Sir Nick Faldo will return to his home club, Welwyn Garden City Golf Club, to celebrate the Faldo Series’ 25th anniversary and launch its largest ever championship.
Starting at the beginning of Open week, a record-breaking 375 junior golfers will take inspiration from the same Hertfordshire fairways where Series founder, Sir Nick Faldo, picked up his very first clubs and began his own journey to six Major Championships, including three Claret Jugs.
The first two days will see 282 boys compete on the both the Melbourne and Palmerston courses at Brocket Hall, whilst 93 girls go head-to-head at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club.
The final day will see both categories come together at Brocket Hall where the age-category winners will earn a prestigious invite to the 25th Faldo Series Europe Grand Final hosted at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, Abu Dhabi in October.
As a previous Faldo Series Grand Final host and long standing opening venue for the Series, Brocket Hall has often found applause for its commitment to junior golf and grassroots initiatives, making it a fitting stage for the finale of the record-breaking event.
The Series also sets up a fine week of golf with the return of The 149th Open Championship, where a number of Sir Nick’s alumni will tee it up, including Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood. Sir Nick will be absorbing the action at Royal St George’s during his visit, following proud support by The R&A who have been involved in the Series since its inception.
Looking ahead to his return, Sir Nick said: “It will be a real privilege to go back to Welwyn after all these years and to celebrate with the Faldo Series is the perfect return. There is certainly a sense of nostalgia as I think back to all those hours spent on the course hitting balls and to now be able to welcome the next generation of aspiring juniors here is magnificent.”
“When the Series began back in 1996 it presented an opportunity for me to give back to the game, and to see just how far we have come over these 25 years is quite unbelievable. To now be looking at three courses, completely full of ambitious and talented boys and girls, and hosting a competition with 375 players is mind-blowing, but more so demonstrates the exciting future for golf.”
The opening tournament of the Europe Series begins a schedule of 10 events throughout the summer, which will celebrate the Faldo Series’ commitment to growing the game and ‘developing tomorrow’s champions’.
To watch the launch video for the 25th Faldo Series click here.