THE spectacular development of Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, has been a huge boost to the southern end of our region in recent years and The Northern Echo is delighted to again be the media partner for the English senior Open in the summer.

The hotel and golf spa hosted the event for the first time last year and showed that it has what it takes to stage top class events. The organisers were impressed with the speed in which the venue was prepared, the players raved about the course, and more than 5,000 spectators turned out to watch.

The European Senior Tour would not be returning to Rockliffe unless such a favourable impression had been made in 2013 and this year's event promises to be even more impressive, with some of the household names of European golf heading our way in August.

It is exciting for the Darlington area, County Durham and the North-East to have a golf destination capable of hosting such a tournament and there is clear potential for Rockliffe to build on this breakthrough.

There are those who suggest it is too far-fetched to believe that Rockliffe Hall could one day host the Ryder Cup. But the same was said about Durham County Cricket Club's dreams of staging an Ashes test.

High-profile community involvement is part of the mix in establishing a sporting venue and, following a match-making introduction by The Northern Echo, this year's event also features a new link between Rockliffe Hall and the Phoenix House rehabilitation centre at Catterick Garrison.

In the build-up to the Seniors Open, six wounded, injured and sick veterans from the Help For Heroes centre will be professionally coached at Rockliffe. Three of them will then be chosen to form a team captained by 2013 Order of Merit winner Paul Wesselingh in a pro-am competition before the main tournament.

The warm-up contest will support The Northern Echo's appeal to raise £100,000 for Phoenix House to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War One.

It is a fitting partnership which brings together elite sport and a deserving charity and we are proud to have played our part in bringing them together.