GECKO PRO TOUR EVENT AT ALMENARA

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Note: the Almenara tournament was scheduled to be a 36-hole event on December 7 and 8.
Unfortunately, bad weather washed out the first day's play and the tournament was reduced to an 18-hole competition on December 8.
 

EVER PLAYED GOLF IN AFRICA? NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!

                           FEBRUARY 9 to 16, 2013
                     BASED AT HAMMAMET

  TO VIEW ALL THE DETAILS ON THE MENARA TRAVEL WEBSITE

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Menara Travel have offered the North-east Alliance, the Midlands Alliance, the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance, plus the West of Scotland Alliance free flights to Tunisia from Manchester, accommodation and meals to the four leading professionals at designated Alliance competitions before mid-January.

The offer originally applied to the leading amateurs but the R and A Rules of Amateur Status advised that the value of the prize was over the limit (£500) for an amateur. 

McILROY TOPS VOTING FOR GOLF WRITERS TROPHY 2O12

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF GOLF WRITERS 

Rory McIlroy has won the Golf Writers Trophy for 2012 after a magnificent season which saw him finish the year as the undisputed world No 1.

The 23-year-old Northern Irishman topped the annual poll ahead of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, Ian Poulter, Roger Chapman and the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team.

McIlroy said: “The 2012 season was a superb one for every aspect of European golf and that comes across when you look at the names of the players in contention for the Golf Writers Trophy this year – therefore to come out on top of that list is a great honour.

“Throughout the year, wherever we play, the golf writers are there helping to promote our sport and give a voice to golf and, therefore, I am delighted to win their award. I hope to give them plenty more good things to write about in 2013.”

McIlroy won his second major title at the USPGA Championship at Kiawah Island by eight strokes, claimed four other victories, including the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai with five birdies over the last five holes, and did the double of winning the money list on the PGA Tour and the Race to Dubai title on the European Tour.

While McIlroy earned almost 50 percent of the first-place votes, the poll reflected the range of achievements by European golfers in 2012. McIlroy also claimed a part of second place as a member Europe’s Ryder Cup team. Captained by Jose Maria Olazabal and inspired by the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe engineered a thrilling comeback from 10-4 down to win by a single point at Medinah.

  Poulter was one of the key architects of the comeback as he made five birdies in a row to win a vital fourball match alongside McIlroy on Saturday evening. Once again showing his passion for team competition, the Englishman won all four of his contests at Medinah and went on to win his second World Golf Championship at the HSBC Champions.Chapman, 53, enjoyed a fairy-tale season when he won the Senior PGA Championship and the US Senior Open, a double only previously achieved by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin.

 Chapman ended the year by clinching the John Jacobs Trophy as winner of the European Senior Tour Order of Merit.Great Britain and Ireland won the Curtis Cup for the first time in 16 years and made history at Nairn by bringing all four of the main transatlantic trophies – Ryder, Solheim, Walker and Curtis Cups – to Europe for the first time. Under captain Tegwen Matthews, GB and I recovered from losing all three matches in the opening session and still trailed heading into the singles but went on to seal a one-point victory.

Voted on by members of the Association of Golf Writers and dating back to 1951, the award recognises the most outstanding achievements during the year of golfers born or resident in Europe, and European teams. This is the fourth time in the last six years that the trophy has crossed the Irish Sea with Padraig Harrington winning in 2007 and 2008, and Graeme McDowell in 2010.

Also featuring in the voting this year were Carlota Ciganda, Paul Lawrie, Justin Rose, Mel Reid, Luke Donald, Suzann Pettersen, Martin Kaymer, Matteo Manassero, Georgia Hall and Lee Westwood.

