Royal Lytham to host Walker Cup in 2015

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NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
The R&A has announced that Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club will host the 45th Walker Cup Match, in 2015. The biennial contest between Great Britain & Ireland and the USA will take place on the Lancashire links on September 12 and 13 that year.
“We are delighted that Royal Lytham & St Annes has agreed to host the Walker Cup in 2015,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships. “As one of Great Britain and Ireland’s premier links courses, it will undoubtedly provide a stern test befitting a contest that has come to represent the pinnacle of amateur achievement.
“The golfing public in the north-west of England are extremely knowledgeable and have always shown a keen interest in the amateur game,” Hill added. “We look forward to welcoming them to Lytham in 2015 for what will be a fantastic celebration of golf.”
Lytham has a proud association with the amateur game. Bobby Jones became only the third amateur to lift the Claret Jug when he won the first of his three Open Championships there, in 1926. The venue has also staged four Amateur Championships in 1935, 1955, 1986 and in 2007, when Drew Weaver, a member of the USA’s winning Walker Cup team last year, defeated Australian Tim Stewart 2&1 in the final.
“Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club is both delighted and honoured to be asked to host the Walker Cup in 2015,” said Paul Gardner, captain of the club. “Royal Lytham prides itself on strong connections with the amateur game, which it supports every year by holding the Lytham Trophy, a major event for those seeking Walker Cup selection.
“The last two years have seen significant Course improvements, following consultation with The R&A, which will lead to an enhanced challenge for all competitors in major events throughout this decade and beyond.”
Though the Club will be hosting the Walker Cup for the first time in 2015, it is no stranger to international team matches, having hosted the Ryder Cup in 1961 and 1977: the USA beating Great Britain & Ireland on both occasions.
Royal Lytham & St Annes has hosted The Open Championship on 10 previous occasions and will do so again in 2012.
In 2011 the Walker Cup will be played at Royal Aberdeen in Scotland. Following that, the 2013 Match will be contested at the National Golf Links of America, Long Island, New York.

R&A NAME VENUES FOR 2013 CHAMPIONSHIPS

AND INTERNATIONAL MATCHES

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A

The R&A has announced venues for the 2013 Championship season.
The hosting of the Boys Amateur Championship will be shared between Royal Liverpool Golf Club and Wallasey Golf Club.

The Boys Home Internationals will be hosted by Forest Pines Golf Club. The 2013 Jacques Leglise Trophy will be held at Royal St David’s Golf Club. And the Seniors Open Amateur Championship will be contested at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.
Royal Liverpool will be the main venue for the 2013 Boys Amateur. The Club has a rich championship history, having hosted The Open 11 times and the Amateur on 17 occasions. Hoylake has also staged four Boys Amateurs, the last in 2003 when former Walker Cup player and European Tour professional Rhys Davies took the title.
Founded in 1891 by members from Royal Liverpool, Wallasey is famous for being the home club of Dr Frank Stableford, the man who devised the Stableford scoring system. It was a Local Final Qualifying venue when The Open was staged at Hoylake in 2006, and it played host to stroke play qualifying for the Amateur in 2000.
Forest Pines, the host of the 2013 Boys Home Internationals, is a new addition to the list of R&A championship venues. Designed by the late PGA Tour player John Morgan, the Lincolnshire course opened for play in 1996 and was quickly recognised by Golf World as the best course in England opened since 1994.
The Jacques Leglise Trophy will take place at Royal St David’s in 2013, adding to an R&A Championship history which includes the 1994 British Youths, the 1999 Boys Amateur and the 2003 Boys Home Internationals.

Such is Harlech’s renown that three-time Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher said: “It is no exaggeration to say that Royal St David’s is one of the finest courses in the world.”
In 2013, the Seniors Open Amateur will be held at Royal Aberdeen for the second time, 20 years after it was last held there in 1993. Royal Aberdeen has been an R&A championship venue since 1935, when it staged the Boys Amateur Championship. The next major event to be held there will be the 43rd Walker Cup Match in September 2011.

DATES AND VENUES FOR 2013

The Boys Amateur Championship: Royal Liverpool and Wallasey, 13 – 18 August

The Boys Home Internationals: Forest Pines, 6 – 8 August

The Jacques Leglise Trophy: Royal St David’s, 30 & 31 August

The Seniors Open Amateur Championship, Royal Aberdeen, 7 – 9 August

FORMAT OF BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

TO BE CHANGED: STROKE-PLAY QUALIFYING

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A

The format of the Boys Amateur Championship will be changed from 2010 to bring it into line with the Amateur Championship. Competitors will now contest 36 holes of stroke play qualifying over two courses with the top 64 and ties progressing to the match play rounds.
Consequently, additional qualifying venues will be used to host two days of stroke play competition. The new venues will be as follows:
In 2010, Irvine Golf Club will share stroke play qualifying with Kilmarnock (Barassie). The course at Bogside, designed by five-time Open Champion, James Braid, has staged Open Championship Local Final Qualifying whenever The Open has been held at Royal Troon and in 1994 when The Open was held at Turnberry. It also co-hosted the Amateur Championship in 2003 when six-time Walker Cup player, Gary Wolstenholme, took the title at Royal Troon.
In 2011, Enmore Park Golf Club will host stroke play qualifying with Burnham & Berrow Golf Club. The Club was re-sited in 1972 with Fred Hawtree commissioned to design the course. 2011 will be the first time that Enmore Park has hosted an R&A event.
In 2012, Coxmoor Golf Club will share stroke play qualifying with Notts Golf Club. Coxmoor hosted Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship in 1992 and 1993 and again from 1996 to 2001. Founded in 1913, the Nottinghamshire heathland course hosted the prestigious Dunlop Golf Tournament in 1961 at which five-time Open Champion, Peter Thomson, and four-time recipient of the Claret Jug, Bobby Locke, competed.
The 2010 Boys Amateur Championship will be held from Tuesday 10 to Sunday 15 August. For more information, visit www.randa.org.

Nigel Edwards getting down to it ... image by courtesy of Tom Ward.

Nigel Edwards appointed GB&I team captain for

Walker Cup match at Royal Aberdeen in 2011

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
Nigel Edwards has been appointed as the captain of the Great Britain and Ireland team that will face the United States of America at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in the 2011 Walker Cup match. Edwards will also captain the GB&I team as they take on the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy Match at Castelconturbia Golf Club, Italy, next year.
A long-time member of Whitchurch Golf Club, he has played in four successive Walker Cup matches between 2001 and 2007, winning four matches, losing five and halving three.
“I am delighted to have been invited to be the next Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain. It is a great honour for me, my family and for Welsh Golf, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” said Edwards.
“The goal is to win back the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen and I will lead the team with great pride and enthusiasm. I will put all of my Walker Cup experience to good use in ensuring that the team selected prepares well and performs to the very best of its ability.
“The Walker Cup is a great sporting spectacle that conjures up moments and experiences that will live with players for their entire careers and I am really excited about continuing my involvement with the match.”
Edwards was instrumental in GB&I’s 2003 victory at Ganton Golf Club, holing a 30yd putt from off the green at the 17th to ensure overall victory and finishing as that match’s leading points-scorer. In 2005 and 2007, the 41-year-old was part of GB&I teams that suffered defeat to the USA by a single point.
“Nigel is absolutely the right person to regain the Walker Cup in 2011 and we are delighted that he has accepted the invitation,” said Chairman of Selectors, Tony Disley. “Not only will his extensive recent experience and outstanding record in team golf ensure the respect and admiration of his players, but his enthusiasm and determination to succeed will prove an invaluable asset at Royal Aberdeen.”
In addition to his Walker Cup successes, Edwards has been part of three victorious GB&I teams in the St Andrews Trophy and part of two winning European teams in the Bonallack Trophy against Asia/Pacific. He also won the Home Internationals and the European Nations Cup with Wales in 2002.
Edwards is the Director of Player Development and Coaching at the Golf Union of Wales, taking responsibility for directing player development and managing the provision of coaching for elite players and national teams. He is still ranked just outside the top 100 amateur players in the world (103rd) according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and he has been in possession of nine amateur course records including those of Royal Lytham & St Annes and the New and Jubilee courses at St Andrews.

