Moortown Golf Day

The annual end-of-season Golf Empire golf day will once again take place at the fabulous Moortown Golf Club. The date for this year has now been confirmed as Friday 28th October 2011.

We are limited to the number of golfers that can play with tee-times available between 9am to 12pm - entries will be accepted strictly on a 'first-come, first-served' basis. Download the entry-form.

Approach to the 18th green at Moortown

The format for this years competition will be an 18 Hole Individual Stableford (3/4 handicap allowance) with prizes for the leading 3 scores. There will be a prize for the best gross total AND new for this year - a prize for the best score by a senior golfer (aged 55+ on the day). The cost of entry is just £50 per person.

Moortown has always held a richly deserved reputation as one of the country’s finest Championship Golf courses. Originally designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, Moortown is set in 175 acres of dramatically contrasting mainly level woodland and moorland. This 'Top 100' course was the venue for the 1929 Ryder Cup and more recently staged the 2009 Brabazon Trophy.

2011 Opens at Didsbury Golf Club

Entries are now open for events to be held at Didsbury Golf Club during 2011. This gem of a course host seven tournaments throughout the year with events often filling up well in advance and have a high re-booking rate.

The first event, a Pairs Open for gents and ladies, takes place on Bank Holiday Sunday 29th May. This Betterball Stableford competition has an entry-fee of just £25 per pair and handicap limits of 20 (men) and 30 (women). Online booking is available for this event.

For those that are unable to play in the May event or do not manage to get a tee-time there is a similar event being held on Sunday 18th September with early booking once again advised. Online booking is also available for this event.

The annual Senior Pairs Open will be held on Monday 4th July and is open to men aged 60+ holding a handicap of 28 or less. Entry represents good value at £25 per pair.

The Didsbury Team Classic (Sunday 24th July) is perhaps the highlight of the year. This Quad-Am Stableford usually attracts golfers from a wide area and it's not difficult to see why. Open to men (max 24 handicap) and ladies (max 30 handicap) this event includes a meal and has a shotgun start at 1.30pm. Entry is £140 per team of four and online booking is available.

Just two days later another popular competition is held. The Genesis Charity Ladies Team Open promises to be a fantastic event for female golfers with a 'pink' dress code! There are two competitions, one during the day (£40 per team of 3) and an evening event (£30 per team of 3). The latter, with tee-times from 4pm, is geared for business ladies or those unable to play during the day. Online booking is available for both events.

Finally, a Mixed Pairs Open is scheduled for Sunday 4th September. This mixed pairs Stableford is open to couples with maximum handicaps of 28 (men) and 36 (ladies) and always provides a wonderful day of golf. Entry is £25 per couple.

Full details and entry-forms for all the above events are available here.

Great North Golf Tour at Didsbury

Didsbury is also one the eight venues that will host a Great North Golf Tour event in 2011.

Tournaments for Seniors 2011

The UK's most popular Seniors golf tournaments continue into 2011 - their 12th year, with increasing numbers of Clubs taking part.

The National Seniors Club Classic and the National Seniors Pairs Championship are two major golf competitions, open to all senior golfers in the UK.

The National Seniors Club Classic is a team competition, for four players (plus three reserves) taking on other Clubs in singles matchplay, either at home or away, in a knockout event. Last year saw a unique result with Wells GC and Turton GC being all-square after all four matches had reached the 18th green in the final. Rather than continue onto a sudden-death play-off the two teams decided to share the trophy. (Photo attached). In the early rounds matches are played on a regional basis to minimise travel.

The National Seniors Pairs Championship is a straightforward Pairs knockout event and attracts increasing numbers of players.

For both events the minimum age is 50 (though in truth most seniors are far more "experienced" than that !) and maximum handicap is 18.

Royal British Legion Junior Golf Challenge

The Royal British Legion is well known for the extensive help it gives to veterans from conflicts in which British armed forces have taken part. With the current deployment of British troops in various parts of the world, many of these "veterans" are, nowadays, fairly young – yet still very much in need of the care we can provide thanks to your generosity.

To involve younger people in the work of the Royal British Legion, 2011 sees the launch of a national Junior Golf Challenge, and every Golf Club is invited to join in.

The event will be a national knockout tournament played as revised matchplay, with teams of four playing in pairs. Each pair will play their opponents over the full 18 holes and the side winning most holes overall would be the winners. This differs from normal matchplay where one pair might win 3 & 2, for example. The tournament will be organised on a regional basis in the early rounds to minimise travel. Semi-finals and final would be held in one location and RBL would be hosting that event (for players and organiser).

