by HUGHIE HAMILTON is immensely proud to be the first reigning club champion to become captain in the 150-year history of Seaton Carew Golf Club.
And the 54-year-old would love to mark his 12 months in the role by winning the prestigious title for the tenth time this summer. However, he won’t be disappointed if he misses.
Indeed, Hughie already considers it a real honor to be named honorary captain of the club of which he has been a member since 1983.
To mark the start of his tenure, more than 100 people lined up on the first tee to watch Hughie – along with women’s captain Melanie Downs and junior captain Oliver Hoey – take the first drives of the year at the Captains Drive-in on New Year’s Day. .
“It was a fantastic day, everyone was pretty relaxed on the tee, but it’s never easy because you want to make contact while you’re being teased by the spectators,” said Hughie, who was also accompanied by his long-time cadet Nik Proctor sporting his master-style suit.
“It means so much to me to be captain of this incredible club. It is a wonderful honour. I will never take this role lightly and I am very proud to follow my best friend in golf and in life, Phil Cain, in the long list of proud captains.
“What was also really nice about that day was how the Drive-In has become a real Captains Drive-In over the years, with Melanie and Oliver also behind the wheel.
“It’s wonderful now that the club – which has also had two women, Diane Wilson and Jane Longhorn, serve as club captain – has gradually embraced inclusiveness, highlighted by the fact that both the women’s captain and the female captain junior are leaving with me.”
Hamilton’s mother Yvonne, son Oliver and nephew Fin, who arrived from New York, were on the tee to watch him go 241 yards.
He was introduced to golf by his late father, Hughie Hamilton Snr, a former Hartlepool United footballer, during family holidays in Scotland during his childhood. He joined Seaton Carew 41 years ago.
His first club championship triumph came in 2001, he won the Seaton Salver four times and was crowned Durham County Champion in 2004.
As well as being Seaton Carew’s junior captain in 1989, he missed qualifying for the 1991 Royal Birkdale Open by a single stroke.
Hamilton, whose late partner Mary is greatly missed by members of the club where she was at the heart, said: “All because I lived in a village with a magnificent championship course like Seaton Carew which I didn’t know existed. Back then, my dad spoke to Pools legend Kenny Johnson and he signed my membership forms, and I’ve been here ever since.
“Neither Phil nor I planned to become captain, but it’s an absolute honour. When the club championship comes, I would love to win it a tenth time and give it up, but it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t happen. I only ever wanted to win it once! »
Hamilton has chosen the PFC Trust’s Rare Dementia Fund – designed to support people and their families affected by the disease and established following the death of Lesley Connor last year – as his captain’s charity for 2025.
He said: “We have already raised almost £1,000 and I was looking forward to continuing the good work Phil did last year for the fund due to our links with Lesley and Tommy Connor, one of our good friends.
“Over the next 12 months we would like to do everything we can to help. I would also like to see the continued progression of this fantastic and historic golf club.
“Seaton Carew GC has gone from strength to strength and there has been a lot of investment in the club.
“We are one of the leading golf courses in the north of England and we want to continue to improve. We have brilliant staff to make this happen.