BAD WEATHER DELAYS PGA PLAY-OFFS START IN TURKEY

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA
They say lightning never strikes twice but it did today in Turkey forcing the first round of the 2012 Titleist PGA Play-Offs to be abandoned without a ball being struck.
Heavy and sustained thunderstorms engulfed Antalya Golf Club’s PGA Sultan Course leaving tournament organisers with little option but to shelve play and restart on Tuesday.
The event will still be contested over 72 holes with the final round set for Thursday.
Tournament director Ben Groutage commented: “The course is playable but it is just too dangerous to send the players out there with all the lightning.
“The plan is still to play 72 holes by playing four rounds over the next three days with the final round going ahead as scheduled on Thursday.”
It is the first time the £15,000 tournament will have been contested over 72-holes with leading finishers qualifying for a number of European and Challenge Tour starts and the top 10 earning a place in next year’s flagship BMW PGA Championship.
In addition the top three eligible players will qualify for Russell Weir’s Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team to face the United States next year at De Vere Slaley Hall.
The 24-strong field comprises the top three from each of the PGA’s seven regions plus the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship winner and runner up and the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Champion.
East Region-based Mark Hooper from Rayleigh Golf Range-based is due off first when play gets underway tomorrow alongside former PGA Cup player James Whatley (Morley Hayes) from the Midlands and Scotland’s David Orr (Mearns Castle).
Reigning PGA Play-Offs champion Richard Wallis (Walmer and Kingsdown) is last out with Glenmuir champion Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Powerade champion Matt Cort (Rothley Park).
The draw for the first round can be accessed at http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi12/event/pgagbi12355/pairings.htm?r=60b31d16-b03c-420e-9568-ec5cc8ac51f7

NICKY LUMB NAMED PGA CAPTAIN-ELECT

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE PGA

PGA board member and former tutor Nicky Lumb has been named as PGA captain-elect.
The Bristol Golf Centre-based Lumb, pictured, will succeed Neil Selwyn-Smith in 2015 who takes over the two-year ambassadorial role from current incumbent Eddie Bullock in April 2013.
Lumb admitted the invitation to captain the world's oldest professional golfers' association had been a surprise, albeit a welcome one.
"It had never entered my head that I would ever be captain of The PGA but I am very honoured and pleased to accept," said Lumb who is a PGA Master Professional.
Lumb has built up a reputation as a retailer first at Filton Golf Club and for the last 12 years at Bristol Golf Centre which employs nine PGA professionals and is one of the biggest golf superstores in the UK featuring a 24-bay driving range, pirate-themed 18 hole adventure golf course and Starbucks coffee shop.
He began playing golf as a junior with his father who was secretary at West Bowling, Bradford, but it wasn't until a serious illness in his mid-20s that he decided to follow in the footsteps of his late brother Robin, and become a PGA professional.
"I had always played golf, my wife, Kathy, was a two-time Curtis Cup player, and my brother was a pro so in 1975 I followed in his footsteps," he said.
He became a fully qualified PGA member in 1980 and after just six months as an assistant was appointed head professional at Filton Golf Club.
In 1983 he began his long involvement with PGA education and training programmes when he was invited to become commercial studies tutor going on to become a senior tutor in 1988.
The following year he became chairman of the PGA training committee - an appointment which came out of the blue.
"Keith Hockey, who was the chairman at the time asked me if I would become his deputy," said Lumb.
"I said I would only become his deputy if he assured me he was going to stay on as chairman for ages because that wasn't really on my radar.
"Anyway at the first meeting, he announced he was standing down. I questioned him and he said 'you would never have accepted if I had told you that'.
His chairmanship presided over a pivotal time in the Association's history and he was involved in the building of the new PGA Training Academy, chairing the committee overseeing the PGA training manual re-write and served on the education review committee in 1989-90 and 1995-99.
He was also a three-time member of the PGAs of Europe training standards committee from 1991-96, 1998-2000 and 2002-09 and has been a member of the PGA Board of Directors since 2001.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones commented: "Nicky is a well-respected and innovative pro who has been a long-standing PGA board member and has also been an instrumental figure in helping develop The PGA's education programmes both as chairman of the training committee and as a tutor.
"He has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the golf industry and we look forward to him representing the Association with distinction."

