Northern golfers quick on the uptake

Amateur club golfers from across the North of England have been quick to sign-up for the 2011 Northern Matchplay Golf Championship.

Wallasey Golf Club - host of the Cheshire regional final

Almost 200 different golf clubs are already represented in what is dubbed 'The Race to Alwoodley' and with the closing date still over six weeks away this number is likely to double before the draw for the first round is made. 

Many golf clubs have several players registered for the season-long knockout competition, that has a 72-hole, two-day grand final at The Alwoodley Golf Club in Leeds, so a keenly contested championship is expected.

Prior to that golfers must compete against their fellow county-men to reach their regional final. The six venues lined up are golf courses of the top-order, all of them used by the R&A for Open Championship Qualifying purposes, and feature in the higher echelons of the various 'top 100' golf course rankings.

Wallasey will host the Cheshire regional final whilst West Lancs has been chosen for Lancashire. Pannal is the venue for the Yorkshire finale with Silloth-on-Solway the Cumbrian and Seaton Carew the Durham final venue. Berwick-upon-Tweed stages the Northumberland final.

Entry is just £15 for the individual tournament and £25 per pair for the Betterball Pairs. Those interested in entering can do so at www.northernmatchplay.com