A brand new tour designed to increase playing opportunities for professional female golfers in the UK has been launched today (March 22).
The Ladies Pro Series, which is inviting applications for membership for its 2024 tournament schedule from today, has been designed to be complimentary to the existing Ladies European Tour Access Series, with no clashes of dates in a six-event season, with more to be added that initially runs between April and August.
The format of each one-day event (18 holes) will see a female professional paired with an amateur partner, with prizes for both the pro’s individual score, as well as the combined team total.
Following the conclusion of the season, options are currently being explored for tournaments to take place in the Middle East at the end of the year, creating playing opportunities for developmental golfers to enjoy.
With ease of access and a developmental spirit in mind, the tour sees comparatively lower entry fees than many professional events (£300 for members), while retaining a purse of £10,000 for all events in its first year for the professionals. As such, those succeeding in the tournament series will enjoy opportunities to earn a higher amount than on all existing female tours at this developmental level.
The ambitions of the tour will be for it to become an official feeder series for the existing structure within women’s professional golf; notably, providing a pathway into the Ladies European Tour Access Series. The first event on the Ladies Pro Series will take place the week commencing April 29 (venue TBC), with the remaining tournaments held at venues across England, again helping to make the series more accessible to the participants.
Sarah and Adam Walker, founders of the Ladies Pro Series, said: “Women’s sport is rightly growing across the board. Golf is no different and we want to give ladies the chance to compete year-round with comparable prize funds to the men. The standard of women’s golf in the UK is exemplary and we want to showcase this and help them develop their game, so they are ready to compete at the highest level. Having two young daughters ourselves and having a sporting background we want them to grow up in a world where sport is fair and accessible for all, and we are excited to be a part of the journey.”
For more information about the Ladies Pro Series, visit www.ladiesproseries.co.uk.
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