skills and enjoy the game.

      
      

A Final Word from the Committee

To our members: you are the reason Drax is flourishing. Whether you are a regular on the fairways or a new member finding your feet, we wish you a happy, healthy, and successful 2026.

See you on the first tee!