The fourth annual Disabled British Open takes place at East Sussex National in August – and for the first time it has a title sponsor yourgolftravel.com.
Henceforth, the events will be known as the yourgolftravel.com Disabled British Open 2012 and the yourgolftravel.com Junior Disabled British Open 2012, in a move heralded by the tournament’s promoter, Remarkable Events.
Lindsey Horton, project manager with Remarkable Events, said: “Having yourgolftravel.com as a title sponsor is a huge fillip for everybody involved with the tournament. The company is one of the most respected and fastest growing in the industry – and has been named as one of the top performing companies in the country.
“The directors are massive golf fans, and avid supporters of worthy causes. Our discussions with them were very amicable from the outset as they were keen to help in whatever way they could. I don’t think we could have a more motivated title sponsor and we are hugely grateful to them for their participation.”
Ross Marshall, yourgolftravel.com’s CEO, explained: “The ethos of yourgolftravel.com has always been to make golf more accessible and this event has adopted the same attitude since its inception. It shows golf is available to all and the skill on display last year, when I first saw the tournament, was awe-inspiring and humbling in equal measure.
“It is a fantastic event and one deserving of our support in 2012 – and we are delighted to be able to oblige. We’re looking forward to both tournaments – the yourgolftravel.com Disabled British Open 2012 and the yourgolftravel.com Junior Disabled British Open 2012 – and wish all the competitors well in their endeavours.”
The burgeoning yourgolftravel.com was named in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 2011 guide – which ranksBritain’s fastest-growing private companies – for a third consecutive year. Of the other companies named only 12 were celebrating their third inclusion in a row, and the company’s 26th place ranking further cements its reputation asEurope’s largest golf travel retailer. It was the highest-ranked travel company and the golf industry’s only representative in the prestigious league table.
Founders Ross Marshall and Andrew Harding started the company in 2005. Today, the business offers domestic, European and long-haul golf holiday packages to 3,000 courses in 22 countries and books more than 150,000 travellers each year.
The yourgolftravel.com Disabled British Open 2012 returns to East Sussex National – the third year the Uckfield resort has hosted the competition – on August 24-26, 2012, and, once again, a full field of competitors is expected in the senior tournament. Last year competitors travelled from as far afield asPakistanand theUSAto participate in what has been acknowledged asBritain’s premier disabled golf event.
Surrey’s Duncan Hamilton-Martin took the title last year – the second occasion he emerged victorious – and the 54-year-old independent financial advisor plans to defend his title this summer.
He said: “This is a brilliant all-inclusive event; everyone can play and everybody has a great time. I watched a bit of the junior event too – it was fantastic. That’s the future. Hopefully that will be bigger and bigger.”
The inaugural Junior Disabled British Open, also played over two days, was won by 13-year-old Frankie Jones, from Welshpool, who has cerebral palsy.
This year’s competition will see the junior event played over 24-25 August, while the senior competition will take place on 25-26 August.
Last year the DBO received support from far and wide including the UK Government – both the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP, and the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller MP, praised it for its inclusivity and legacy – the sport’s governing body, the R&A, the European Tour and Wealden District Council.
Entry for this year’s yourgolftravel.com Disabled British Open 2012 and yourgolftravel.com Junior Disabled British Open 2012 will open in April.
For further information, or to enquire about participating in the yourgolftravel.com Disabled British Open 2012 or the yourgolftravel.com Junior Disabled British Open 2012, contact championship organiser Andy Barwell on 01227 807563 or visit www.disabledbritishopen.org