The event is open to all registered Junior GC Members, with a maximum age of 18 (on March 31st 2011). Maximum handicap is 36 for girls and 28 for boys. Three-quarters handicap difference will be allowed.

A special website will have all the fixtures and ongoing results throughout the season and will also be featured on facebook.

To enter, or to find out any more information Golf  Clubs are invited to send an email to the tournament organiser, Peter Smith, at: peter.poppygolf@gmail.com

Midlands Matchplay Championship

Amateur golfers in the Midlands have never had it so good when it comes to playing competitive golf and the launch of the new Golfing Days Midlands Matchplay Championship only adds to that theory.

The Midlands Matchplay is a season-long knockout competition initially played on a regional basis. There is an Individual & Betterball Pairs competition open to members of a golf club in the Midlands with an active CONGU handicap.

Golfers are allocated into one of four regions (North, East, South & West) based on their golf clubs location:

• North - Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire
• South - Warwickshire & Worcestershire
• East - Leicestershire & Northamptonshire
• West - West Midlands & Staffordshire

The first round is played over 36 holes on a 'home & away' basis so each entrant is guaranteed 2 games. Entry is excellent value at just £15 for the singles and £25 per pair for the doubles.

Winners of each tie will continue to compete against their fellow golfers to try and win their region.

The regional winners qualify through to the Midlands Final at the beautiful Longcliffe Golf Club in October where they will compete for fantastic cash vouchers.

Find out the full details and register online.

Midlands & Cotswold Amateur Golf Tours

Golfing Days also run a very successful Midlands Amateur Golf Tour with events held at some of the best 'hidden gem' golf courses. The first event of the season at The Forest of Arden Golf Club (Friday 18th February) is fast approaching with only a few places remaining.

A Cotswolds Amateur Golf Tour has also been launched in 2011 to support the Midland series and kicks-off shortly at The Oxfordshire (Friday 11th March).

Blackwell Grange 2011 Opens

Blackwell Grange Golf Club are running five events in 2011 that are well worth taking a look at... but don't delay in sending off your entry-forms as places are usually taken very quickly at this popular venue.

The first event is a Gents 4BBB Stableford. It will be held on Saturday 11th June and has an entry-fee of just £20 per pair (max handicap 24).

A Team of 4 Stableford is held the following month on Friday 15th July costing £40 per team. This is open to men & ladies in any combination with handicap limits of 24 (men) and 32 (ladies). A 3/4 handicap allowance will operate on the day with the best 2 scores counting.

A Ladies Team Open takes place on Thursday 25th August. This is for teams of four ladies (max handicap 36) where the best 2 scores again will count. Entry is £32 per team and there will be a 3/4 handicap limit applied. There will also be feature holes at this event.

A Mixed Greensome Stableford is scheduled for Sunday 28th August at only £20 per couple. Handicap limits are 24 (men) and 32 (ladies).

Finally a Seniors 4BBB Stableford will be played on Tuesday 6th September 2011. This competition is for golfers aged over 55 with a handicap of 28 or less. Entry is £18 per pair.

Entry-forms for all the above events can be found here.

About the course...

In a wonderful parkland setting, Blackwell Grange Golf Club offers 18 holes of challenging golf. In addition to the many established trees throughout the par 68 course, in the last ten years a further 7,000 specimens have been planted - bringing added beauty to an already remarkable location.

Highlight holes include the 1st - a straight 400 yard tree-lined hole with a significant specimen on the right at 309 yards. With trees also the left, a straight shot will ensure a good opening.

Blackwell Grange Golf Club

At the second hole, often described as the signature hole, the first shot is over water. For those who like a real challenge, the pleasure can be re-visited on the approach to the green where another pond lies in wait!

The 10th is a short par 4 with trees both right and left. The second shot is between two very tall mature trees and over two bunkers to a green, which slopes from front to back.

The Pleasington Pairs Pursuit

On Thursday 18th August 2011 Golf Empire will be holding an 18 hole Betterball Medal competition at Pleasington Golf Club.

Pleasington Golf Club is regarded as one of the top tests of golf in the North-West. Ranked as the 138th best golf course in England it is also used by the R&A as an Open Championship qualifying venue. Situated just under two miles from junction 3 of the M65 near Blackburn it is well located for golfers across the North.

