For the first time in its nine-year history, the burgeoning Faldo Series Asia schedule will include visits to Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Sir Nick, Britain’s most successful golfer, said: “This is the time for golf on all levels to be looked at as a truly global sport with global opportunity and possibility. We remain focused on developing the Faldo Series in more countries and introducing the lessons and opportunity of this sport through elite junior amateur competition along with grass roots introduction to golfers on all levels.”
Supported by The R&A, ISPS and Mission Hills and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia campaign will stretch over 11 months and will be made up of a minimum of 20 championships spanning no fewer than 17 countries.
There will be three events in China and one each in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Faldo Series Asia Grand Final is slated to take place in March, 2015 with Sir Nick working with winners from around the region as well as champions from the Faldo Series in Europe and USA.
Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006.
Today, 40 Faldo Series tournaments take place in 30-plus countries worldwide, touching more than 7,000 golfers each year. Past winners include Major champions Rory McIlroy and Tseng Ya-ni.
Dominic Wall, R&A Director – Asia, said: “The R&A has supported the Faldo Series Asia over the last eight years and during this period the Series has provided opportunities for many young golfers from across the region to test their skills in a competitive championship setting.
“The Series not only offers golfers the ability to move from national to international level competition but also provides an environment where they can learn from a variety of experts in a number of areas related to golf development.
“The R&A looks forward to another successful year for the Faldo Series Asia and wishes all the players and officials all the best for the forthcoming season.”
Among those looking to shine this season will be juniors from New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Dave Mangan, General Manager at NZ Golf Inc, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Nick Faldo in giving our up-and-coming junior golfers the opportunity to participate in the Faldo Series Asia. NZ Golf hopes that this new pathway to the challenges of global golf will help to establish our next Lydia Ko on the world stage.”
Garry Moore, Chairman at Clearwater Golf Club, the Christchurch venue that will stage the event in January, said: “The Clearwater Golf Club is delighted to commence our partnership with the Faldo Series Asia in another strategic move to enhance the international hosting reputation of the club and to provide it with another opportunity to showcase the Clearwater facilities.
“The Faldo Series has been a wonderful incubator of international golfing talent and the quality fields and format align neatly with our brand as one of New Zealand’s premier golfing destinations.”
Major General Md Mashud Razzaq, President, Junior Division, Bangladesh Golf Federation (BGF), said: “Our Federation is pleased to become a host for the Faldo Series Asia. I am certain that junior golfers in Bangladesh will greatly benefit from this prestigious tournament.”
For more information on the Faldo Series, please visit: http://nickfaldo.com/about-faldo-series. You can also follow the Faldo Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/faldoseries