Amateur Golfers Never Had It So Good ?

Have amateur golfers ever had it so good ?  The rise of amateur golf events, outside of club competitions, and various competitive formats certainly attest to this whether you are a club golfer or someone joining the increasing number of non club golfers still looking for competitive golf.

Here on Golfshake.com we run our own successful North vs South matchplay event but below we take a look at the other options available for any golfer looking for competitive golf, from the established events and tours.

Update: Added 2 other events at the end of the article

Update: May 2011, 3 more events added

Gtour

The 2011 Gtour Race to Cyprus is unlike any other golf event in the UK; open to all golfers regardless of club status, tiered handicap Order of Merit system, taking place at venues across the country and providing a platform for all golfers including female golfers to compete on a level system.  

Building on 2 successful seasons 2011 looks set to be another fantastic season having been renamed 'Race to Cyprus' following renewed partnership with De Vere, Aphrodite Hills and for 2011 the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.  The top 10 players will earn the right to compete in the grand final at Aphrodite Hills Cyprus.

The Order of Merit system is based on best 3 scores and is tiered based on handicaps with the top 52 being invited to take part in the UK Semi final and playing to earn the right to attend the Grand final.

Format: Stableford 3/4handicaps, Order of Merit, Tiered Handicaps, Club and Non Club golfers

For further information visit www.gtour.co.uk

Northern Matchplay Golf Championship

The new knockout event, which brings together amateur club golfers from across the North of England, is initially split into six counties – Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire – with the winners of each region progressing to a two-day, 72-hole grand final at The Alwoodley Golf Club.

Organiser of the tournament, Edward Battye, said "I’ve been truly taken aback following the launch of the event, with entries flooding in on a daily basis. There’s already the possibility that we may have to limit numbers in a couple of the counties."

Format: Matchplay Individual and Pairs

For more information visit www.northernmatchplay.com

Single Figure Golfer 

The SFG series of event and Order of Merit is open to all amateur golfers with a handicap of 9 or below.

At the end of the year the top placed players earn a place in the SFG team captained by successful Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy OBE playing against a team of Pros and former Ryder Cup players in a Ryder Cup style matchplay event.

2011 sees the introduction of Q-School for players that fail to earn a place outright but still want to represent team SFG.

Format: Club Medals, Qschool option, Matchplay final, Tour card required

For more information visit www.singlefiguregolfer.co.uk

National Golf Club Challenge

Described as the UK's biggest amateur charity golf event, events takes place at local clubs around the UK.

Players compete in club competitions on the 4th/5th June raising money for Help for Heroes and the chance to earn a place in the grand final at Turnberry and to win the Lee Westwood Cup.

Format: Club competitions

For more information visit www.nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk/

Four Nations Golf Challenge

Qualifying starts in May with the chance to compete for your Nation in a Ryder Cup experience at the Oxfordshire against teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  CONGU handicaps required.

Teams play in pairs in a fourball betterball matchplay knockout format, off 3/4 handicaps, competing in regional qualifying matches.  Finish in your Nation's top six at the 1 day final qualification and earn your place in your Nation's team of 12 for the grand final and earn your International Cap.

Format: Pairs matchplay, Entry fee applicable

For more information visit www.fournationsgolfchallenge.co.uk/

Volvo Masters Amateur Tour

In it's 4th season the Volvo Amateur Tour provides competitive golf on top class championship courses including the top 2 UK courses and 4 Open championship venues.

Golfers require a CONGU handicap or use of their system but also operate their own handicapping review system.

Format: Stableford full handicaps, Order of Merit system

For more information visit www.volvogolf.co.uk

Matchplay Championship

UK wide pairs matchplay event played in knock out format with grand final in Dubai.  Players require an active CONGU handicap or their own handicap service.

Format: Mens and Mixed Pairs matchplay, Entry fee applicable

For more information visit www.matchplaychampionship.co.uk/

International Pairs Matchplay

Another UK wide pairs matchplay event with regional and UK finals with the ultimate accolade of playing in the International Final. Players require an active CONGU handicap and pairs teams can be Mens, Ladies or Mixed.

Play and win four rounds of regional better ball matchplay knockout to guarantee your place at a regional final with regional finals and UK final at De Vere Wychwood Park.