Details:

• Thursday 18th August 2011
• £70 per pair
• 18 Hole Betterball Medal
• Includes soup & sandwiches
• 3/4 handicap allowance
• Limited tee times between 9am & 3pm
• Best nett score wins a place in the 2-day Northern Matchplay Grand Final

To enter you must be aged 16+ on 31st March 2011 & be a member of a golf club affiliated to the Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland or Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs.

An entry-form can be found here.

Goswick Scratch Open for The Rodger Bowl

Entries have now opened for what promises to be a major highlight on the North-East's golfing calendar.

Berwick-upon-Tweed Golf Club will host a new 36 Hole Scratch Open on Saturday 10th September 2011. Players will compete for The Rodger Bowl over the famous Goswick Links with a £500 prize also awarded to the winner. Indeed with vouchers presented to 5th place the total prize fund stands at a whopping £1,300.

The tournament will also feature on the ZFL North East Masters Series which returns for 2011 with a number of other high profile events.

Entry for the Goswick competition is £30 and is restricted to 75 golfers with a maximum handicap of 5. A ballot by handicap will take place if this number is exceeded. Download an entry-form.

The Fixby Challenge

On Friday 17th June 2011 Golf Empire will be holding an 18 hole Singles Strokeplay competition at Huddersfield Golf Club.

Huddersfield Golf Club is a true championship golf course in West Yorkshire. Fixby, as it is often referred to, is a regular venue for the Yorkshire County Championship and was a Brabazon Trophy qualifying venue in 2009. It has held numerous European Tour Seniors events and is located just one mile from junction 24 of the M62.

Details:

• Friday 17th June 2011
• £40 per person (£30 before 31st Jan 2011)
• 18 Hole Individual Strokeplay
• Includes soup & sandwiches
• Full handicap allowance
• Tee times between 9am & 3pm
• Best nett score wins a place in the 2-day Northern Matchplay Grand Final
• Best gross score wins £200

To enter you must be aged 16+ on 31st March 2011 & be a member of a golf club affiliated to the Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland or Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs.

An entry-form can be found here

2011 Gtour Race to Cyprus

Golfers across the UK are set to compete in a unique event open to all golfers with the ultimate reward of playing in the grand final at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus.

Building on 2 very successful seasons in 2009 and 2010, the Gtour Order of Merit will be renamed ‘The Race to Cyprus’ following renewed partnership with De Vere, Srixon, Bunker Mentality, Golfbreaks.com, 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 ‘Gtour Race to Cyrpus’ is the leading Amateur golf tour in the UK and unlike any other golf event in the UK is open to all golfers taking place at venues across the country.

Tournament Director Colin Astbury said he was delighted with the way the tour is moving forward, “Its fantastic news, the obvious step for us was to take the Gtour beyond the UK's shores and we're delighted to have partnered with Aphrodite Hills and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation in 2011. Together we have put together a format that can be enjoyed by players of all standards and a final that will inspire everybody who takes part to raise their games giving them the best possible chance to book their place at the UK Semi Final and of course a seat on that plane to Cyprus for the Grand Final.”

With handicap allowances of 28 for men and 36 for women, handicap based tiered Order of Merit and no restriction on club or non club status the ‘Gtour Race to Cyprus’ provides a unique fun, social and competitive tour experience for every golfer. In partnership with Golfscoretracker, the leading European online score tracking service, all scores, handicaps and playing history are monitored to ensure a transparent open appraisal of the Gtour players.

Membership is free and players pay for the event only with points awarded at each event counting towards the 2011 Order of Merit. Competing in at least 3 qualifying events around the UK the top 52 players will be invited to compete in the UK semi final in the Autumn at De Vere Belton Woods.

The 2 day semi final will then see the top 10 players move forward to compete for the tour title with the Grand final being be played out at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus with flights, accommodation and golf provided free.

Business Development Director, UK & Ireland, of Aphrodite Hills, Andreas Vasiliou, commented, ‘We have followed throughout 2010 the Gtour competitions all over UK. The relaxed atmosphere, the eagerness of participants to play and enjoy the game and the friendliness of all golfers has made it a wonderful experience.’

‘The dedication of the organisers and the choice of golf courses convinced us that this is an opportunity to become involved in and we are delighted that together with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation we will be hosting the 2011 final of ‘The Race to Cyprus’ at Aphrodite Hills.’

