UP at Close House yesterday, the work-men began to take down the infrastructure that helped to make Close House a British Masters success.

It was a day later than planned because of the high winds around the Tyne Valley, but the grandstands, hospitality tents and high-rise TV points at the end of each hole were being dismantled.

“It’s like taking down the Christmas tree at Christmas,” said Graham Wylie, Close House’s proud owner speaking from his Grade II listed family home where he can see the post-event work take place.

Once Close House is back to normal, Wylie will always have the memories of a sensational week in the history of the Northumberland venue he owns.

Even though he was back to reality when the alarm clock went off at 6am on Monday morning for the daily school run from Heddon-on-the-Wall into Newcastle, he will never forget this week.

For an extremely successful businessman and owner of race horses, seeing some of the world’s best golfers competing in his back garden in a £3m tournament is something he will never forget.

“I am absolutely delighted with how it went,” he said. “To be honest, apart from an issue with traffic management as people tried to get out, it was absolutely fantastic.

“There were great crowds: 60,000 over the four days, and if you include the Pro-Am and the Hero Challenge on the Tuesday there were more than 68,500. That’s just fantastic. The standard of golf was incredible too, from a fantastic field put together by Lee Westwood.”

In the end it was the lesser known 24-year-old Irishman Paul Dunne, who should go on to enjoy a hugely successful career, who won the £500,000 prize on Sunday; finishing three shots clear of former world No 1 Rory McIlroy.

Dunne chipped in at the last to complete a remarkable win with a 20 under total, and then stood on the 18th green to receive the trophy. Wylie and Westwood, Close House’s attached pro and tournament host, stood alongside him, when The Graham Wylie Foundation received a cheque for £472,500 as the official charity of the British Masters.

After the success of the North-East’s first full European Tour golf tournament since 2002, hopes are high there will be more. Immediately after the event Hartlepool’s Graeme Storm, who finished tied fourth, revealed a wish to see top class golf return to the area, either at Close House or Rockliffe Hall, where he is attached.

Wylie would love to bring a Tour event back, although he thinks it is important to have a couple of years’ reflection knowing the success of hosting the British Masters would be difficult to top.

The man who helped set up software giant Sage in the early 1980s said: “You take stock and see what happens. All I know is that everyone had a brilliant time, it has put Close House on the map big style. We have taken loads of bookings already for next year.

“I am conscious of doing something very quickly because we could be disappointed after something like this. We have raised the bar and that level would be hard to hit again.

“The European Tour was delighted, I’m sure we would be under consideration now if any big Tour event came up. They said we were a delight to work with, very accommodating. The TV coverage was stunning, with the views of the Tyne Valley and course.

“But would they be able to get a field of the quality we have just had again, so soon after? Probably not. Lee pulled in favours. Close House has shown that it can host a tournament of that size and that’s a big thing.

“The Tour was sceptical when Lee wanted to bring it here, they said ‘What? In Newcastle?’ But the record crowds turned up, even though Newcastle played Liverpool on the Sunday. They were delighted with the field, and the coverage. The sponsors were cock-a-hoop. It was just fantastic.”

Wylie would be seriously tempted to do something like it again one day – and he believes the British Masters’ visit to Close House will have worked wonders on boosting golf’s image in this area.

“A lot of people want to play the course now, we are already in the top 100 courses and maybe we will get much higher after this,” said Wylie.

“I enjoyed a number of things, have loads of great memories. One of the biggest things was seeing my friend’s son (Henry Joynson) winning the Junior Masters.

“He was going to caddy for Vernon Kay in the Pro-Am the next day, walking with Rory McIlroy. Instead, because he won the Junior Masters, he decided to play in the Pro-Am when he must have had a real decision to make as young lad, because he could have walked with Rory.

“He went round with his dad, playing in the Pro-Am, and he won the Pro-Am as well. Rory gave him his ball afterwards. Things like that are great memories, like seeing Jeremy Kyle as the starter on the Wednesday, and I’d like to think hosting the British Masters will help get more juniors into the game and want to play at Close House.”