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New director makes his Mark

Geoff Garnett
17/ 2/2005

MARK Pierce, the new Director of Golf at Marriott Worsley Park, has experienced at first hand the traditional warmth of people in the north west just a few days after beginning his new role.

Mark, who was born in Tanzania, has a distinguished career in golf being a club professional at Ballards Gore GC, Essex, before becoming productions director for Cobra Golf Europe in Aubergenville, France.

He became general manager at David Lloyd Leisure in Bristol before joining the Marriott Group as country club operations manager and Director of Golf at the Marriott Goodwood Park Hotel in Sussex and then on to Worsley Park.

Mark excelled as a junior golfer in Kent playing for their junior and A teams and was the Kent junior under-16s' champion.

His professional playing career had the highlights of playing in the Portuguese Open in 1984 and he was the South of England under-25 pro champion in 1981.

Mark now plays as an amateur and joked: "I will have to work hard to make the Worsley Marriott Dunham Forest team as they look to defend their title in 2005.

"I had heard about the warmth of the people of this region and also about their fierce sporting competitive nature.

"It's only when you arrive up here that you appreciate how true this is and the level of the sports participation in the area and the number of golfers is truly staggering."

Mark is planning to continue with on-going course improvements.

He added: "We will focus on the drainage of the course and the Marriott Group course consultant and agronomist have been taking soil samples to look at the sub-soil structure and will be making recommendations on their findings."

• A SINGLES Stableford at Worsley Park saw Duncan Gregson ease home with 44 points, two clear of James Beeston and Mike Lavelle.

There was also a moment to remember for John Bolton who holed his tee shot on the signature par three seventh hole.