The experience the golfers receive starts from when they arrive at the course making it the ultimate event to play, with individual event prizes provided by the tour sponsors Golfbreaks.com, Bunker Mentality, De Vere, Srixon and Single Minded Golfer.

The tour starts in February 2011 at De Vere Staverton Park on Saturday 19th.

For further information visit www.gtour.co.uk

Gary Wolsteholme applauds “Ryder Cup Moment” for amateurs

Gary Wolstenholme, MBE, English golf professional with the one of the most successful amateur careers of all time, has become the Ambassador to The Four Nations Golf Challenge.

Gary, managed by Champions (UK) PLC and having represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Walker Cup on six occasions and England a record 218 times, enthused at the concept of the newly-announced 2011 Four Nations Golf Challenge. This team competition devised and organised by Concierge Golf for club golfers of all handicaps, gives players the unique opportunity of playing for their country – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – and experience their very own ‘Ryder Cup moment’.

Gary said, “I can tell you that there is no better feeling than playing for your Country and being part of a team. When I first heard about the Four Nations Golf Challenge I thought “what a brilliant idea” as it offers that opportunity to Club golfers to qualify for their national team and experience the kind of nail-biting finish witnessed in the final of the recent Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor”.

He continued, “There's nothing else like it for the amateur, feeling the passion that our top professionals experience in playing the game for national pride. I'm really excited about what I feel could become one of the most exciting competitions ever devised for the club golfer and I'm very proud to be associated with the Four Nations Golf Challenge”.

Roger Brady, Director of Concierge Golf, said, “Given Gary’s vast experience of international team golf and his affinity with amateur golfers everywhere, there is no better qualified person to represent the Four Nations Golf Challenge. We are delighted to have him as our Ambassador”

Open to men and ladies, The Four Nations Golf Challenge will culminate in a Grand Final to be contested by four teams of 12 players representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at The Oxfordshire Golf Club in the Chiltern Hills from 25 - 28 September, 2011.

To earn their chance to represent the Champion Golf Nation of the Year, a pair will need to win a maximum of four four-ball, better-ball matches, starting in May, in regional brackets consisting of 16 pairs each. If necessary, depending on the number of entries, a one-day final qualifying event will be held to decide which six pairs will represent their country in the Grand Final.

The Oxfordshire, a spectacular rolling layout designed by Rees Jones and owned by the Leaderboard Group which also includes Chart Hills, Dale Hill and Sandford Springs, opened its own state- of-the-art four-star hotel last May and every finalist will stay free of charge throughout the four days of the Grand Final, which is planned to be televised.

The cost of entry is just £20.00 per person (£40.00 per pair) and entries will close on 30th April 2011. For tournament registration and other information click onto www.fournationsgolfchallenge.co.uk or call 01276 35505.

Hill Valley Golf & Country Club

We are delighted to welcome Hill Valley Golf & Country Club to Golf Empire. This wonderful venue is now listing two of their 2011 opens on our website with more details below.

The first event will take place on Wednesday 20th April and is a Ladies Team Open. This Am-Am Stableford has an entry-fee of just £36 per team of three and therefore places will no doubt be taken very quickly. There is a maximum handicap limit of 36 for this event.

A Mixed Pairs Open will be held the following month on Monday 30th May (Bank Holiday). This competition is a Greensome Medal for men (max handicap 20) and ladies (max handicap 30) playing in mixed couples. Entry is only £24 per pair.

Designed by TV golfing stars Peter Alliss & Dave Thomas and created by Albert Minshall in 1975 Macdonald Hill Valley Spa, Hotel & Golf is one of the Top 10 golf venues in the UK.

Alongside 4-star accommodation, conference facilities and a luxury spa, a well-stocked pro shop caters for all your golfing needs. Players in open events are made especially welcome with a fabulous day of competitive golf assured.

The Great North Golf Tour

The Great North Golf Tour is an amateur golf tour that takes place at fantastic golf courses across the North of England.

Venues range from parkland and moorland to links courses providing you the ultimate test.

Keighley Golf Club

The tour is broadcast on Sky TV with some great prizes on offer including signed Ian Poulter golf apparel by Poulter himself. It's now your time to feel like a pro under the glare of the TV cameras and the sponsors banners on course.

The main aim is to become the order of merit champion and win a golfing holiday to The La Manga Golf Club in Spain for you and 3 of your mates!

The 2011 schedule can be seen here.