RORY AND CAROLINE TO SET UP £8million FLORIDA LOVENEST

  EYES ONLY FOR EACH OTHER ... Lovebirds Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy. Picture courtesy of Getty Images(c).

 FROM THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By John Mulgrew

No wonder Rory McIlroy’s girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki is in good form — she is about to set up home with her beau in an £8m US love nest.
The golfer’s tennis star girlfriend was spotted clowning around on court during a match in Brazil against Maria Sharapova of Russia on Friday.
The Danish player was doing an impersonation of fellow top player Serena Williams.
The news of the big buy means Northern Ireland’s golfing superstar is set to leave his beloved Co Down home behind and move into a new luxury property in America, according to newspaper reports. 
TOP OF RANGE FLORIDA MANSION
The Holywood (near Belfast) young gun and the former women’s tennis world number one are said to be close to buying a top of the range £8m mansion in sunny Florida.
According to reports, the 10,000sq ft pad boasts a total of six bedrooms alongside nine bathrooms, a top-end gym and even a private dock.
As with his previous luxury home, the property also comes prepared with a putting green so the superstar can keep his technique sharp.
In September the 23-year-old golfer put his Ulster home up for sale — for a cool £2m. Situated at Moneyreagh in the hills above Belfast — the five bedroom property includes a practice area with a putting green and driving range. There is also a gymnasium in an adjoining refurbished stone barn. 
EX-GIRLFRIEND HOLLY 
The house — set in 14 acres — was built in 2006.
McIlroy once shared the house with ex-girlfriend Holly Sweeney before their relationship ended in 2011.
She has recently been in the news after posing for topless photographs.
Having bought the house in 2009, Rory now spends most of his time overseas — playing the bulk of his golf in the United States.
Rory has had yet another successful year out on the course, being named the US PGA Tour Player of the Year by his fellow players on the US Tour. The world’s top golfing talent won four events in the US during 2012, including the US PGA title and he also won the World Tour Championship in Dubai. 

 Caroline Wozniaki clowning around at a exhibition match in Florida last week.

Fun-loving Caroline Wozniacki made Serena Williams the butt of her joke at an exhibition match in Sao Paulo.

Wozniacki took on Maria Sharapova in front of a crowd that included boyfriend Rory McIlroy.

The Dane lost the match 6-2 7-6, and didn't seem to be taking things too seriously as she padded the, er, top and bottom of her outfit to give herself a curvier look.

Tennis impersonations are usually the preserve of Novak Djokovic - the madcap Serb has taken off big rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, as well as women's stars Williams and Sharapova.

Serena can afford to laugh off the light-hearted joshing - she has won five of her six matches against Wozniacki, including an Olympic quarter-final at Wimbledon this year.

ASIAN TOUR ON THE UP AND UP - ANOTHER NEW EVENT IN MARCH IN THAILAND

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR

Chiangmai, Thailand: The inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic will be launched in Thailand in March, 2013 in another positive development which underscores the strength of the Asian Tour as it expands professional golf in the Kingdom and across the region, officials announced today.

The full-field Asian Tour event will be held at the magnificent Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai, which is situated in northern Thailand, from March 28-31 and offer a total prize fund of US$750,000.

Organisers will assemble a collection of international stars along with the region’s elite players led by Thai heroes Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant to grace the Chiangmai Golf Classic.

In conjunction with IMG, who is the event promoter, Asia’s newest showpiece will be broadcast live over four days on the Asian Tour’s global television platform which reaches over 200 countries and 650 million homes. This will ensure the Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai and the picturesque city of Chiangmai, which the Asian Tour will visit for the first time, are beamed throughout the world.

The launch of Thailand’s newest tournament will raise the number of Asian Tour events in the country to four, which will boost Thai players’ aspirations to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2016 through the Official World Golf Ranking.