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Makeover for WPGA Championship T
he blue riband of the WPGA schedule of
tournaments for 2016 has been boosted by a 20 percent increase to the prize fund and an enlarged field. The 36-hole
Women’s PGA Professional Championship, to be played over the Blue course at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire (pictured) on July 19th, has a purse of £6,000 with £1,000 going to the winner and prize money being paid down to 12th place. The larger field means there will be no requirement for a qualifying event as in previous years while for the first time both rounds will be played in one day. Tracy Loveys, of Bigbury Golf Club in Devon, will defend the title
which she has won for a record four times since the tournament was launched in 2003.
Old Course tee times returning to local control
A
ſter more than 20 years of outsourcing the commercial booking of tee times on the Old Course, the St Andrews Links Trust will be taking it back in-house from April 2018.
Sandy Jones, chief executive of the PGA, said: “In recent years there has been increasing demand to play in this championship, which is a huge positive. It shows there is more interest within the women’s section and illustrates a growth in ladies golf. In recognition of that, it was decided that the tournament should become a stand-alone championship to give it the respect and recognition it deserves.” The WPGA season tees off on Monday, March 7th with the Vivien
Saunders WPGA Foursomes Award Tournament over the Blue Course at The Berkshire. The remainder of the schedule, the One Day Series, will again feature
seven events across the country. Full schedule: March 7: Vivien Saunders WPGA Foursomes Award
Tournament, The Berkshire; May 9: WPGA One Day Series, Little Aston, West Midlands; May 25: WPGA One Day Series, Dunham Forest, Cheshire; June 3: WPGA One Day Series, Three Rivers, Essex; June 27: WPGA One Day Series, Kedleston Park, Derbyshire; July 7: WPGA One Day Series, Salisbury & South Wilts, Wiltshire; July 19: Women’s PGA Professional Championship, Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire; July 22: WPGA One Day Series, Chestfield, Kent; August 10: WPGA One Day Series, South Herts, Hertfordshire.
Pga.info
Ryder-themed mini-golf at The Belfry
A Euan Loudon, the Trust’s chief executive, said: “Following a
lengthy period of consideration the Trust has decided that it is the appropriate time to take control over the presentation and sale of all Old Course commercial times as well as developing and managing a closer working relationship with multiple tour operators. This change in emphasis will bring to a close the existing contractual arrangement which we have enjoyed with our partner, OCE, for more than 20 years.” OCE, aka the Old Course Experience, who distributed a fixed
number of commercial trade times amongst a variety of golf tour operators, will continue to operate on behalf of the Trust until the end of 2017. But the new arrangement will not impact on the general ballot to
play the Old Course or local preferential times, which will continue to be a mainstay of the St Andrews Links operation. Sheelagh Walker, OCE’s head of golf operations, said the company
was proud of what had been achieved over the last two decades. “Our number one priority has been, and will continue to be, to deliver the best possible experience to the thousands of guests who have visited the Home of Golf with our team. “We fully respect and appreciate the ambition and objectives of
St Andrews Links Trust in making this change.”
Standrews.com
from Ryder Cup history, including a replica of the risk- and-reward 10th hole on the Brabazon layout at The Belfry, plus three ‘bonus’ holes. Other prominent European
holes to be featured include the 17th at Valderrama, the 18th at Wentworth and the 9th
at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Some of the classic American Ryder Cup holes featured include the 17th on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Valhalla’s 13th and the 5th from Pinehurst No.2. Resort director David Edwards said: “This is a great addition to the resort. As
the world’s only four-time host, we wanted to honour our Ryder Cup heritage, but do so in a way that would be enjoyable and inclusive for everyone. “The new course offers something for everyone. It provides another activity
we can offer to guests when they visit the resort and, as always, we wanted to ensure it was completed to the highest of standards.” A round costs £7 per adult and £5 per child. Open from 10am-6pm daily, with
no booking required, the course can also be hired exclusively for £250.
thebelfry.co.uk
SGBGOLF 15
12-hole Ryder Cup- themed mini-golf course has opened at
The Belfry Hotel & Resort, scene of the biennial match against the Americans in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002. Designed by City Golf, it features nine famous holes
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