Midlands region bolsters tournament schedule with old favourites and new challenges
08/02/2023
The PGA in England (Midlands) region is excited to not only announce a new tournament schedule, but also a new Tournament Director, as 2023 brings about a fresh new outlook for the region.
Well-known venues on the schedule return, such as Morley Hayes Golf Club and Wellingborough Golf Club, who will host the Midland Open (3-4th August) and Glazerite Trophy (6-7th July) respectively.
With the Glazerite Trophy now in its 17th year, it has become a firm favourite on the Midlands schedule. Last year’s winner, Matthew Cort, said of the course at Wellingborough: “It’s nice that we come back every year to this venue – it’s almost like our Augusta. There’s a lot of strategy required for the course and there’s amazing gardens - it’s a nice venue to be at and watch the guys come in after your round.”
Morley Hayes’ Manor Course staged four consecutive PGA EuroPro Tour events from 2002 to 2005 and James Whatley, Head Professional at the venue, is delighted with how the action unfolded last year: “It’s been a fantastic journey to get us here. We’ve had great feedback from the pros about the greens – it’s been only positive feedback.”
A new venue on the 2023 Midlands schedule, The Astbury, set in the rolling hills of Shropshire, will host The Astbury Pro Am on 12th September. The venue’s Director of Golf, Tom Storrar, commented: “I think PGA Professionals are so instrumental in golf clubs, so I’m thrilled that we’ll have pros coming to visit and see what we have to offer - that just helps to spread the word about what we’re doing and helps us to grow, along with the pros having a lovely course to come and play.”
Storrar also had some tips for the players, adding: “The greens are incredible, so you have to bring your putting boots with you when you come here because the course is very picturesque - it’s set in the Shropshire hills - and you can go after it a little bit, you just need to putt very well or you’ll struggle.”
The final Midlands Order of Merit event of 2023 will be played across two courses, Harborne Golf Club, which will provide a stern test with no fewer than 80 bunkers, and Moseley Golf Club, an acclaimed venue in the Midlands for almost 130 years, where there's always a chance of an exciting finish with Hole 17 being a driveable Par 4 and Hole 18 being a short Par 5.
The 2023 PGA Midlands tournament schedule will be overseen by Will Dunn, who has recently been promoted to Tournament Director for the region. Dunn, a graduate of the Applied Golf Management Studies (AGMS) course at the University of Birmingham, previously spent just under 10 years at 3 Hammers Golf Complex and has also spent time at Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey. He first began working as the Tournament Controller for the Midlands region in the summer of 2022.
Dunn’s passion for events is apparent, and he is ready for the challenge of the 2023 season. He said: “Working all the way through to the event actually coming off and being a success, that’s the bit that I enjoy, that it’s all working together! I’m looking forward to getting a full tournament season under my belt.
“I feel that I can lead the Midlands team in the right direction and having had a few ideas as to how we can do it, I want to make sure that I can put these into place. I’m looking forward to getting to know more of the pros in the Midlands, build that relationship up, have a successful 2023 season and then build on that moving forward.”
CLICK HERE to view the full 2023 tournament schedule for the Midlands region.