R&A launch 'Railway Club at

17th Tee' package for Open

championship


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
Tickets for the 150th Anniversary Open Championship at St Andrews should be purchased before Monday, December 14 to ensure that they are delivered to UK addresses in time for Christmas.
With Greenside Club tickets sold out, buyers can now take advantage of the newly-released ‘Railway Club at the 17th Tee’ ticket. It gives a full week’s access to a reserved stand by the new 17th tee, which also overlooks the 16th and second green. Railway Club Ticket holders will also receive access to the Railway Club Marquee, in which they can enjoy complimentary tea, coffee and newspapers, and a range of other catering to purchase.
An Official Programme and daily draw-sheet, plus a week’s car-park pass and entry to both The R&A Club Marquee and Links Restaurant will also be included.
“Railway Club tickets and the Railway Stand are a new initiative for 2010 and would make a great present,” explained The R&A’s Director of Championships, David Hill. “The stand will give spectators fantastic views as players drive from the new 17th tee over the famous railway sheds, while the dedicated marquee, situated less than 150 yards away, will allow ticket holders to relax in comfort and style.”
Those who don’t want to miss a shot on the Old Course can also purchase Season tickets for all eight days of the Championship at the heavily discounted price of £200, if purchased before January 31, 2010.
A number of special events have been planned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship, including The Open Champions’ Challenge on the Wednesday evening before the Championship gets underway.
A daily ticket on the four Championship days (July 15-28, 2010) costs £60. Under-16’s will continue to be admitted free of charge and concessions are available.
Ticket enquiries should be directed through Opengolf.com or +44 (0) 1334 460010.

+The Open championship will be played over the Old Course, St Andrews from July 15 to 18, 2010.

Seve accepts honorary membership of the Royal

and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GOLF CLUB OF ST ANDREWS
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is pleased to announce that Severiano Ballesteros has accepted its invitation to become an Honorary Member.
Severiano Ballesteros first caught the attention of the golfing public when, as a 19-year-old, he finished in a tie for second place with Jack Nicklaus at the 1976 Open Championship, held at Royal Birkdale. He then went on to win five Major Championships between the years of 1979 and 1988, adding two Green Jackets to his haul of three Claret Jugs.
His three Open Championship victories came in 1979 and 1988 at Royal Lytham and St Annes, and in 1984 at St Andrews. His legendary fist pump, a reaction to holing the birdie putt on the final hole of the Old Course to claim his second Claret Jug, became famous the world over and is now used as a logo for his group of companies.
“I am greatly honoured to accept Honorary Membership of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews,” he said.

“I have had, perhaps, the outstanding moment of my career at St Andrews and the town will always retain a very special place close to my heart. I sincerely hope that I will be able to come back next year and be part of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship.”
Ballesteros competed for Europe in eight Ryder Cups and Captained the European team to victory at Valderrama in 1997. He was also instrumental in creating the biennial Seve Trophy match, now called ‘the Vivendi Trophy with Severiano Ballesteros’, between teams representing Great Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe. He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999.
Earlier this year, Ballesteros launched the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, an organisation which aims to aid research into cancer, particularly brain tumours. Simultaneously, the Foundation also assists young, underprivileged golfers to develop their golfing careers.

Severiano Ballesteros joins an illustrious list of Honorary Members of the Club:
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT.

His Royal Highness The Duke of York KG, KCVO, ADC.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO.

The Hon. George Herbert Walker Bush GCB.

Peter Alliss

Tony Jacklin CBE.
John Jacobs OBE.

Kel Nagle

Jack Nicklaus

Arnold Palmer

Gary Player

Peter Thomson CBE, AO.

Lee Trevino

Roberto De Vicenzo

Tom Watson

OLD COURSE ROAD HOLE TO BE LENGTHENED

AHEAD OF 2010 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT ST ANDREWS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
16 October 2009, St Andrews, Scotland: The 17th hole of the Old Course will be lengthened ahead of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship at St Andrews. The ‘Road Hole’, which has remained the same length for more than 100 years, will increase in length by some 35 yards to 490 yards. A new Championship tee will be constructed on the practice range of St Andrews Links Trust.
It has long been suggested that the 17th hole would benefit from additional length to restore the original challenge of the hole. In advance of the 1964 St Andrews Open, three-time Open Champion, Henry Cotton, recommended the alteration stating: “I would make a tee just beyond the railway line on the other course [he was referring to the Eden Course which is now the practice range]. It would restore this drive to its former value.”
An increased premium will be placed on an accurate drive of sufficient length over the sheds, encouraging players to take driver from the tee. The fairway will be widened slightly on the left hand side to ensure that the tee shot remains fair. Crucially, the difficulty of the second shot will be re-established, making it more difficult to hold the approach on the putting surface and increasing the threat posed by both the road behind the green and the Road Bunker.
“The 17th was played at the same yardage in 1900 as it was in 2005 and this fuelled our belief that the formidable challenge of this iconic hole should be returned for The Open Championship,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.

“Over the years, we have seen the threat from the road behind the green, and to a lesser extent the Road Bunker, diminished as players have been hitting shorter irons for their approach shots allowing them to avoid these hazards more easily. This change will ensure that the hole plays as it was originally intended.”

“We have spent some time discussing this with The R&A and I know they have carefully considered making this change for The Open Championship,” said Alan McGregor, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust.

“The Road Hole is the most famous hole in world golf and we believe the changes will increase the challenge of the hole whilst remaining true to its spirit.”

Work on the new Championship tee will commence in the coming weeks. The lengthening of the ‘Road Hole’ is the only significant change planned for the Old Course ahead of the 2010 Open Championship.

+Colin Farquharson is on holiday on the Algarve. A full normal service will be resumed on his return on Monday, October 26.

FIRST EASTERN EUROPEAN RULES SCHOOL

BEGINS IN PRAGUE TOMORROW

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
September 24, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic: On September 25-27 in the Czech Republic, The R&A will stage its first Eastern European Rules School. Sixty-three delegates from eleven nations will attend the three-day event which is being hosted by Golf Hostivař in Prague.
The nations represented at the Eastern European Rules School are as follows: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia. The R&A delegation running the School comprises Alan Holmes, Chairman of the Rules of Golf Committee; Stuart Allison, Rules of Golf Committee; and Kevin Barker, Assistant Director – Rules of Golf.
The School will focus on the game’s main playing Rules (Rules 12 – 28), their definitions and their practical application. Through a series of seminars, which will include analysis of televised incidents and role-play scenarios, attendees will have the opportunity to challenge and develop their knowledge before taking the Rules Exam.
Successful candidates will receive certification acknowledging their level of Rules knowledge. Many associations use the qualification as a guide for determining potential referees.
“We’re delighted to be taking the Rules School to Eastern Europe for the first time,” said Alan Holmes. “The game in the region has developed both rapidly and impressively in recent years and it is, therefore, appropriate for us to provide the opportunity for enthusiastic and knowledgeable officials to take their Rules Exam.
“The Czech Golf Federation has been particularly active in setting up its first ever Rules School so it’s great to see its efforts rewarded with a large attendance.”

