The North West Golf Network will see Mark hooking up with David Edwards, property developer and businessman, to build a group from the Cheshire and South Manchester areas. Further groups are planned throughout England, Scotland and Wales, which will be licensed to regional operators over the next two years.

This national expansion will open up opportunities on an national level, delviering greater member benefits all round.

We wish Mark well, and will no doubt see one or two guest appearances during the year in the North East. His teaching duties will be shared between ex-pro, Adnrew Hills, and the resident pros at each of the venues.

1. Events have moved to a Friday afternoon – what a great launchpad for the weekend!!
2. We are including The Northumberland, Seaton Carew and Ramside Hall among the venues for events.
3. Some marketing material will be available for members to use to drum up further interest and support.

The first event is scheduled for The Northumberland GC, and will be on April 15th. Full calendar, and details of the first event can be found on the website, under the Events page.

Venues are to be finalised, but we are looking to retain Rockliffe, Slaley, Bishop Auckland and Close House (new course), and will approach the Northumberland, Seaton Carew and Ramside Hall to host events this year. Full details will emerge as we firm them up.

WE would welcome any ideas for developing the season, and expect to have one “novelty” or “fun” event at one of the meetings – e.g. 3 club challenge, or a team game (red ball fun).

Those wishing to dethrone him in 2011 can take the following lessons from him – play 8 times a week, and attend most NEGN events to maximise point scoring opportunities!!

Congratulations Andrew – we are practising hard in the off season to compete in 2011. The full leaderboard shows the margin of Andrew’s win.

Early arrivals took good advantage of Mark’s Putting clinic which certainly gave light to some sound tips and shone light upon some of the myths that this great game can throw up. 12 guests completed an 18 hole stableford format. Andrew Verity (Tyne Tees Demolition) our inaugural runner up came home with 36 pts & Alastair Smith (Jacksons Law Firm) was once again puting himself in the winner’s enclosure with the runners up place on 34 pts.

Again NEGN welcomed new members and guests to this relaxed and informal day where encouraging comments were made on how the first two events have been staged. We now head for Hexham GC on the 17th June with slightly altered times for the itinerary which we will see for all future events, allowing a free start to the day for those who wish to pop in to the office first thing!

Hexham 17th June

11.30hrs Short game clinic
12.30hrs Registration, Tea Coffee & Bacon Roll
13.30hrs 18 Holes
18.00hrs 2 course evening meal & prize giving

Outline of future dates for your diary are:

22nd July Ramside Hall
26th August Slaley Hall
16th September Rockcliffe Hall Annual NEGN Championship Event & Prize giving Dinner
14th October Alnmouth GC (Foxton) – 1st event for the 2011 season

There are limited tee times available for the Hexham event so we strongly recommend that you enter without delay, download the event entry form from our website and send it together with your cheque to NEGN.

We look forward to seeing you at Hexham on the 17th.

He was pictured in his business suit, so Journal readers were no doubt surprised to see him popping up again in another picture during the same week wearing his golf clothes.

Alistair, a 17-handicap golfer, reflected on the launch event of our network by saying: “Jacksons attach great importance to networking – the main benefit being that it fosters business relationships. The combination of networking and golf is a perfect formula in my opinion.

“Close House golf course was in good condition for this early stage of the season and there was an excellent coaching session laid on before the tournament.”There were some high level business people there and because everyone had a common interest, golf, there was a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. This is a new idea which works.”

The main driving forces behind our business network are Ian Pilkington, the managing director of Stocksfield firm i.2.i Consultants and PGA golf professional Mark Stancer, of N1 Golf in Morpeth.

Ian says: “We would have liked more than a dozen for the launch tournament, but we did not publicise it as early as we might have done, in fact Alistair Smith only read about it in The Journal business pages a week earlier.

“There were many businessmen golfers who did not know about the launch event in time to schedule it into their diary and we already know there will be at least three times as many people for the next event.

“But we had good weather and that is all golfers need to enjoy themselves and the craic all through the golf and the highly informal meal afterwards was excellent. Everybody got on with each other very well indeed.

“We know it will keep on mushrooming and one day I would not be surprised to see this become a national golf business network. All the initial vibes are excellent.”

Apr 15 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

Executives on course for business network

EXECUTIVES with a passion for golf can do business on the course by joining a new networking club.

The North East Golf Network is aimed at business owners and senior executives in the North East and has been set up by Mark Stancer and Ian Pilkington.

Mr Stancer, who was the director of golf when De Vere Slaley Hall hosted European Tour events, said: “Membership works on a corporate level, with between one and four named golfers per organisation, and members can view other members’ profiles on our website.

Mr Stancer, who is now the PGA professional at N1 Golf in Morpeth, says the network offers members the chance to bring guests and each golf day will include a golf clinic given by himself along with dinner and prizes.

Mr Pilkington, managing director of i2i Consultants, said: “Business owners work incredibly hard and find it difficult to find time to network and play golf so we created a format to do both and it’s proved very successful elsewhere

“The common ground for everyone attending our network is golf, everyone has an opinion and it provides a great ice-breaker for the members.

“Our inaugural event is intended to give people a feel for how the network will work without any obligation.”

The launch day takes place at Close House, near Heddon-on-the-Wall in Northumberland on Thursday, April 22, with days planned for Seaton Carew, Matfen Hall, Bishop Auckland, Slaley Hall and Goswick.

For more information, email enquiries@northeastgolfnetwork.co.uk or phone Mr Stancer on 07745 861888.

The website, www.northeastgolfnetwork.co.uk , will provide members with access to other members’ profiles and event details.

To simply register, or to request to play with other particular members, then email enquiries@northeastgolfnetwork.co.uk to make your request. You will receive confirmation closer to the date of playing details, including tee times and playing partners. We will (unless requested) divide members from one organisation so that the networking time is maximised.

Please sign and return the attached registration form Close House Country Club.

Location: Close House Country Club, Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland.
Date: Thursday 22nd April 2010
9.30–11.00: Free short game clinic with PGA Professional & N1GOLF Coach Mark Stancer.
10.30–11.30: Registration, Tea Coffee & Bacon Roll.
12 noon: 18 hole Stableford tournament.
5.30pm: 2 course dinner and prize giving.
Guest Fee: £55.00

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Download a membership form here MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
Terms & Conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS
Event registration form REGISTRATION FORM

The North East Golf Network (NEGN) is brought to you by a few partners who enjoy making profit and making birdies, so that the region’s business executives who enjoy golf can combine two of their keen interests in one day.

With a full calendar of events from April to October, NEGN’s season will provide plenty of opportunity for members to make new acquaintances, develop new business relationships and also to introduce and entertain clients.

For an annual fee, members can enjoy numerous benefits and features on offer.

Members will enjoy features and benefits as they are developed, and be eligible for the league table and regular prizes.

For those who cannot commit to regular golf, but would like to enjoy the network’s benefits, then a “Pay and Play” membership is offered, whereby players can register to receive information, and will choose to turn up and play when they can play. Fees will be charged at the guest rates, and the application can be made through filling in the specific event forms. For more information, contact Ian or Mark through enquiries@northeastgolfnetwork.co.uk. They will accumulate league points as a registered casual member, but will not have some of the benefits for full members.

What would you prefer? A two minute “elevator speech” to present your business in a forced environment, or 4 hours and post-match with selected members to start building rapport and understanding?

Download a membership form here MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

For more information please email enquiries@northeastgolfnetwork.co.uk.