Wendy in club sale talks ahead of Portugal final

Dinsdale Spa Golf Club chairman Wendy Mitchell has been involved in negotiations to sell the Durham club as she prepares for the WPGA Lombard Trophy final.

Mitchell is heading to Portugal for the National Pro-Am Championship showpiece.

The 77-year-old will partner Dinsdale Spa Professional Nikki Dunn who won the title two years ago and will be trying to repeat that achievement in the £7,800 Coca-Cola and Pestana Resorts supported, National Pro-Am grand final which will be held at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 20-21.

But Mitchell, who has been with the club since 1980 and is in the last of her three years as chairman, has been part of one of the most important deals the club has ever undertaken.

Dinsdale Spa was in the process of bring bought out by local businessman in a bid to save the club and secure its future.

“We’ve been involved in selling the club, and I’m chairman so it’s been a a very busy time, so going to the Lombard Trophy will be wonderful,” explained Stockton-based Mitchell.

“We’re selling to a couple of businessmen who are going to keep it as a golf club and progress it into the future, so it’s very exciting, but a bit like selling a house.

“We had an ageing membership and no money, we were finding ourselves in that situation so we decided to sell, hopefully it’s coming to fruition. Hopefully it secures our future.

“But my preparations for the Lombard Trophy have been interrupted. I have had the odd day of practice though.”

Dunn and Mitchell qualified for final after finishing second in the regional qualifying event held at Dunham Forest Golf Club in Cheshire.

The duo carded a five under par round of 67 to book their place.

“Nikki won the title in the first year and got back there last year, so she’s used to the event of course,” added the 15-handicapper.

“But we’re looking to move our golf club into the modern world now.”