For those that hope to go on to officiate in national and international competitions, guidance will be given on course marking, officiating and the practical application of the Rules.
Following Eastern Europe, the next stop for The R&A’s Rules education programme will be in China on 12 – 14 November.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images: David Pepper, left, Chairman of the R&A General Committee and Keith Hodgkinson, Chairman of the R&A Golf Development Committee, right, with PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones.

R&A £500,000 boost to PGA's

training programmes

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
The Professional Golfers’ Association will expand and improve its acclaimed training programmes thanks to a grant of almost half-a-million pounds from The R&A, the sport’s governing body.
The R&A, which ploughs millions into promoting and growing the game worldwide, has given further evidence of its commitment to the game by supporting The PGA in its training of modern-day professionals.
The PGA has more than 7,500 members working in more than 60 countries and each year around 250 new graduates qualify through a three-year Foundation Degree in Professional Golf Studies.
Its training programmes include two successful degree courses, several further education opportunities including a director of golf option plus a continuous professional development scheme.
At the heart of its education and training programmes is a commitment to the latest advances in sports-science, technology, equipment, coaching techniques, business and marketing – all designed to equip the degree-educated young professionals with the skills to grow and promote the game in a range of roles across the golf industry.
The latest funding will also assist the PGA in nurturing a network of volunteer coaches across the UK and helping grow the game through schemes such as the England Golf Partnership, clubgolf Scotland, Golf Development Wales and Junior Golf Ireland.
“The continued support from the R&A is invaluable in helping the PGA training and education programme sustain its reputation as one of the most respected across the world,” said Dr Kyle Phillpots, PGA director of education and training.
“We’re indebted to the R&A for their support and backing which ensures our members are well qualified to assist the R&A in their ambitions to grow the game throughout the world.”
The R&A is golf's governing body and organiser of The Open Championship and through the Championship’s success is able to invest an annual surplus through The R&A Foundation into grass roots development projects around the world.

OLAZABAL AND MONTGOMERIE REMEMBER

1984 FORMBY FINAL

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With the 114th Amateur Championship fast approaching, two-time Masters champion, Jose Maria Olazabal and 2010 Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie have spoken about the 1984 final, when the Spaniard got the better of the Scot on the Sefton links. 25 years after that first encounter, they explained what they gained from playing amateur golf as they developed into successful Tour professionals.
“Winning The Amateur was a fantastic experience, not only because I was successful at the biggest amateur event in the world, but because of what it means in terms of tradition and self confidence for the future,” explained Olazabal, winner of 23 European Tour events.
“So many great players have come out of it through the years so it means a lot; especially when I think about it in conjunction with the Boys, the Youths, and the Silver Medal at The Open Championship. I still dream that one day I'll get the Claret Jug to complete the whole circle.”
Montgomerie, who came so close to taking The Amateur title in ’84, still has fond memories of that Championship.
“It was the first time that I was really regarded on a British stage as a leading player in the amateur game and, not surprisingly, I enjoyed the occasion,” added Montgomerie, “I found that I enjoyed the competitive nature of the game at that highest level of match play, although the Final was a bit one sided!
“Jose Maria is still one of my closest friends on tour and I have admired him as a golfer ever since.”
And both players feel that their amateur successes were major factors in preparing them for extremely successful careers on Tour.
“The competition in the amateur game at that stage was very high,” recalled Montgomerie, who won the European Tour’s Order of Merit a record eight times. “The upper level of the amateur game was our only stage before we went straight to the professional game and the competition was extremely strong, so this was a great asset as I transitioned into the professional game.”
“When you win The Amateur you know you are the best in the world,” Olazabal continued. “It’s the pinnacle of achievement in the amateur game. You realise that you have to keep working hard to try to forge your future in the professional ranks but it boosts you. It definitively means a big push because you know you can make it.”
The Amateur Championship takes place at Formby and West Lancashire golf clubs from Monday 15 – Saturday 20 June.
Full scores, stories and video highlights will appear on www.randa.org throughout the days of competition.

R&A announces venues for its

championships in 2012

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
2 June 2009, St Andrews: The host venues for 2012’s R&A Championships and International matches have been decided. They are as follows:
The 2012 Amateur Championship will be contested at Royal Troon and Glasgow – Gailes Links with the initial stroke-play stage shared between the two venues. The final match- play stage will be contested solely at Royal Troon. Troon has hosted The Amateur on five previous occasions in 2003, 1978, 1968, 1956 and 1938.
The 2012 Boys Championship will be held at England’s Notts Golf Club. Notts has hosted Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship on a number of occasions and was the venue for the 2007 Jacques Leglise Trophy.
The 2012 Boys Home Internationals will be staged at Ireland’s County Louth Golf Club. Another past Open Championship Regional Qualifying venue, Baltray, as it is known, recently hosted the Irish Open won by the then amateur golfer, Shane Lowry.
The 2012 Seniors Open Amateur will be hosted by Wales’ Machynys Peninsula Golf Club. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course is only four years old but it has already hosted the Boys Home Internationals in 2007, becoming the youngest course ever to have held an R&A event.
The 2012 St Andrews and Jacques Leglise Trophies will be contested at Ireland’s Portmarnock Golf Club. Portmarnock also hosted the Boys Home Internationals in 2004, and was the venue for the 1991 Walker Cup in which former Open champion, David Duval, and current world number two, Phil Mickleson, both competed.
The 2012 Junior Open will be held at England’s Fairhaven Golf Club. The course has been used as a Local Final Qualifying venue for The Open Championship. The course record is held by 1997 Open champion, Justin Leonard.

R&A chance format and dates for future

Open Local Final Qualifying

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
From 2010, Open Championship Local Final Qualifying (LFQ) will incorporate a change of format and will be repositioned in an attempt to alleviate a congested golfing calendar and make it more convenient for players.
For next year’s Open at St Andrews, LFQ will be staged one week earlier than it has been in the past, taking place two weeks before the start of The Open and giving qualifying players more time to prepare for golf’s oldest championship.
Four venues will be used for LFQ rather than three. Each will host a field of 72 competitors who will now play 36 holes in one day.
The three previously announced LFQ venues for each year will remain, however, one course has been added for each of 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Open Championship 2010 at St Andrews – Scotscraig has been added to the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews, Ladybank and Kingsbarns Links.
Open Championship 2011 at Royal St George’s – Rye has been added to Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Littlestone.
Open Championship 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes – The West Lancashire has been added to Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale and St Annes Old Links.
This year’s LFQ events will be held on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 July, as previously announced, at Glasgow – Gailes Links, Western Gailes and Kilmarnock (Barassie). 36 holes will be played over the two days with 96 players competing for four Open berths at each of the three venues.
This year’s Open Championship will be held at Turnberry from the 16-19 July.

Colin Brown nominated as R&A

captain for 2009-2010

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has announced Colin M Brown as Captain for the year 2009 – 2010. Each year the Past Captains meet to confer upon the nomination and the announcement was made today at the Club’s May Business Meeting. The new Captain will assume office later this year following the traditional driving in ceremony on Thursday 24 September.
Colin Brown joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1994. He served on the Finance Committee from 2000 – 2005 and is currently Chairman of the Membership Committee and a member of the General Committee.

He is a past Captain of Kilmacolm Golf Club and, in 2001, captained Prestwick Golf Club in its 150th anniversary year. He plays to a handicap of 7.
Educated at Glenalmond College, he is a Chartered Accountant and has retired following a career in stockbroking and investment management. He is a former Chairman of the Scottish Stock Exchange and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Renfrewshire.
Resident in Kilmacolm, Colin is married to Patricia, also an ardent golfer, who is Vice Captain of Renfrewshire Ladies’ County Golf Association. They have three adult children all of whom attended St Andrews University.

