A clutch of PGA national title-winning champions will be among top professional golfers from the PGA West Region competing for an improved £270,000 prize fund during a busy 2010 tournament season.
After an outstanding 2009 when four West Region players won national honours, the list incorporates 50 Pro-Ams and Regional secretary Glenn Ross is energised by the season ahead.
He said: "We are pleased to welcome 12 new or returning clubs to our schedule, including some who have upgraded their events from county level.
"Having the Ryder Cup matches in our Region will create a fantastic buzz for golf in the South West and Wales. It's going to be an exciting year."
The leading three players from the four Order of Merit tournaments will qualify for the end of season Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Little Aston with the chance to win entry to some of Europe's biggest events.
Weymouth's Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) won the Play-Offs last year following the success of James Lee (Caerphilly) and Tracy Loveys (Bigbury) in their respective Glenmuir PGA Professional Championships and George Ryall (Players Club) in the Senior PGA Professional Championship.
The OOM begins with the Total Triumph Classic at Oake Manor Golf Club on May 25-26. This also offers leading amateurs a chance to play alongside seasoned professionals in their own competition.
This is followed by the RCW Welsh Open PGA Professional Championship on June 30-July 2 when a strong contingent of West Region and Welsh players will chase the £30,000 prize fund at Ashburnham.
The Forest Classic will be staged for the fourth successive year over the Forest of Dean and Forest Hills courses on August 3-4.
Meanwhile 2009 OOM winner Chris Gill (Exeter Golf & Country Club) defends his title when the West Region Championship returns to The Players Club, near Bristol, on August 17-18.
Portmore in North Devon stages the inaugural West Region Par Three Championship on May 10, there is a centenary pro-am at Rhondda Golf Club on July 25. Other new events are staged at Yeovil, Bath, The Bristol, Maesteg, St Pierre, Remedy Oak and Trefloyne. The Exeter Ladies Pro-am and Dartmouth Pro-Am were previously county-run events.
The White Hart Fourball Championship, the Region's longest-running tournament, celebrates its 30th year at Launceston from June 23-24.
The three-day Cornish Riviera Festival - the largest Pro-Am Festival in the UK attracts more than 110 teams - opens the season on April 20-22. Now the Trevose course has returned to prime condition it hosts the event once more. Perranporth, who stepped in as a replacement last year, and St Enodoc complete the trio of quality links courses.
The South Wales Festival moves forward three weeks to September 7-9 to avoid clashing with the Ryder Cup. As it coincides with Pennard's open week, Pyle and Kenfig has been added as the third venue alongside Machynys Peninsular and Ashburnham.
Amateur golfers interested in taking part in any of the PGA Region events should contact the PGA West Region Office on (01392) 877657 or email west.region@pga.org.uk
08 March, 2010