Golf: North East look to impress as Seaton Carew host the Brabazon trophy

One of the most prestigious prizes in amateur golf comes to the shores of the North East with Seaton Carew golf club.

The English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship is played for the Brabazon Trophy and that will be decided this week.

Some of the game's biggest names such as Charl Schwartzel, Peter Hanson and Sandy Lyle all their names engraved on the trophy first played for in 1947.

North East golf is in bullish spirits with purpose built facilities at Rockliffe Hall - which will host the English Senior Open again later this year, Close House and Slaley Hall all catching big events.

But it is Seaton - one of most challenging links courses anywhere in the British Isles that has the honour of hosting the Brabazon.

Established in 1874, Seaton Carew is the tenth oldest course, (although it could even be as high as seventh), just ten year's younger than Royal North Devon, which is the oldest in the country.

Seaton is a true Links offering, but can often be described as a hidden gem as it is tucked away in-between some heavy Teesside industries which offer a unique panorama.

Recent years have seen the club push itself again for recognition on a national stage and its reward from the R&A is the Brabazon Trophy returning.

This will be the second time of hosting the event having done so in 1985, but rather than being another 30-years before hosting such a tournament again - professional Clifford Jackson hopes this will be the stepping stone.

"This is such a high-profile event, we are honoured to have been chosen but we want to build on this," he told Sky Sports.

"We know this is one of the best courses anywhere, and that will be witnessed this week.

"Our set-up is a thoroughly professional one, and this tournament is reward to everyone at the club.

"But this is also for North East golf, we want the region to become a Mecca for the game and for us to be central to that."

The tournament will see Jordan Smith defend his trophy against some of the world's best amateur with a host of Walker Cup players on show.

As well as the best in British on show, the world of golf will be well represented when the tournament gets underway on June 25th on the North East coast as players from Turkey, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand France, Portugal, Norway, Denmark and South Africa will all be going for the Brabazon Trophy.