 

Tour features:
* No Joining Fee!
* Great Prizes!
* Only £45 Per Event!
* Great Venues!
* On Sky TV!
* Great Fun!

You can even buy a season ticket to play in all eight events at the reduced price of £315, a saving of £45.

Visit the official website at www.greatnorthgolftour.com

Hirsel Golf Club - The Augusta of The Borders

Entries are now open for five wonderful events to take place at Hirsel Golf Club during 2011.

Early booking is recommended for each one with tee-times expected to fill up quickly.

The first event will be played on Sunday 22nd May. The Commercial Inn Open is a 4-Ball Betterball competition for men with a maximum handicap of 24. Entry is just £16 per pair and promises to be a great day of golf.

Another Gents Pairs Open is scheduled for Saturday 3rd September, again this has an entry-fee of £16 per pair and is a Betterball format. Although later in the year early entry is strongly suggested.

The ever-popular Hirsel Mixed Texas Scramble will take place on Saturday 27th August. This competition is open to mixed teams of men (max handicap 24) and ladies (max handicap 36) with an entry-fee of £32 per team of four.

Two Gents Strokeplay tournaments will also be held during 2011. The first is the Douglas Home Gents Open on Saturday 30th July. This is open to golfers with a handicap of 18 or less and costs only £12 to enter.

Meanwhile the prestigious Hirsel Scratch Open will be held on Saturday 20th August and also costs £12. This event is only open to those with a handicap of 7 or less and is one of the highlights of the year at Hirsel.

About the course

The Hirsel Golf Club was founded in 1948 and nestles on the beautiful and historic Scottish Borders near the outskirts of Coldstream.

It is a par 70, 6,111 yard course which is a delight to play and also to the eye. Referred to in one golfing magazine as "The Augusta of the North" it is not the easiest of courses, but then it would not be as much fun if it was!

In addition, both par 5's appear in the last 7 holes, just as your energy is beginning to wane. However, with true golfing masochism, you will not be able to wait to put yourself against it's challenges again.

A parkland course of great natural beauty and breathtaking views over the Cheviot Hills and surrounding countryside, it is a must for all golfers, no matter their standard and well worth making a trip. Eighteen very different holes strategically designed to make the most of the undulations of the hills and valleys and the natural hazards presented by a very large number of majestic, mature trees, aided and abetted by the winding River Leet.

Voted "The Friendliest Course in the Borders" you are assured of a warm welcome at the Club.

Senior Pairs Open at Maesdu

A Senior Men's Open will take place at Llandudno Golf Club later this year.

This competition will take place on Thursday 9th June and becomes full very quickly. It is a Fourball Betterball Stableford with a maximum handicap limit of 28 and has an entry-fee of just £25 per pair.

Entries are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and a priority entry-form can be found here.

The 18 holes at Llandudno (Maesdu) Golf Club are gently undulating. While playing you will enjoy captivating panoramic views of the curving Conwy Bay, the Great Orme and in the distance the Snowdonia mountains, Isle of Anglesey and Puffin Island.

The championship course, over 6,500 yards in length, is varied and interesting. A good score is achieved with careful putting on the undulating greens.

Ladies Team Open at Gatley Golf Club

Entries are now open for the Ladies 3-Ball Am-Am Stableford at Gatley Golf Club.

This very popular event will be held on Friday 13th May and has an entry-fee of just £27 per team of three.

As you can imagine tee-times become subscribed quickly but you can download a priority entry-form here to secure a place.

For those that don't know the course, Gatley is set against the wonderful backdrop of the incredible Cheshire countryside. It is a nine-hole course with a par of 68 and measures just over 5900 yards

It's not the longest course in the region but is demanding nevertheless, as it plays host to a neat array of cleverly placed hazards.

Burghley Park Golf Club 2011 Opens

We're pleased to inform you about seven tournaments to be played at Burghley Park Golf Club during 2011.

Two of the events will take place during May and early booking is highly recommended as both offer fabulous value for money and usually fill up very quickly.

The first event is a 27 Hole Team Stableford for men and ladies in any combination. It will be held on Thursday 5th May with a 9 Hole Texas Scramble in the morning and an 18 Hole Am-Am in the afternoon. The cost of entry is £116 per team of four which includes coffee on arrival, lunch and a 2-course meal after golf.