Format: Mens, Ladies or Mixed Pair matchplay, Entry fee applicable

For more information visit www.golffrontiers.com/international-pairs-landing-page/

British Father and Son Golf Championship



This unique and special family tournament is designed to encourage Father and Son golfers throughout the British Isles to compete alongside one another in a fun format.


Further information about the tournament and the European Father and Son Golf Championship can be found on the website www.fatherandsongolf.co.uk

British Airways Pairs Championship

This summer welcomes the launch of the ‘British Airways Pairs Championship in Association with Sandals’, an exciting new amateur golf competition that marries two of life’s great joys, travel and golf.

For club golfers with an active club handicap, the ‘Best 1 from 2 scores’ handicap tournament will see one winning pair from each of five UK events progress through to the final held at five star resort, Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, the Bahamas in January 2012.

For more information on the event partners, how to enter or anything else about the event please visit www.pairschampionship.com.

Annual Couples Tournament

Annual International Couples Golf Festival this summer taking place at Prince Edward Island.  For more information about the International Couples Golf Festival, go to www.golfpei.ca/couples.

Norfolk Tour

New for 2011 the Norfolk Tour is played at 9 venues across Norfolk using stableford format off 3/4 handicaps.  Players compete in 5 or more towards the Norfolk Tour Champion.

For more information visit: www.golfdaysuk.co.uk/

Golfing Days

Midlands Amateur Tour

In it's 4th year events take place across the Midlands at 9 venues played in stableford format off 3/4 handicaps using official handicaps. 

The best 7 results from the 9 events will count towards the Order of Merit and Tour Championship title.

For more information visit: www.golfingdays.co.uk

Cotswold Amateur Tour

A spin off from the Golfing Days Midlands Amateur Tour sees a similar format in 2011 at 6 Cotswold venues.  The best 5 count towards the Order of Merit

For more information visit: www.golfingdays.co.uk

Trilby Tour

For more information visit: 

UK Golf League

New for 2011 and a great introduction to golf competitions, to quote 'The UK Golf League was formed to provide players of all abilities the opportunity to play competitive golf without handicaps or club membership, gain experience of competitions as a beginner or junior, join up with friends, colleagues, society members'.

No handicap required, no club membership, open to all including juniors, friendly, based around Surrey.

For more information visit: www.ukgolfleague.com

POGT - Peoples Open Golf Tournament

Amateur tournament played around the UK, with chance to play in the POGT final held at the Open Championship venue for that year, 2010 was played at the Home of Golf St Andrews  Entrants require official club handicap.

At the time of this article no details had been released on 2011 and possible Royal St George's

For more information visit: www.pogt.co.uk

Amatour

Scratch and handicap based Order of Merit tour which ran in 2009 and 2010.

At the time of this article no information is available for 2011.

Golfbreaks.com Pro-Am 2011 Winter Series

Golfbreaks.com hosted its inaugural 2011 Pro-Am event at Dona Filipa and San Lorenzo Golf Resort in the Algarve, Portugal  in January, where teams from Ireland, Scotland, England and The Azores battled it out for the top prize. 

The new shorter four day/three round Pro-Am format aims to suit the modern day Pro and amateur, which means less time away from work and a lower Pro-Am price point.   

Jim Long, Director of PGA Relations at Golfbreaks.com commented: "There is no doubt this new format is the perfect fit for short haul overseas Pro-Ams and today’s busy golfer, and we are very much looking forward to the upcoming Pro-Ams scheduled for March at the Spanish resorts of Emporda and La Cala."

Any golfers without playing partners or a pro need not worry, Golfbreaks.com will match up any golfers looking to take part directly with a Pro.

For more information visit www.golfbreaks.com/pgapro

BunkerFEST

Not quite a tour or series of events but unique and nothing else like it in the UK.  

The BunkerFEST was launched in 2010 in the form of a 2 day golf event with unique and different challenges to your normal golf with challenges like the  'Mutha Putta Challenge'.  

The BunkerFEST will be back in 2011 with dates to be released very soon.  For more information and the latest news visit: www.bunker-mentality.com

If we've missed any out then just let us know.