NOTTS GOLF CLUB TO STAGE PGA
PLAY-OFFS IN MID-OCTOBER

Notts Golf Club will host this year's PGA Play-Offs in which Britain's best PGA club pros compete for a golden ticket to four of Europe's biggest tournaments.The acclaimed East Midlands course, an established Open regional qualifier venue, will stage the £15,000 event on October 16 and 17 with the leading finisher gaining entry into the BMW PGA Championship, Celtic Manor Wales Open, Smurfit Kappa European Open and Barclays Scottish Open.
The field will comprise the leading three players from each of the seven PGA regions with spots also available in four Challenge Tour events - the Ryder Cup Wales Challenge, Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge, Scottish Challenge and Morson International Pro-Am.
Gary Marks from Surrey's World of Golf won the inaugural event at Woodhall Spa to be crowned No 1 PGA pro last year and this week is reaping the rewards as he lines up alongside US Open champion Angel Cabrera and Co at the European Open at The K Club.
Notts, better known as Hollinwell, was designed by the legendary Willie Park Junior and current head pro Michael Bradley, just the seventh pro in the club's 120 year history, is predicting a tough test for his peers.
"We've got seven or eight new bunkers so it's going to make it even tougher off the tee, bringing them more into the fairway and making you think about the drive more," he said.
"At that time of the year the holes will play long - off the blue tees the course is 7213 yards so there isn't any hole where you can't afford to be accurate off the tee. If you drive it well you have got a good chance of scoring well," he added.
"There are not many short par fours, only two under 400 yards. Its strength is in its length."
The Notts club enjoys a great history with its first professional the amazing Tom Williamson who was pro from 1896 to his death in 1950. Along the way he played in every Open from 1897 to 1947, a world record.