The next competition will be played on Sunday 22nd May and is a Mixed Greensomes Stableford. Entry is £46 per couple which includes coffee on arrival and a 2-course meal. Handicap limits are 24 (men) and 30 (ladies) with a 3/4 allowance applied. A Mixed Betterball Stableford will also be held on Sunday 7th August. The cost is £60 per couple which also includes coffee on arrival and a 2-course carvery afterwards.

Two events will be held on Sunday 26th June for gentlemen golfers. The prestigious Quincentenary Cup will be contested over 36 holes for golfers with a handicap of 9 and under. There are gross & nett prizes with the entry-fee of £32 including coffee & a bacon roll on arrival plus lunch after the first round. This tournament forms part of the Single Figure Golfer Tour. A 36 Hole Stableford is also held for golfers with a handicap of 10-18 on the same day.

A Charity Am-Am is scheduled for Thursday 14th July with an entry-fee of £96 per team of four. This event is open to men and ladies (any combination) and includes coffee on arrival and a 2-course carvery afterwards.

Finally, the very popular Autumn Gents Pairs Open will take place on Sunday 25th September. Although this event is several months away you will need to be quick to secure a tee-time in this 36 Hole Betterball competition. The morning round is a Medal whilst the afternoon takes the form of a Stableford. Entry is fabulous value at just £70 per pair as morning coffee, lunch and an evening meal is all included.

Entry-forms for all the above events can be found here.

About the course

Lying on porous limestone, the golf course at Burghley Park has excellent natural drainage, meaning that it remains in good condition all year round.

The indigenous tree species provide a particular golfing challenge even on the shorter holes, where accuracy is all important. The greens are always quick and true, and have a reputation for being some of the best in the area.

Mindful of maintaining the high standards of the course, in 2007 the club engaged Tom McKenzie, whose company has advised upon 27 of Golf World's top 50 courses including six of the nine Open Championship venues, to devise a strategic five-year plan to improve the course.

Ashton-under-Lyne 2011 Opens

Ashton-under-Lyne Golf Club are now accepting entries for their 2011 open golf competitions.

Their events are no doubt amongst the most popular and best value tournaments in Lancashire with a total of 11 competitions taking place throughout the year, so don't delay if you want to book a place.

Tere are three Mixed Pairs Opens held on Sundays, the 15th May, 19th June and 28th August. Each has an entry-fee of just £20 per couple with a guaranteed best visitors prize.

There are also three Gents Individual Opens. Two of them are Singles Stableford competitions with three divisions up to the maximum handicap of 24 - these will take place on Tuesday 21st June and Sunday 2nd October. The third is a Singles Medal for the Matt Nixon Trophy (best gross) and Hartshead Trophy (best nett) which will be held on Sunday 26th June. The entry-fee is £10 for each tournament with early booking advised.

The events at Ashton-under-Lyne are concluded with two Gents Pairs Opens and a Gents Team Open. The 4BBB Stableford events are scheduled for Sunday 5th June and Sunday 4th September with entry-fees of £30 and £20 per pair respectively. The June competition includes a buffet meal after your round.

The 3-Man Am-Am Stableford will be held on Monday 20th June and has an unbelievable entry-fee of just £18 per team. As you can imagine tee-times become filled extremely quickly.

Entry-forms for all the above competitions can be found here.

Ladies Opens

Ashton-under-Lyne hold two very popular Ladies Opens during the year. Both events fill up quickly so early booking is highly recommended.

Each tournament is a team competition taking the form of a Fourball Stableford with the best two scores to count. Cost of entry is superb value at £40 per team with prizes awarded to 4th place.

The maximum handicap limit is 36 with a 7/8 allowance applied.

Entry-forms can be found below:

• Wednesday 22nd June 2011
• Wednesday 3rd August 2011

About the course

Formed in 1913 Ashton-under-Lyne Golf Club is a wooded course nestling in the foot hills of the Pennines on the edge of the Greater Manchester conurbation.

Over the years great improvements have been made to the course with increased length, more bunkers and improved tees & greens. The club have also planted many new trees which are an attractive feature and of course a challenge!

Midlands Amateur Tour 2011

The Golfing Days Midlands Amateur Tour is back for 2011 and promises to be even better!

There are a total of 9 competitions in 2011 at some of the best golf courses throughout the Midlands.

The first event is a little over a month away and will be played at The Forest of Arden Golf Club in Warwickshire. Other venues include; Stapleford Park, Wollaton Park, Lutterworth, Willesley Park, Edgbaston, Chevin, Rushcliffe and Longcliffe. Entry-fees start from just £50 per person. More details.

