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Luxury destination makes first senior appointment

Rockliffe Hall, the luxury hotel, spa and golf course development, has made its first senior appointment, placing former Slaley Hall Course Manager, Davy Cuthbertson in charge of their own golf course.

Davy, aged 40, is widely regarded as one of the very best course managers in the business and said he’s thrilled at the challenge which lay ahead at Rockliffe Hall. The course at the development is set to become the jewel in the crown at the multi-million pound development in Hurworth, near Darlington.

Warwick Brindle, director at Rockliffe Hall Ltd, says he’s thrilled to have someone of Davy’s standing in position. He said: “We’ve waited a long time to make the right appointment for Course Manager. Its one of the most important positions for the development and we’re overjoyed someone of Davy’s stature has agreed to join us.”

“With the course construction now near completion, Davy’s arrival is perfect and I know he’s going to do a first class job of developing the course to one of the very best in the UK.”

Designs for the course, by specialist and world-renowned golf course architects Hawtree, make Rockliffe Hall’s 18 holes one of the longest in Europe at 7,800 yards from the back tees.

In addition, superior bent grass is also being used on each of the greens, the first time such a superior quality of grass has been used on any course in the North of England. Davy Cuthbertson, who is from Stanley in Co Durham, added: “The standard to which this course has been designed was too much of a temptation to turn my back on. Bent grass is more common in much warmer climates and it produces super fast, slick greens.”

“Without doubt, the standards of this course will be far in excess of anything we’ve ever seen in this region. It’s a real challenge but, frankly, a dream job for any course manager.”

During his time at Slaley Hall in Northumberland, Davy oversaw the development and introduction of the second ‘Priestman’ course. He spent 12 years at Slaley Hall, four of those as course manager, where he prepared courses for a number of PGA Tour and Seniors Tour events.

The father of two, having discovered golf during his school years, immediately took up a green-keeping position with his local course at South Moor GC and, after attending college to study the trade, moved onto Slaley Hall.

He added: “I’m so excited about really getting stuck into the job in hand. The buzz in the industry about this course is growing and I’m so excited about producing a course that will hopefully exceed everyone’s expectations.”

“Hawtree and course constructors MJ Abbott have done a wonderful job and it’s now my job to ensure their vision becomes reality.”

One of Davy’s first roles will be to start building an established green-keeping team around him that will ensure the 18-hole championship course becomes a major attraction, not only to golfers in the region, but to those from across the UK and internationally.

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