2009 marks the fourteenth year of The Championship which has established itself as the most popular national matchplay event for club golfers in the UK with up to 6,000 competitors from 1800 different golf clubs competing in either the singles or the better-ball competition each year.

 

 

 

At least 44 competitors will qualify to win a place in the Grand Final at the luxurious Vale do Lobo resort on Portugal's Algarve coast in January 2010, host of the 2002 and 2003 Portuguese Open and voted '3rd Best Golf Resort in the World' in 2005.

The prize includes return flights sponsored by Monarch Airlines, 5 nights luxury accommodation, hire car and four rounds of golf on the spectacular Ocean Course and the magnificent Royal Course competing for the Individual and Better-Ball titles. click here to see more information about Vale do Lobo.

"Just to get here is the real prize. We've stayed in a fantastic resort with some absolutely great people and had a really good time. We've been on plenty of golf holidays with our closest friends, but we have never enjoyed ourselves as much as we have this week.” Stuart Robinson – BetterBall Champions team 2008

"This is a fantastic event and I've loved every single minute of it, everything is so well organised and its full of brilliant people. I'd love to be back next year."

Mo Dewji – Individual Champion 2008

 

Individual Champion 2008 Mo Dewji (8) Woburn G&CC, Bedsfordshire		Better-Ball Champions 2008 Mike Harrington (+1) + Stuart Robinson (4) Wychwood Park, Cheshire

HOW IS THE COMPETITION PLAYED?

 

FORMAT - Better-Ball or Individual matchplay with a maximum of four rounds between June and October before the Regional Finals. Matches are played locally - minimal travel is necessary and games are played at a mutually convenient time and date with up to 5 weeks given in order to play each round. Courtesy of the course is often granted but any green fees payable will be charged at the member's guest rate and shared between competitors.

REGIONAL FINALS - Up to eight Regional Finals will be staged at top class courses in the first two weeks of October. The format at the Regional Finals and Grand Final is Stableford.

WHO CAN ENTER - Current golf club members who have an official golf club handicap and have played in at least three handicap qualifying competitions between April 1 2008 and June 1 2009 (14 months). Handicap limits are 24 for men and 30 for ladies. Golfers with higher handicaps may enter and play within these limits. Better ball teams may be mixed and may come from different clubs. Golfers under 18 years old may compete in the better ball competition but MUST be partnered by an adult. Competitors in the individual competition MUST be 18 or over.

"We had an absolutely brilliant time - there aren't enough superlatives to describe it" Jeff Davies - Grand Finalist 2007

 

"I wasn't quite sure what to expect but this is fantastic - it's just like being on holiday with my best mates. The best golfing experience of my life."

One handicap Chris Dyson, Woodsome Hall, who as a teenager studied a golf scholarship in USA and beat Tiger Woods in one event. Grand Finalist 2006.

"Until you experience the Grand Final week you have no idea what a superb prize just qualifying is. We didn't know what to expect and it surpassed everything we had hoped for" Colin Tungate & Malcolm Booth - Reading GC - 2006 Grand Finalists

"We entered it just for a bit of fun and the chance to play some courses we wouldn't normally get the chance to. It cost us just £18.50 each and has been the best money I've ever spent" Dominik Keogh (7) Ogbourne Downs, one half of Better Ball Champions 2005.

"Its not until you actually get to the Grand Final that you realise how special it is, fantastic hospitality and organisation in a top class resort. We felt like professional golfers even though we didn't play as we are capable and we enjoyed every minute and will be doing our utmost to get back this year." Nick Murray, half of the father (Jack) & son pairing who finished last in the 2005 Grand Final - or 19th out of approx 2,000 pairs as they prefer to see it.

"We've had a glimpse of what it must be like to be a top professional golfer. 72 holes of competitive golf on two superb courses and during the final round we experienced huge pressure. A truly memorable experience." Warren Powick (6) Ashford Manor GC, one half of the Better Ball Champions 2004.

"I ran out of superlatives to describe Vale do Lobo and we all experienced five days of what it must be like to be a millionaire" Mike Creswell (5) Berkhamsted GC, one half of the Better Ball Champions 2003.