15% Discount:

If you enter all 9 events at the same time you will benefit from a 15% saving off the entry-fees. Even if you can't make every event you can still get a 10% discount if you apply for 7 events. Find out more.

What's included at each event?

• Tea/coffee & bacon rolls on arrival.
• 18 hole individual Stableford.
• Daily prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place.
• Order of merit points.
• Nearest-the-pin & longest drive prizes.
• 1-course non-formal dinner.
• Prize presentation.

Next up:

The first tournament of 2011 will take place at The Forest of Arden Golf Club on Friday 18th February. Limited places.

Order of Merit:

Points are awarded at each event based on your position. The player who accumulates the post points throughout the season will win a luxury trip to Andalucia for 2 people, 3 nights with 2 rounds of golf with buggies.

BECOME A GOLF STAR

Do you fancy becoming the next big name in golf and follow in the footsteps of some of the game’s biggest stars?

Entries are now open for Q School where the top performers will earn their spots playing on the 2011 EuroPro Tour.

The EuroPro Tour is the leading golf developmental tour in Europe and a host of former players have gone on to lift some of the biggest titles in the world.

Louis Oosthuizen won the 2010 Open after playing on the EuroPro Tour in 2003, while Ross Fisher was a member of the winning European Ryder Cup team only five years after playing on the EuroPro Tour.

A number of players, including Lloyd Saltman and Daniel Gaunt, will also be playing on this year’s European Tour after playing on the EuroPro Tour in 2010.

Gaunt’s story should act as an inspiration to any hopeful golfer. He lost his European Tour card in 2004 but practised hard and was determined to get back. He won the first EuroPro Tour event of 2010 – at Wensum Valley in Norfolk – and then struck a rich vein of form that saw him also finish twice on two occasions and third three times.

His performances on the EuroPro Tour saw him get a sponsors’ invite in to the English Challenge on the second-tier Challenge Tour and victory on that ensured he would spend the rest of the season playing on the Challenge Tour.

He then finished in the top 30 in nine out of ten Challenge Tour events to secure a return alongside the European golfing elite.

The 2011 EuroPro Tour season promises to be better than ever with a host of top venues already agreed to host tournaments in 2011.

Venues confirmed for 2011 include Wensum Valley (Norfolk), Burhill (Surrey), Galgorm Castle (Ballymena, Northern Ireland), Fota Island (Cork, Republic of Ireland), Longhirst (Northumberland), Players Club (Bristol), Formby Hall (Merseyside), Lingfield (Surrey), Mottram Hall (Cheshire) and Hunley Hall (North Yorkshire).

In another boost to the Tour, Network Veka and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) have agreed to sponsor the events at Mottram Hall and Players Club respectively.

Danny Nickless, Operations Manager for the EuroPro Tour, said: “The 2010 season was a great year on the PGA EuroPro Tour with the likes of Dan Gaunt, Lloyd Saltman, Elliot Saltman, Steve Lewton, Steve Tiley, Jaco Van Zyl, Sean Norris and Liam Bond all gaining their main European Tour playing rights.

“I hope they follow in the footsteps of ex PGA EuroPro Tour players to become winners. Players such as Richard Finch, Graeme Storm, Ross Fisher have won and in the last year we also had ex players James Morrison, John Parry and Louis Oosthuizen winning.

“They have all been members of the tour at one point over the last seven years and this is your opportunity to give yourself the chance to follow in their footsteps.

“This is an amazing opportunity for anybody who thinks they want to find out if they have what it takes and this is the best place to do that. I look forward to seeing you in 2011 and I welcome you to this fantastic tour.”

For more information on the EuroPro Tour, visit the official website www.europrotour.com

Extra event added due to popular demand

Huddersfield Golf Club in West Yorkshire will hold an additional event in their popular Winter Series. The first three events were all over-subscribed so a fourth competition has been scheduled for Friday 1st April 2011.

At just £75 per team of three it represents excellent value for money, especially as all entrants receive a FREE green-fee voucher to return to the club during the summer. A soup and sandwich lunch is also provided in the tournament that is open to men and women.

The majority of spaces have already been filled with the remaining tee-times allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. An entry-form can be found here.

Free wine when you book a winter 4-ball:

If you can't make the 1st April date you will be pleased to know that we are also running a special winter offer at the club. Golf Empire subscribers receive a free bottle of wine when booking a winter 4-ball, find out more.