Golf trio trying to live the dream
GOLF and the support of three highly focused golfers are at the forefront of Dalepak’s ongoing commitment to sport.
The trio concerned are West Midlands professional Mark Butler, Northants County club professional Nick Soto and 2-handicapper Dale White who is in his first year out of the junior ranks, and who also plays at Northants County.
While lifelong West Bromwich Albion fan Mark (he has been told he first attended The Hawthorns at the age of six months!) is preparing for the PGA Europro Tour in the autumn, Nick has been competing on the Midland Order of Merit circuit during the summer while Dale is targeting bigger competitions next year, with the ultimate aim of playing qualifying for the British Open next year.
Here is an assessment of where all three stand at present, as each individual prepares to ‘live the dream’…
RISING to a challenge brings out the best in West Midlands based golf professional Mark who hopes his beloved West Bromwich Albion do likewise on their return to the Premiership this season!
The 33 year-old, originally from Tividale in Worcestershire has been based at Wishaw Golf Club for the last 16 months where he is coached by Alan Partridge. During that period he has enjoyed a blossoming relationship with Dalepak who are now backing his efforts at home and on the continent. In the meantime, the Baggies’ 2007/08 Championship success return to the top flight of English football has been a further boost to morale.
September will be a key month for Mark who has spent 2008 competing in the Hi 5 Pro Tour as well as the PGA Europro Tour, standing 11th of around 200 golfers in the Order Of Merit Table after seven events.
He is preparing himself for the European Tour School which is broken up into three stages, beginning at Chart Hills Golf Club in Surrey in September before switching to Spain for the final two legs.
Mark said: “This is really what my year has been building up towards, with the whole series run over three weeks. The first leg is in this country before we head out to Spain at the end of October for the final two.”
He added: “The help and support which Dalepak is giving to me is fantastic and is allowing me to live the dream. Although I do some coaching work myself, I wouldn’t be able to compete in tournaments on such a scale without the sponsorship.
“I first met Dalepak’s managing director at a pro-am tournament about 18 months ago along with his grandson Dale and the jockey Paul Eddery and I have found him to be a great role model in his support and giving people the chance to achieve their objectives.”
Mark lives with his wife Nicky and the couple has four children and it is children who are at the heart of the golfer’s broader perspective.
He explained: “When I am not playing golf and coaching I carry out work for The Holistic Children and Family Service which is a non profit-making organisation. What we do is organise sports such as golf, football and athletics for under privileged children. In effect, my golf is a vehicle to allow me to work with the children and that’s why Dalepak’s support is so valuable to me – the whole process has a lasting ripple effect.”
NORTHANTS County professional Nick Soto has been quick to spell out the impact which Dalepak sponsorship has had on its local golf scene.
The 32 year-old, who has been competing on the Midland Order of Merit Tour this summer, also took part in the traditional Northampton Pro-Am event in July at County’s neighbouring club, which for the first time had Dalepak as its major sponsor, alongside Michael Jones The Jeweller.
Nick said: “Because of the extra support which Dalepak put into the Northampton Pro-Am it was able to put up more prize money and attracted more entries – 32 teams made up of a pro plus three amateurs – making it more competitive.”
He added: “Our thanks go out to Dalepak for helping to make it such a popular event.”
Nick’s summer campaign has seen him challenge strongly for the Midland Order of Merit title in only his second attempt and at the halfway point, after three competitions, he stands in 11th place.
He said: “Last year was the first time I took part and I finished in the 30s. The goal this year has been to try to finish in the top three, and so make the end of year play-offs. My best result so far has been taking a third place in the Glazerite Trophy at Wellingborough behind Cameron Clarke and Simon Lilley.”
He added: “I really need to win an event to make the play-offs and I will be trying to do that at Forest Hill in Leicester, Belton Woods in Lincolnshire or in the final event at Cold Ashby in September.”
DALE White is the grandson of Dalepak managing director Mick White and is determined to make a lasting impression on the golfing world.
A winter of hard work on his swing with coach Alan Partridge is now beginning to pay benefits… so much so that Dale can speak realistically about competing in some of the country’s major events in 2009, not least attempting to qualify for the British Open.
He explained: “After struggling last year I decided to move to a different coach and now see Alan Partridge. He has taught a number of European Tour players including ladies who have won events on that Tour such as the French Open. During the winter I was spending two days a week with him trying to improve my swing before the big tournaments started.”
He added: “I had a good start to the year at my new club (Northants County), winning two competitions there and qualifying for the Cooker and Baxter Cup that is to be played shortly.
“I have recently entered the American national match play championship with county player Theresa East in a pairs competition. There are 5,000 people playing in the competition which consists of six rounds leading to the regional finals and then onto Taba Heights in Egypt for the final.”
From a position of being four shots down on the 12th tee, the pair went on to clinch success on the 18th, with Dale showing an immaculate sense of timing by landing an eagle putt!
He added: “I am now working towards the NGU Open at Staverton Park which is the biggest competition in Northants this year where I will be competing against professionals such as Nick Soto.
“With my handicap now coming down and the great support I get from Dalepak, I am looking forward to training hard over the winter and targeting the bigger competitions.”
