R&A PRESS RELEASE

ABRIDGE AND MERE ADDED TO REGIONAL
OPEN QUALIFYING FOR 2009

Abridge Golf & Country Club and Mere Golf & Country Club are named as new additions to the list of 16 clubs that will host Regional Qualifying for the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry.
The other 14 are:
Berwick-upon-Tweed (Goswick), Coventry, Effingham, Enville, Ferndown, Musselburgh, Lindrick, Old Fold Manor, Pannal, Pleasington, Rochester & Cobham Park, Royal Ashdown Forest, Royal Dublin and The Gog Magog.
Though both clubs have quite differing histories, each, in its own era was designed by Open champions – Abridge by Henry Cotton in 1962 and Mere almost 30 years earlier jointly by five times champion James Braid and George Duncan, the winner in 1920.
At Mere, the course was created out of 150 acres of Cheshire parkland that has a history dating back to the 12 century and includes a mention in the Doomsday Book. Since its construction, it has hosted several professional championships and with the injection of many millions into its redevelopment has become one of the most renowned golf and business facilities in the North West.
Abridge was born out of the post-war boom for golf and after the first practical step towards inauguration in 1959, the club was quickly established on farmland in the North East suburbs of London.
The course was opened for play in 1964 and Regional Qualifying in 2009 will mark 45 years of continued growth into one of Essex’s finest country clubs.