At the age of 54, Hughie Hamilton is not only taking the reins as captain of Seaton Carew Golf Club; he aims to celebrate his first year by winning the prestigious title for the tenth time this summer. However, if this dream escapes him, Hughie remains imperturbable. The real recognition, according to him, is being named honorary captain of a club he has called home since 1983.
The new season has started with a bang; more than a hundred supporters gathered at the first tee to watch Hughie throw his first shots, accompanied by ladies captain Melanie Downs and junior captain Oliver Hoey, at the Captains Drive-in, which s is held on New Year’s Day. “It was a fantastic day, totally relaxed off the tee, but it’s never easy because you want to hit a solid shot while being teased by the crowd,” said Hughie, flanked by his long-time caddy Nik Proctor, who stood out in a classic Masters style suit.
Read more:
Legendary Assistant Coach Duos Who Shaped Football History
“This role means a lot to me. To be captain of such an incredible club is a remarkable honour. I take this responsibility very seriously and feel immense pride in following my closest friend, Phil Cain, into the prestigious line of captains here,” shared Hughie. The occasion was made all the more special as it highlighted the growing inclusiveness of the club, with Melanie and Oliver effectively starting alongside him, a testament to the club’s commitment to welcoming all members.
On hand at the tee to cheer him on were Hamilton’s mother Yvonne, his son Oliver and his nephew Fin, who had flown from New York just to be part of this moment when he made an impressive drive of 241 yards.
Introduced to golf by his late father, Hughie Hamilton Sr, a former Hartlepool United footballer, during childhood trips to Scotland, he has been a member of Seaton Carew for over forty years now. His first club championship victory came in 2001, and he has since lifted the Seaton Salver four times while winning the Durham County Championship title in 2004.
Read more:
Position at the Christmas table: Does it influence the fate of teams in the league?
In addition to his former role as captain of the juniors in 1989, he narrowly missed qualifying for The Open at Royal Birkdale in 1991, failing by one stroke. Reflecting on his unexpected rise to the role of captain, Hamilton, whose late partner Mary is still fondly recognized by club members, said: “It all fell into place because I was residing in a village with a history of championship extraordinaire like Seaton Carew, who I wasn’t aware of at first At the time, my dad was chatting to Pools legend Kenny Johnson, who helped me join the club, and I’m part of that community. fantastic ever since.”
Read more:
Match Preview: Altrincham vs Southend United – Predictions and Team Information
“Neither Phil nor I ever had a goal of becoming captain, but it is a huge privilege. When the club championship comes around, I would love to get a tenth win and go out the front door, although, to be Honestly, I would have been delighted to have won it just once!”
In terms of charitable involvement, Hamilton has chosen the PFC Trust’s Rare Dementia Fund as its charity for 2025. This fund, which supports individuals and families affected by dementia, was created following the death of Lesley Connor last year. Hughie expressed: “We have already raised almost £1,000, and I look forward to continuing the great work that Phil started last year for the fund, given our links with Lesley and Tommy Connor, who is a good friend of ours, over the coming year, we aim to contribute as much as possible, while promoting the growth of this prestigious golf club.
Read more:
Sena Niang flourishing after opting for part-time football at Dumbarton
“Seaton Carew Golf Club has prospered in so many ways, with significant investment made which has elevated our status. We are recognized as one of the best golf courses in the north of England and remain committed to continuing this improvement through to our exceptional staff. Our journey continues!”
