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Golfers in Wales can enter national championships of all levels from today – and even win the chance to compete at St Andrew’s the week before the 150th Open.
Entries for over 30 Wales Golf events go live today (February 1), including the elite events to find the Welsh champions in all categories through to competitions for all club players in Wales.
There are now two ways club members can enter the free 9 Hole Championship, with winners getting the chance to compete at St Andrew’s. Clubs can now either run a club qualifying competition, or use 9 hole scores from member’s handicap records in the early part of the year to determine who represents the club.
That is part of a range of events on offer, every club member in Wales with a handicap will have both individual and team events to compete in through Wales Golf in 2022.
In the elite Championship calendar, The Welsh Women’s Amateur Championship will run alongside the Men’s at Pennard in late July.
This will cause some changes in the selection for the Women’s Home Internationals, but those are outweighed by the benefits of holding the national championship later in the season.
“One major change next year will involve combining the Welsh Men’s and Women’s amateur competitions,” explained Wales Golf Championship Manager David Wilson.
“The two events will keep the same format as before with stroke play and match play stages, but they will be held in the same place over the same period in a similar way to the Boys and Girls competitions at the moment.
“It will mean moving the Women’s from May to the end of July, but there are positive reasons for placing it later in the season, away from exams and also the courses will have time to be in better condition.
“The feedback from the players has been pretty much 100% positive in favour of the move. We are aware there will be an impact on team selection, but the move away from exams and away from the congested early season should be a greater factor”
With Wales Golf running over 30 competitions through the season, the portfolio has been expanded to make the championships more suited to all club members, while continuing the elite individual and team events.
Last year’s Finals Week, held in Mold, saw around 300 players from all round Wales coming together to compete for nine different titles, with ages ranging from Under 8’s to Seniors. In 2022 it will be heading to Llanishen Golf Club, in September.
“Yes, we crown Welsh champions in several different categories, but there is a Wales Golf championship for every single affiliated player in Wales,” said Wilson.
“There will be a four ball/better ball over the August Bank holiday weekend which can be run in every club in Wales without any charge from Wales Golf.
“Wales Golf will organise the results into a league table with the winners from each club getting a prize as well as prizes for the overall leaders.”
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