Working for Golf Conference closes with

Peter Dawson question-and-answer

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
May 1, 2009, St Andrews: The R&A’s Working for Golf Conference drew to a close today. The final session was a question-and-answer with Peter Dawson (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) where The R&A’s Chief Executive responded to questions about many of the issues which had been discussed throughout the three-day event.
The conference was attended by delegations representing the women’s and men’s game, from 60 countries, alongside representatives from PGAs from around the world and the PGA European Tour.
Today’s programme included presentations on golf’s social responsibility from Vicky Whyte, Brazilian Golf Confederation; Brendon Pyle, the Golf Foundation; and Ronald Fream, Golf Plan; on projects using golf for community and social development in Japeri, Brazil; Sheffield, England; and Bhutan respectively.
Peter Dawson presented golf’s bid for inclusion in the Olympic Games which preceded a presentation by David Garland, Director of Tour Operations for the PGA European Tour, about the introduction of anti-doping, on the day’s agenda. The issue of the sustainable golf course management was also discussed, before a presentation of golf’s oldest known films was shown to the congregation.
Over the three days of the conference, held at the Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews, issues such as pace of play, amateur status, the Rules of Golf, technology, the World Amateur Golf Rankings, and Golf Development joined golf’s social responsibility, Olympic Golf, and anti-doping on an agenda that tackled many of the most pressing discussion points in the sport today.

Important issues discussed on Day 2 of

R&A's Working for Golf Conference

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY R&A

April 30, 2009, St Andrews: Day two of the R&A’s Working for Golf conference took place today and continued to tackle issues that are high on the agenda of the sport. The international congregation of more than 140 delegates from golf unions and federations from 60 countries, heard presentations from a number of the R&A’s Executive Directors.
Steve Otto, Director of Research and Testing, gave a presentation about technology in golf, including the expected impact of the groove regulations introduced by The R&A last year, which come into effect in January 2010.

R&A Director Michael Tate provided an overview of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, explaining the evolution of the Ranking, which is increasingly being viewed as the standard by which elite amateur players should be assessed, and revealing that the WAGR is now being used by the European, Asian, Australasian and Sunshine Tours to exempt players into the later stages of qualifying for those Tours.
Completing today’s programme were David Rickman, the R&A’s Director of Rules and Equipment Standards, and Grant Moir, Director – Rules of Golf who gave presentations on the Rules of play, with pace of play and the impact of digital measuring devices both major elements of the discussion.
Tomorrow’s schedule includes presentations on golf’s bid to join the Olympics and the World Golf Federation’s anti-doping policy.

NATIONS GATHER FOR THE R&A WORKING

FOR GOLF CONFERENCE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
29 April 2009, St Andrews: Delegations from 60 countries affiliated to golf’s governing body, The R&A, gathered in St Andrews today for the start of three days of discussion and debate on future developments in the game.
The conference, staged every four years, welcomes more than 160 delegates from countries as far apart as Argentina and Australia, Canada, China and Cote d’Ivoire.
The agenda ranges from Amateur Status to World Anti-Doping regulation. Issues such as pace of play, alternative models for golf development, technology in golf and the next steps for golf’s inclusion in the Olympic Games will also be debated.

R&A take Referees' School to Malaysia

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

This month Glenmarie Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will host the first R&A Referees School to be held in Asia and only the third held away from St Andrews.

Representing The R&A at the three-day programme will be:

Alan Holmes, Chairman, Rules of Golf Committee.

David Wybar, Deputy Chairman.

Grant Moir, Director – Rules of Golf.

Kevin Barker, Assistant Director – Rules.

Sixty golf referees from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, China, the Philippines, Hong Kong, India and Thailand will stay in Kuala Lumpur for the duration of the School, chosen as the venue in recognition of the Malaysian Golf Association’s past hosting of numerous R&A Rules Schools and of the large number of active referees in Malaysia.

The purpose of the School is to help the delegates, who will already have a good knowledge of the Rules, to improve their refereeing technique through a programme involving the detailed study of the technique of top officials through the analysis of televised Rules incidents, practical demonstrations of the Rules, role-play sessions during which the students will deliver rulings to the R&A instructors, and, finally, the completion of a written exam.

“This Referees School represents an important milestone in the development of golf in Asia,” commented R&A Director – Rules of Golf, Grant Moir, ahead of the trip.

“Although we have welcomed many Asians to our Referees Schools in St Andrews, it is a long and expensive journey for them to make, so it is great to take the School on the road, knowing that there are plenty of accomplished officials from the region who wish to participate."

“We see this as the logical progression from the many Rules Schools that we have previously run in Malaysia,” added Alan Holmes, Chairman of the Rules of Golf Committee.

“Those Schools have provided the basic knowledge of the Rules, and the next step for officials is to work on ways to improve their refereeing techniques, which will enable them to officiate at the highest levels of the game.”

Following the Referees School, The R&A Rules team will head to Thailand and the Philippines for two more Rules Schools before returning to St Andrews.

R&A AND ESPN REACH WIDE-RANGING EIGHT-YEAR
AGREEMENT FOR THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
The R&A, the organiser of The Open Championship, and ESPN have reached an eight-year agreement that will place all four rounds of The Open Championship live on ESPN beginning in 2010, it was announced by George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc., and ABC Sports and Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.
The new pact will also provide broad and comprehensive rights for digital platforms; expanded television and digital media rights for ESPN International; and extensive same-day weekend highlights coverage on ABC.
ESPN will televise 34 live hours of Championship play over the four days and produce six hours of encore highlights coverage over the weekend, to be broadcast on ABC. The coverage on ABC will extend The R&A’s relationship with ABC beyond half a century.
Bodenheimer said: “One of the most venerable of all sporting events has embraced the 21st century worldwide media landscape, and we’re thrilled to showcase The Open Championship like never before. The scope of this deal and the enhancements we obtained offer us tremendous opportunities to serve The R&A and golf fans around the world through any device.”
Dawson said: "It is all important to The R&A that we preserve the traditions of The Open Championship while at the same time ensuring that golf fans are able to enjoy modern state-of-the-art coverage of the event. We know just how much ESPN respects The Open's heritage and we are very excited by their many innovative plans to cover the Championship across the whole media spectrum, both in the United States and internationally. We look forward to a long and productive relationship."
Alastair Johnston, IMG Vice Chairman, who led the negotiating team representing The R&A said, "We had to consider not only the financial terms but The R&A's overall mission to promote and develop the game of golf to an evolving global audience. Envisaging the platforms where a younger generation could be positively influenced to experience The Open Championship over the next decade was a significant factor in assembling this arrangement with ESPN."
The deal also includes exclusive US coverage of all rounds of The Senior Open Championship, which is governed jointly by The R&A and the PGA European Tour, and coverage of the next two Walker Cup matches when contested in the United Kingdom (2011 and 2015). In all, there will be 90-plus television hours and 40-plus hours of live coverage on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.
ESPN will provide unprecedented live coverage of the Championships, including the first and second rounds of The Open Championship, which will begin at 5 a.m. ET.
The wide-ranging agreement will cover multiple businesses around the world through ESPN’s various platforms – ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, ESPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPNDeportes.com and ESPN Mobile Properties, interactive television, ESPN in Latin America/Caribbean, TSN and RDS in Canada, ESPN Star Sports in Asia, and ESPN360 services in Mexico, Chile and Brazil.
ESPN extended and broadened its rights in Canada (TSN and RDS), Asia, Israel and Latin America territories as well as English language rights in China (ESPN Sports Star Sports). The deal also includes digital rights in all territories (excluding China) including live streaming of all events, expansive multiplatform highlight rights (e.g. online, broadband, and wireless); television and digital VOD; interactive television and mobile TV.

THE R&A APPOINTS DOMINIC WALL

AS ASIA-PACIFIC DIRECTOR

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY R&A

The R&A has appointed Dominic Wall as its Asia Pacific Director with effect from 1st January 2009. His predecessor, Colin Phillips, is retiring following three successful years as The R&A’s first Director for the Asia Pacific region.
Wall, who will relocate to Hong Kong, is the first R&A employee to be based in Asia, underlining The R&A’s commitment to stimulating the growth of golf in the region.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Wall (46) has more than twenty years experience in golf administration. He is currently the Tournament Director for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation and has spent the last three years working extensively across the Asia Pacific region to develop golf strategies in partnership with, amongst others, the Chinese Taipei Golf Association, the Singapore Sports Council and the Indian Golf Union.
Until 2006, Wall worked for the Australian Golf Union and Golf Australia in a variety of roles that included National Director of Coaching, Manager - Development and Acting Executive Director of the AGU and prior to 1990 was Development Manager for the Australian Coaching Council based at the Australian Institute of Sport. In 1988, he was the Sport Coordinator of the Australian Paralympic Team that competed in Seoul, South Korea.
Dominic Wall is married to Emma and they have one son Angus. He is a member of Yarra Yarra and Moonah Links Golf Clubs, plays to a handicap of 9 and is a former State/Territory Junior Golf Team Representative achieving a handicap of 3 as a junior.

THREE NEW VENUES TO HOST
REGIONAL QUALIFYING IN 2010

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
Clitheroe Golf Club, The London Golf Club and East Sussex National Golf Club will host Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship for the first time in 2010, when The Open will be played at St Andrews.
Clitheroe, in Lancashire's Ribble Valley, is a parkland course that was first laid out in 1932 by five-time Open winner James Braid. The course's hilltop setting gives spectacular views across the surrounding countryside.
Despite its name, The London Golf Club is located in the countryside of Kent, a few miles away from the town of Sevenoaks. Since it was built in the early 1990s, the Jack Nicklaus-designed courses at The London Club have welcomed several large events, and the club is currently the host venue for the European Open.
East Sussex National, just outside Uckfield, has much in common with The London Club: both were built during the boom in golf course construction in the early 1990s, and both have played host to the European Open, with East Sussex's East course having hosted the event in 1993 and 1994.
Eleven of the 16 golf clubs hosting Regional Qualifying in 2010 have been used in the past, while Abridge and Mere will both host Open qualifying for the first time in 2009.

The full list is as follows:

Abridge
Berwick upon Tweed
Clitheroe
Coventry
East Sussex National
Effingham
Enville
Ferndown
Gog Magog
Lindrick
The London Golf Club
Mere
Musselburgh
Old Fold Manor
Pannal
Royal Dublin

Neck and neck for McCormack Medal
to world number one amateur

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY R&A
This week sees the conclusion of the race to win this year’s Mark H McCormack Medal, awarded to the world’s number one amateur at the conclusion of the US and European Amateur Championships.
With these prestigious events taking place on either side of the Atlantic, the destination of the Medal is far from certain.
New Zealand's Danny Lee currently sits atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking – and he has timed his move perfectly reaching the top spot for the first time this week. Lee dominated amateur golf in his home country during the 2007-2008 seasons, and carried his excellent form on to the States with a victory in the Western Amateur, one of the year's biggest tournaments, just a few weeks ago.
But it was his tie for 20th place in the Wyndham Championship on the US PGA Tour, a performance made up of four rounds in the 60s, that finally propelled him to the current number one position.
American Rickie Fowler has been at the head of the rankings for much of this year, and is still neck and neck with Lee. Following on from a highly successful 2007, Fowler has once again enjoyed a season of consistently good golf, during which he has won the Sunnehanna Amateur and made the cut at the US Open.
Like Lee, Fowler is playing in the US Amateur Championship at Pinehurst this week, where he will look to improve on not getting beyond the initial match play round last year.
A victory for Lee or Fowler at Pinehurst would be enough to secure the McCormack Medal and both are safely through to the matchplay phase of the tournament.
Should they fall short of that mark then there's every chance that one of Europe's top three amateur golfers, Anders Kristiansen, Jorge Campillo and Shane Lowry, could overtake them at the top of the rankings if they produce top finishes in this week's European Championship at Esbjerg in Denmark.
Eighteen-year-old Anders Kristiansen has scaled the rankings in the past few months following his triumph at the Australian Men's Amateur Championship earlier in the season. The Norwegian secured a tie for ninth place at the Lexus Open on the Challenge Tour last week, which was enough to catapult him into the world’s top three.
Campillo, of Spain, has enjoyed a superb season, winning the Spanish National Championship a fortnight ago and making it to the quarter-final of the British Amateur Championship in June to add to his earlier excellent performances in US College Golf, which included a second place finish in the NCAA Division 1 Championship and the best individual performance the Big Ten Championship.
Lowry, who comes from County Offaly in Ireland, has climbed the rankings this year, following his victories in the Sotogrande Cup and the North of Ireland Amateur, and his strong performance in helping Ireland retain the European Team Championship.
The Irishman, who was recently named in the GB&I team to play the Continent of Europe for the St Andrews Trophy later this month, could head to Kingsbarns as the world's top amateur golfer.
There are several other players who, given the combination of results, could also find themselves receiving the McCormack Medal.
Korea's Sihwan Kim is playing at Pinehurst this week, and a good finish could propel him from 9th to first in the WAGR list; also France's Benjamin Hebert, who won the European Championship last year.

THE R&A ANNOUNCES NEW GOLF CLUB RULES

St Andrews, Scotland, 5 August 2008: The R&A has today announced revisions to golf’s equipment Rules, which are designed to enhance the benefits of accuracy by making playing from the rough a more challenging prospect in future.

The new Rules, which relate to club face grooves, are the culmination of an extensive collaborative research project between The R&A and the United States Golf Association. This research shows that modern groove configurations can allow players to generate almost as much spin from the rough as is available from the fairway, resulting in a reduction in the value of accuracy.

“Our research has involved input from both Governing Bodies, including substantial laboratory work and player testing at all levels around the world,” said Dr Stephen Otto, The R&A’s Director of Research and Testing.

“Contributions from golf club manufacturers in particular have been considerable and they have welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the process.”

The revised Rules will significantly increase the spin differential between shots from the fairway and shots from the rough.

The new Rules will augment the existing limitations on grooves and will affect all clubs (with the exception of drivers and putters), with the new regulations limiting groove volume and groove edge sharpness. Essentially, larger volume grooves have the ability to channel away more material, such as water or grass, similar to the tread on car tyres. At the same time, sharper groove edges facilitate a better contact between club and ball, even in the presence of debris.

Both new regulations will apply to golf clubs with lofts greater than or equal to 25 degrees (generally a standard 5-iron and above) with only the rule limiting groove volume applying to clubs of lesser loft.

The Rules will apply to all clubs manufactured after 1 January 2010. Clubs manufactured prior to this date, which meet the current regulations, will continue to be regarded as conforming under the Rules of Golf until at least 2024.

It is intended that the new Rules will be introduced as a Condition of Competition at top professional level from 1 January 2010 and at top amateur level and in other professional events from 1 January 2014. The R&A and the USGA will introduce such a Condition of Competition at their respective championships in accordance with this schedule. The world’s top professional tours for both men and women, and the organisers of golf’s major championships, have all indicated their support for the new groove regulations and their intention to implement the Condition of Competition in 2010.

“We believe that this rule change is necessary to reinforce the importance of accuracy at the highest levels of the game. However, beyond that the new Rules will be phased in very gradually,” said David Rickman, The R&A’s Director of Rules and Equipment Standards.

“The vast majority of the golfing public will enjoy many years’ use of their existing equipment within the Rules and this, of course, will also apply to any purchases they make from manufacturers’ existing model ranges.”
Further information:

Peter Dawson, Chief Executive
David Rickman, Director of Rules and Equipment Standards
Dr Stephen Otto, Director – Research and Testing
The R&A
Tel: +44 (0)1334 460000

OPEN CHAMPION PROMOTES GOOD
ETIQUETTE IN NEW R&A FILM

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
St Andrews, Scotland, Friday 20 June 2008: Open Champion Padraig Harrington has joined with The R&A to promote good etiquette in golf by taking the lead role in a short film targeted at new golfers.
Entitled “The Etiquette of Golf”, the film is available from today as a free download from The R&A website, RandA.org, and will be promoted to national golfing bodies around the world as a teaching aid.
The film, features contributions from fellow European Tour professionals, Nick Dougherty, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey, as well as archive material from The Open, The Ryder Cup and the Women’s British Open Championship.
Commenting on his involvement in the film Padraig Harrington said:
“Good etiquette promotes enjoyment of the game for all players. I am very pleased to play a part in the education process for new golfers, young and old alike.”
R&A Director of Rules and Equipment Standards, David Rickman said:
“Padraig is a role model for good behaviour, on and around the golf course. This film will help new players to understand the true meaning of sportsmanship in golf”.
The film, which is 10 minutes in duration, brings the etiquette section of The R&A rule book to life and is presented in three chapters, consideration for other players, pace of play and care of the course.

SCOT HAMISH RITCHIE IS
NOMINATION FOR R&A
CAPTAIN FOR 2008-2009

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
The Past Captains, having conferred together, are pleased to announce that they have nominated Hamish M J Ritchie as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for the year 2008-2009. He will assume the office of Captain at the traditional ‘Driving In’ ceremony, which will take place on the first tee of the Old Course on Thursday 18 September.
Hamish Ritchie joined The R&A in 1974 and served as a member of the General Committee from 1994-1998.
Born in Milngavie, near Glasgow, he was educated at Loretto, East Lothian and Christ Church, Oxford. He was an Oxford Blue, and held the captaincy of Oxford University Golf Club from 1964-1965. A member of the Oxford & Cambridge Golfing Society, he was Captain from 1994-1996. He became Captain of his home club, Denham Golf Club, in 1993 and was Chairman there from 2000-2004.
An insurance broker, Hamish Ritchie began his career with Hogg Robinson where he worked for sixteen years. He moved to Marsh Limited in 1981 and became Chairman of Marsh & McLennan Companies (UK) in 2000, a role he undertook until 2004.
Now retired and living in Buckinghamshire, Hamish is married to Carol. They have two adult children. He is a member of Rye Golf Club, Chechessee Creek Club and the Duke’s Golf Club and plays to a handicap of 11. He is also a member of the MCC.

Jorge Campillo climbs to No 9 in
world behind Daniel Willett

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE
In the busiest week of the 2008 men's amateur season so far a total of 50 counting events were played in nine countries and over 15,000 rounds of golf were surveyed in compiling The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking.
England's Daniel Willett retains his position as the world's leading amateur and Joel Sjoholm of Sweden has moved up one place to No 5. Both players had a break from stroke play golf last week when successfully representing Europe in the Michael Bonallack Trophy at Valderrama.
But the man in form is Jorge Campillo of Spain, a 21-year-old Indiana University student who has broken into the top-10 in with his third win in three weeks.
Spain's leading amateur climbed to No 9 in the Ranking with his victory in the Big Ten Championship at East Lansing, Michigan.
In the previous two weeks he had won the Boilermaker Invitational at West Lafayette, Indiana, and the Missouri Tiger Intercollegiate in Columbia.
TOP R&A WORLD AMATEUR RANKINGS
1 Daniel Willett (Eng) 1572.73.
2 Rickie Fowler (US) 1159.26.
3 Webb Simpson (US) 1105.08.
4 Michael Thomson (US) 1104.48.
5 Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 1046.43.
6 Jamie Lovemark (US) 1031.48.
7 Kevin Chappell (US) 1022.64.
8 Danny Lee (NZ) 1012.68.
9 Jorge Campillo (Spa) 1010.00.
10 Derk Ferreira (SAf) 996.36.
11 Nigel Edwards (Wal) 973.33.
Scottish positions:
28 Callum Macaulay 898.21.
73 Wallace Booth 810.17.
106 Keir McNicoll 772.13.
136 James Byrne 730.77.
159 Gavin Dear 711.27.

R&A PRESS RELEASE

THE R&A AND USGA ANNOUNCE POSITION
ON RAKING A SIMILAR HAZARD

10 April 2008, St Andrews: The Joint Rules Committee (JRC), consisting of representatives of the Rules of Golf Committees of The R&A and the United States Golf Association, have issued an interpretation of Rule 13-4a with respect to testing the condition of a similar hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard).
At its customary April meeting, the JRC reviewed several issues relating to Rule 13-4 (Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions), including some that were carried over for resolution from the previous quadrennial Rules revision cycle. One such question was whether a player whose ball lies in a bunker may smooth sand to tidy up another bunker, even though he had not made a stroke from that other bunker.

After discussion, the JRC agreed on the following position, effective immediately:

Rule 13-4a prohibits a player from testing the condition of the hazard in which his ball lies or a similar hazard. Yet Exception 3 to the Rule, which was introduced in 2008, allows a player to test the condition of one hazard after playing from that hazard into a similar hazard. Although Decision 13-4/0.5 lists smoothing a bunker with a rake, club or otherwise as an example of testing the condition of the hazard, the Etiquette Section of the Rules of Golf provides that “Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others.”

It is not the intent of Rule 13-4a to prohibit players from practicing the proper etiquette of the game when more than one bunker is involved.
Therefore, when the player’s ball lies in a bunker, it would not be a breach of the Rules if the player were to smooth the sand in another bunker, provided (a) the smoothing is for the purpose of tidying up the bunker, (b) the smoothing does not breach Rule 13-2 (Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play) with respect to his next stroke and (c) there is not a reasonable possibility that the smoothing could affect a subsequent stroke by the player.

If the player were to smooth sand in the bunker in which his ball lies prior to making his first stroke in that bunker, he would be in breach of Rule 13-4a.

While the JRC does not normally make public the results of its deliberations outside the updates of the Decisions on the Rules of Golf every two years and the Rules of Golf every four years, The R&A and the USGA do informally answer questions about the Rules of Golf as those questions arise. Questions have arisen in connection with a recent ruling involving Stewart Cink at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In that situation, the player incurred a penalty for smoothing sand in a bunker from which he had not made a stroke, when his ball lay in another bunker -- a ruling that followed the USGA’s Rules of Golf Committee’s position at that time.
To avoid such an act being a breach of the Rules in the future, the JRC has decided to make public its agreed position on smoothing a similar hazard.

MALAYSIA’S CHIA LEADS QUARTET INTO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

R&A Press Release

26 March 2008, Sentosa, Singapore: Malaysia’s Danny Chia earned his second appearance at The Open Championship after winning International Final Qualifying – Asia with a second successive round of three-under-par 69 on Wednesday.

Chia will be joined at Royal Birkdale by Australian Adam Blyth, who shot 66 at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course, Lam Chih Bing of Singapore and Filipino Angelo Que. Lam and Que earned the last two places after a play-off with Japan’s Tomohiro Kondo.

Chia, who played in the 2005 Open Championship at St Andrews, produced birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to finish on six-under-par 138, one shot ahead of Blyth, who carded the day’s best round.

A jubilant Chia said: “I feel proud to be the only Malaysian at The Open. It always feels good to be in the same event with the world’s best golfers and it’ll be my goal to play well at Royal Birkdale.”

After a disappointing 73 on Tuesday, Blyth produced six-birdies to secure his first appearance at The Open. “The putts just went in today,” said the 26-year-old Australian, who had his father Steve caddying for him.

“I played scrappy yesterday but managed to get myself into position this morning. I’m stoked to get into my first Major.”

Lam, Que and Kondo ended the 36-hole qualifier tied on 140 after second rounds of 68, 71 and 70 respectively, ensuring that extra holes were needed to decide the final two Open Championship berths. Local hope Lam, who played in his first Open at Carnoustie last year, was the first to seal his place at Royal Birkdale with a birdie on the second extra hole.

“It feels awesome,” said Lam. “I was so nervous and standing over the putt, my hands were just shaking. Thank God it’s over. I can’t wait to get back to the Open. It’s unbelievable to play in a Major championship. Last year was the best experience in my life and I’m looking forward to getting back there.”

Que will be the first Filipino since Frankie Minoza in 1998 to qualify for The Open Championship. He earned his Major appearance in style after holing a 40-foot birdie putt at the fourth extra hole to win his place at Royal Birkdale.

“I’ve been putting well and holed a few of those today”, he said. “I had a similar putt during regulation but just needed to hit it harder. Luckily I holed a long one at the last.

“It feels great as I haven’t been playing well the past two years. Finally, I’ve got a chance to play in The Open. It’s an honour for me to represent the Philippines. It’s a dream come true.”


Second round scores
138: Danny Chia (Mas) 69-69
139: Adam Blyth (Aus) 73-66
140: Lam Chih Bing (Sin) 72-68, Angelo Que (Phi) 69-71, Tomohiro Kondo (Jpn) 70-70
(Lam and Que qualify for The Open after winning in the play-off against Kondo)
141: Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 71-70, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 74-67, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 71-70
142: David Gleeson (Aus) 75-67, Will Yanagisawa (USA) 71-71, Ben Leong (Mas) 70-72, Yasin Ali (Eng) 69-73, Han Lee (USA) 72-70, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 71-71
143: Anthony Kang (USA) 73-70, Brett Bingham (Can) 72-71, Gavin Flint (Aus) 71-72, Noh Seung-yol (Kor) 77-66
144: Prom Meesawat (Tha) 71-73, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 77-67, Adam Groom (Aus) 75-69
145: Mars Pucay (Jpn) 72-73, Lee Sung (Kor) 73-72, David Bransdon (Aus) 73-72, Ahmad Bateman (Can) 75-70, Yoshinobu Tsukada (Jpn) 71-74
146: Chung Joon (Kor) 72-74, Unho Park (Aus) 75-71, Jason King (Jpn) 71-75, Scott Barr (Aus) 72-74
147: Tatsuhiko Ichihara (Jpn) 73-74, Rhys Davies (Wal) 78-69, Shinichi Yokoto (Jpn) 76-71, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 72-75, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 75-72, Takuya Taniguchi (Jpn) 73-74
148: Craig Smith (Wal) 76-72, Park Jun-won (Kor) 74-74, Sushi Ishigaki (Jpn) 74-74, Masaya Tomida (Jpn) 79-69, Ross Bain (Sco) 76-72
149: Keiichiro Fukabori (Jpn) 70-79, Akinori Tani (Jpn) 76-73, Clay Devers (USA) 82-67, Jun Kikuchi (Jpn) 74-75
150: Richard Moir (Aus) 75-75, Simon Dunn (Sco) 78-72, Bryan Saltus (USA) 74-76
151: Naoya Takemoto (Jpn) 78-73
152: Airil Rizman (Mas) 72-80
153: Zaw Moe (Myn) 75-78, Tadahiro Takayama (Jpn) 76-77, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 74-79, Olle Nordberg (Swe) 75-78
155: Soushi Tajima (Jpn) 78-77
157: Marcus Both (Aus) 77-80, S. Sivachandran (Mas) 80-77
158: Young Nam (USA) 72-86
WD: Jyoti Randhawa (Ind), Gurbaz Maan (Ind), Digvijay Singh (Ind), Tony Carolan (Aus), Antonio Lascuna (Phi)

R&A Press Release

HILLSIDE, SOUTHPORT & AINSDALE AND ST ANNES
OLD LINKS LOCAL FINAL QUALIFYING
VENUES FOR 2012 OPEN
The R&A has announced Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale and St Annes Old Links as the Local Final Qualifying venues for the 2012 Open Championship, which will be held at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The clubs have historically played host to Final Qualifying when The Open has been played over the Lancashire links, and they will do so again in 2012.
Hillside Golf Club, Southport, Merseyside also hosted the Boys Amateur Championship in 2000 and the British Mid-Amateur in 1996.
Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, Southport, Merseyside hosted the Ryder Cup in 1933 and 1937 and more recently was the qualifying course for the Amateur Championship in 2005, when the championship was played at Royal Birkdale.
St Annes Old Links Golf Club, St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, was the qualifying course when The Amateur Championship was played at Royal Lytham & St Annes last year.

SCOTS ON R&A BURSARS' LIST
The R&A has today announced its biggest-ever list of golf bursars - 91 in all. The list has plenty of Scots on it. Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk to see the full list.

Prestwick will make contribution
to 150th Open championship
programme in 2010

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE:
THE 150th anniversary of the Open championship, due to be held over the Old Course in 2010, will be marked by some form of celebration which will likely involve an appropriate contribution from Prestwick golf club, the very first links to host golf's oldest major in 1860.
In a wide ranging conversation at his office in St Andrews, which also covered drug testing, new technology and Scotland's close links with the Open, Peter Dawson, picture right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, told The Scotsman that the anniversary of the championship would be commemorated.
He cautioned, however, there were no plans to reprise the Champions Challenge of 2000 which saw past winners of the calibre of Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Peter Thomson, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Tom Watson come together for four holes in aid of charity.
While Dawson reckons the Open in 3000 would be an appropriate date to re-run that remarkable event – 22 of the living past champions attended in 2000 with only five absentees – he conceded the 150th anniversary of a championship which changed the face of professional golf couldn't pass without the R&A recognising the occasion.
"The championship committee have asked a sub-committee to take a look at what we might do in 2010, but right now it's too early for me to say," said Dawson. "I know that Prestwick are interested in becoming involved in some way because 150 years ago that was where the Open started. Prestwick put on the first dozen, so they're very interested in this anniversary.
"It may be Prestwick will put something on the weekend before the 150th Open begins. All sorts of ideas are being floated about. There may be things (in St Andrews] we can also do to recognise Prestwick's involvement. We won't let the occasion pass without doing something."
With the Open worth more than £72million to the local economy each time the event is staged north of the border, the Scottish Government will be relieved to learn the R&A have no plans to alter the timetable which brings golf's oldest championship to Scotland six times in every decade.
After the tournament goes back to Turnberry in 2009 and the 150th anniversary staging takes place in St Andrews the following year, the Open won't return to Scotland until 2013 at the earliest.
For the first time since the championship began in the 19th century – it wasn't held outwith Scotland until 1894 – the Open will be staged in England over consecutive summers at Royal St George's in 2011 and Lytham in 2012.
According to Dawson, however, it was the timing of the London Olympics in 2012 and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 which has given the R&A pause for thought in scheduling future presentations of the only major held outside America.
"We've done a number of economic surveys and the Open generates some significant sums," he added.
"As well as the economic impact, the exposure on international television is fantastic. In terms of population, Scotland is a relatively small country. To have a world class major sporting event for six years out of ten is unusual for a country of this size. Sometimes we feel as if we don't get enough credit for that.
"But there is a situation with an Olympics, a Commonwealth Games and a Ryder Cup where we've had to be careful about deciding what the best venue might be. So there could be a little blip in the normal schedule, but that's nothing to be concerned about. It will still be six out of ten."
While St Andrews retains the record attendance for an Open of 239,000 in 2000, the massive turn out of 230,000 at Hoylake two years ago fuelled speculation the championship may be seen more often at venues close to large centres of population.
Dawson, however, dismissed the notion as impractical.
"You can't go to a member's golf club more than once every nine or ten years," he said. "The upheaval is enormous. We have very close relationships with these clubs (on the rota) and if doubts ever crept in about holding an Open – none have – we'd be in early to talk to them. Luckily, we have very good and close relationships with all of them.
"While it remains to be seen if the chill of an economic downturn will have an impact on the growth of the game any time soon – Dawson detected few traces of gloom at the recent trade show in Orlando – the R&A believes golf will have to look beyond traditional markets in the USA, the UK and Australia for future expansion.
"In terms of participation, I think golf is doing better than the vast majority of other sports," he observed. "Where the game is well developed and already has a high market share, if you like, of people's leisure time, it can be very hard to maintain that.
"In Britain and America there are lots of programmes to bring people into the game. You have to run very hard here to stand still. Growth will come in other countries. As far as the R&A are concerned, we have new affiliates joining all the time with Mongolia, Jordan and Saudi Arabia among the recent additions.
"In all, we have 120 affiliates, which, I understand, is one more country than McDonald's have restaurants in."
As far as the Open is concerned, the next major deal to be negotiated by the R&A will be for American TV. The current agreement expires at Turnberry in 2009. The high value of sterling against the dollar, of course, has not been a boon for an organisation which contracts many of its international deals in dollars.
"But we're not looking at any immediate crisis. If the day ever dawned when the Open lost its popularity – something which is not even on the horizon – we could still carry on doing what we do for the game, the rules and so on.
"As things stand, the Open is more popular than ever. We'll be looking for big crowds at Birkdale and early ticket sales are strong."
Although it's not yet clear if random drug testing will be introduced at the Open for the first time this summer – any decision will be influenced by whether or not the European Tour and the PGA Tour have their programmes up and running by early July – Dawson wonders how amateurs and club pros, who don't receive the same education as Tour players, might deal with the issue.
"There may be some slippage in the schedule, but the Tours expect to start in July," he confirmed. "Whether we would want to be the second or third week in the programme, I'm not sure. But I see us as another week on Tour and we won't re-invent the wheel and have a different drug test regime at the Open.
"We're having close conversations with the European Tour and the PGA Tour about the timing of this. There are so many different aspects and details to consider. For example, what happens to the re-distribution of prize money if someone tests positive ? "
Asked about social drug use, Dawson replied: "I suppose it would be naive to think golfers are different to any other section of society in this regard. But I hope it's not naive to think golfers are different when it comes to performance enhancing drugs. I really hope that golf is clean. But you can never be sure.
"Anyone who is caught will damage the sport. Sponsor interest would reduce because golf has an image which attracts sponsors. The message to players must be clear: Don't let yourself or the game of golf down."
As far as advances in technology are concerned, Dawson expressed concerns last February about the lack of a link between driving accuracy and success in the modern game. Many long hitters concentrate on power off the tee at the expense of accuracy because the penalty for missing the fairway is often trivial.
The belief that players can generate too much spin from the rough prompted a proposal for altering the grooves on irons. After consulting with club manufacturers, it could be the R&A and the United States Golf Association will reach a revised conclusion on how to deal with the issue. "I think we've got the (equipment] problem surrounded, because hitting distances are not increasing, they're static," argued Dawson. "Nothing has come out in the last five years which hits the ball further. One or two clubs are a bit more forgiving, but that's not benefiting the pros.
"The lack of a correlation between driving accuracy and success in America was what caused us to look at grooves. We went out with a proposal and have had some comments from manufacturers which made us do more research. We are going to do something and there should be an announcement in the relatively near future. It's better to be right than quick.
"I wouldn't deny the R&A have taken some of the manufacturers' comments on board and looked at certain aspects of this (again]. That's why you have the process. There's no point having comments and then going 'phwoaa'. Something is coming. But it won't affect play at an elite level for a year or two."

R&A Press Release

ONE MORE WEEK TO BUY AN OPEN
SEASON TICKET FOR £180
Spectators have just one more week to take advantage of discounted season tickets for this year’s Open championship at Royal Birkdale.
A season ticket, valid from from Sunday, July 13 to Sunday, July 20, will be available at the discounted rate of £180 until THURSDAY, January 31.
“Our policy has always been to make the Open championship affordable to all spectators and discounted season tickets represent particularly good value to spectators who will be in attendance during the week at Royal Birkdale.” said David Hill, the R&A’s director of championships.
During the four days of the championship, a daily ticket will cost £55, with concession tickets available. Under-16s will continue to be admitted free of charge.
Ticket enquiries should be directed through www.opengolf.com or +44 (0) 1334 460010.

PRESS RELEASE

R and A RAISES THE PROFILE OF ITS
COURSE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

The R and A has promoted Steve Isaac to the position of Director - Golf Course Management to reflect the importance placed by The R and A on environmental issues and sustainable course development and maintenance. The promotion also highlights the increasing reach and scale of The R and A Golf Course Committee’s work.
Isaac has been instrumental in delivering The R and A’s golf course management policy, which reflects the organisation’s belief that golf courses throughout the world should present themselves in the best possible condition and work to the highest ecological and environmental standards.
Since his appointment in 2003, his work has centred around developing management strategy guidance for sustainable golf courses, with particular focus on the use of water, fertilisers and chemicals, climate change, appropriate turfgrass selection and the planning of new courses.
Steve Isaac, 46, gained a BSc (Hons) in applied biology from Liverpool Polytechnic in 1983. Before joining The R and A, he worked as an agronomist for 17 years at the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI).

R&A PRESS RELEASE

AMENDMENTS TO ENTRY CRITERIA FOR
2008 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The R&A has made a series of amendments to the entry criteria for the 2008 Open Championship to be played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club from July 17 to 20.
The main changes are that the runners-up in The Amateur and US Amateur Championships and the European Amateur Championship will be exempt from Regional Qualifying. So too, will the 10 highest ranked amateur entrants, not otherwise exempt, on The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking as at WAGR Week 22.
The Championship Committee also intends to alter, over time, the age limit exemptions for Past Champions. Therefore, the existing Past Champions’ exemption has been changed to allow those currently aged between 60 and 65 to be eligible until the age of 65, whilst those under 60 will be eligible until they reach 60 years of age.
Main changes are listed below:
E. ENTRY AT LOCAL FINAL QUALIFYING STAGE is open to:
(14) (In part) The runner-up in each of The Amateur Championship 2008, for whom a blank entry will be made, the US Amateur Championship 2007 and the European Amateur Championship 2007. E(14) is applicable only if the entrant concerned is still an amateur on 7 July 2008.
(15) The leading 10 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, not otherwise exempt, as at WAGR Week 22. E(15) is applicable only if the entrant concerned is still an amateur on 7 July 2008.
F. PLAYERS EXEMPT FROM REGIONAL, LOCAL FINAL AND INTERNATIONAL FINAL QUALIFYING
(2) Past Open Champions born between 20 July 1942 to 19 July 1948
(3) Past Open Champions aged 60 or under on 20 July 2008
(10) The leading player, not exempt, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2008 European Open and the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open.
(18) The leading player, not exempt, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2008 AT&T National and the 2008 John Deere Classic.