The Faldo Series, Sir Nick Faldo’s global golf development programme, has announced the UK dates that will form part of its European schedule in 2011.
The Faldo Series has also launched a brand new online entry system that will enable prospective competitors to enter the Faldo Series UK Championships by logging onto www.nickfaldo.com and following the simple instructions.
There will be a total of nine UK events on the 2011 Faldo Series Europe schedule, including two new venues, Pyle & Kenfig in Bridgend, Wales, and The Grove in Hertfordshire, England. Pyle & Kenfig has hosted several top amateur events, including two Amateur Championships and the Men’s Home Internationals in 2006, in which former Faldo Series winner Rory McIlroy was a competitor, while The Grove hosted a World Golf Championship won by Tiger Woods in the same year.
“We are pleased to announce the nine events that will comprise our UK schedule for 2011,” said Faldo, the six-time Major champion and founder of the Faldo Series. “We’re happy to be able to take the Faldo Series to such a strong list of venues. Many of the courses are old favourites while both Pyle & Kenfig and The Grove are impressive additions to the fold.”
“I thank our partners The R&A, the European Tour, Lough Erne Resort and the PGA for their continued support of the Faldo Series. Their contributions are vital for the future development of the Series, both in the UK and across the globe.”
The British leg starts with a 36-hole UK Championship at Moortown, Yorkshire, in April and finishes at Hollinwell, Nottinghamshire, in late August. At least eight other tournaments will also be announced in countries across Europe.
The full UK schedule comprises 36-hole UK Championships at
- Moortown, Yorkshire, England (April 6-7);
- West Lancs, Lancashire, England (April 20-21);
- Walton Heath, Surrey, England (May 4-5);
- Royal Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, England (May 17-18);
- Trentham, Staffordshire, England (June 8-9);
- The Roxburghe, Roxburghshire, Scotland (June 29-30);
- Pyle & Kenfig, Bridgend, Wales (July 4-5);
- The Grove, Hertfordshire, England (August 22-23); and
- Hollinwell, Nottinghamshire, England (August 30-31).
The winners of the five age group categories (Boys’ Under-21, Boys’ Under-18, Boys’ Under-16, Girls’ Under-21 and Girls’ Under-16) at each UK Championship will progress to the 15th Faldo Series Europe Grand Final, to be hosted by Faldo and held for the second successive year over The Faldo Course at the Lough Erne Resort, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, next September.
Defending his title will be Japan’s Masamichi Ito who last year became the first Asian golfer to win the Faldo Series Europe title and superseded European Tour star Nick Dougherty as the youngest ever champion at the age of 15 years and 46 days. The Girls’ event was won by another Asian, Yi-Chen Liu from Chinese Taipei, who finished five shots ahead of English Curtis Cup player Holly Clyburn.
The Faldo Series Europe was founded back in 1996. Together with the Faldo Series Asia, which followed in 2006, the Series has supported a host of talented young golfers including three-time LPGA Major winner Yani Tseng, and Tour winners Rory McIlroy, Nick Dougherty, Mark Warren, John Parry, Melissa Reid and Florentyna Parker.
The Faldo Series is open to amateur golfers born in 1990 or later. For further details, including how to enter a 2011 Faldo Series UK Championship, prospective competitors should visit www.nickfaldo.com, email series@nickfaldo.com
The 2011 Faldo Series Europe is supported by The R&A, The European Tour and the Lough Erne Resort, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It also receives the support of the PGA within the UK.
The Faldo Series can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries