PGA Europro Tour PGA National Headquarters – Tournament Department Centenary House The Belfry Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B76 9PT Telephone: +44 (0) 1675 470 333 Fax: +44 (0) 1675 477 888 Email: [email protected] Websites: www.pga.info; www.europrotour.com December 2013 Dear Applicant, PGA Europro Tour 2014 The PGA Europro Tour is about to start another exciting season and whether you have been a member in the past or are thinking about becoming a member for the first time, this is the most important document you need; please find some general information about the PGA Europro Tour and the 2014 PGA Europro Tour Qualifying School. The PGA Europro Tour is the only officially recognised satellite Tour in the UK, and one of the leading Tours in Europe. We are the only Tour in the UK that offers direct access to the European Challenge Tour through our Final Order of Merit. In the forthcoming season there will be up to 15 tournaments between April and November kicking off at the iconic Brabazon course at the Belfry. PGA Europro Tour members will compete for total prize money of around £600,000. One of the primary goals of the PGA Europro Tour is to enable players to perform at the highest possible level and prepare them for life as a Tour Professional. There is extensive media coverage at every tournament which consists of a televised two hour highlights package on Sky Sports HD that gives each player the invaluable experience of playing in front of the cameras, members will also have the opportunity to promote themselves and sponsors through interview and social media such as Twitter and Facebook. All this is directed towards providing members with the full experience of being a professional sportsperson. The top 5 players from the PGA Europro Tour Order of Merit who are not otherwise exempt at the end of the 2014 season will gain Category 13 membership of the European Challenge Tour in 2015*. The PGA Europro Tour also offers high performing members with several playing opportunities on the European Challenge Tour each season. In addition, exemptions to Stage 2 of 2014 European Tour Qualifying School are available for those members who find themselves in the Top 6 of the 2014 PGA Europro Tour Order of Merit by the closing date of European Tour Qualifying School entries. 2013 again proved to be a stellar year for recent PGA Europro Tour members. Less than 12 months after losing his European Tour card John Parry regained it by winning the European Tour School in 2013 and has since retained his playing privileges for 2014. Three maiden victories were recorded on the European Tour this year by former PGA Euro Pro Tour members Scott Jamieson, Simon Thornton and Tommy Fleetwood, the latter now currently being in strong contention for a maiden Ryder Cup appearance. Tyrell Hatton secured his European Tour card through the Challenge Tour Order of Merit in 2013 while Daniel Brooks, Jack Doherty, James Heath and Stuart Manley made it through European Tour Qualifying School to earn their right to play on the European Tour in 2014. These are just a few of many success stories and further evidence that the PGA Europro Tour has long been a breeding ground for young talent in Europe. We hope that this year will be a stepping stone for you. (……..Continued) For those who will be first time members of the PGA Europro Tour in 2014, the following points will provide you with some general facts about the Tour: Each tournament is scheduled for 54 holes of stroke play. Each tournament has a 36 hole cut to the top 50 players and ties. Prior to each Tournament there is an Official Practice Day and a Pro-Am. Regular tournaments have a minimum guaranteed prizefund of £40,000 to players making the 36 hole cut. Each tournament has a 2 hour TV highlights package broadcast on Sky Sports HD. The entry fee for each tournament is £275. Every tournament has a maximum field size of either 168 or 156 depending on daylight hours and course geography. PGA Europro Tour Regulations are applicable to each member, which aims to maintain the highest standard of professionalism and uphold the integrity of the Tour and the game itself. For the time being however, the most important thing is to join the PGA Europro Tour. Upon doing so successfully you will then be able to enter Qualifying School. Full details can be found on the enclosed literature but in the meantime the main points for your consideration include the following: The annual Membership fee for the PGA Europro Tour is £250. The 2014 Qualifying School entry fee is £175. You must join the Tour before being able to enter Qualifying School. Amateurs with an official handicap of 2 or less are allowed to play PGA Europro Tour Qualifying School and retain their Amateur Status throughout if they wish. Having entered Qualifying School, and turned Professional before, during or after the School, you are guaranteed an exemption category for the 2014 season allowing you to enter all the tournaments. Opportunities to compete on the European Challenge Tour are available to PGA Europro Tour Members through mid-season rankings and final Order of Merit positions. All tournament correspondence will be sent to members via text and email. All PGA Europro Tour information is available on www.pga.info, www.europrotour.com and the PGA Europro Tour App. Full player and course statistics can also be found on these sites. A Members’ only area of the website is available which includes member deals, Tour Policies, Rules and Regulations, player notices, venue accommodation deals and other information. For those of you who are new to the PGA Europro Tour I hope that this has provided you with an insight into the Tour and what it has to offer. If you have any enquiries either now or during the season please don’t hesitate to contact the Tournament Department at the PGA National Headquarters on the above details. Your first step to becoming a successful Touring Professional in 2014 starts by logging on to our website and entering Qualifying School which opens on Monday 6th January. Simply click on the “sign up now” link on the player login section of www.europrotour.com and follow the on screen instructions. With very best wishes for the forthcoming season. Yours sincerely, Ben Groutage Senior Tournament Director * European Challenge Tour categories are subject to annual review and change at the discretion of the European Challenge Tour. QUALIFYING SCHOOL 2014 (Including exempt Player Information) Qualifying School Stage 1 Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 March Woldingham, Surrey Formby Hall, Southport The Players Club, Bristol Slaley Hall, Northumberland (Priestman Course) Qualifying School Final Stage Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 April Frilford Heath Golf Club (Blue and Red), Oxford CONDITIONS OF ENTRY 1. Conditions of Play Qualifying School Stage 1 (i) Players not exempt for Qualifying School Final Stage under the categories listed in section 3 will be required to play at a Stage 1 venue. (ii) Entrants will be allocated to their preferred venue on a first come first serve basis. (iii) In the event of a venue being oversubscribed, priority of course nomination will be determined by the payment date of the entry fee via on-line entries. (iv) Stage 1 will be contested over 36 holes of stroke play with 18 holes being played each day. (v) Each venue (listed above) will have a maximum entry of 84 players. (vi) The primary objective is to balance the number of entries at each venue. Therefore, in the event that in excess of 336 entries for Stage 1 are received, the PGA Europro Tour will increase the field size of one or more venues in order to accommodate the additional entries. Venue allocation for these entries is pre determined and will not be subject to change. (vii) There will be no cut. (viii) The exact number of players qualifying to proceed to the Qualifying School Final Stage will be announced after all competitors have teed off at all four venues, i.e. the afternoon of Wednesday 26 March. They will be divided between the qualifying rounds and will be calculated as a percentage of total entries. Provisional numbers will be announced at the close of entries on Wednesday 12 March. (ix) At each Stage 1 venue, in the event of a tie for the last qualifying place, a ‘hole-by-hole’ play-off will be held until the exact number of qualifiers is achieved. The first 3 alternates will also be decided by a ‘hole-by-hole’ play-off if necessary immediately after play. (x) Play shall be in accordance with the Rules of Golf of R&A Rules Ltd, PGA Europro Tour Local Rules and Conditions of Competition and the local rules for each venue, as approved by the respective Tournament Director. Qualifying School Final Stage (i) Players exempt from Stage 1 of the PGA Europro Tour Qualifying School for 2014 may enter the Final Stage in order to improve their ranking, with the exception of Category 1 and 2 Members who will not be permitted to enter. (ii) The Qualifying School Final will be contested over 54 holes of stroke play with 18 holes being played each day. (iii) Qualifying School Final Stage will have an entry of 240 players competing over both the Red and Blue courses at Frilford Heath Golf Club. (iv) The field will play one round on each of the first two days, alternating between Red and Blue courses, after which the leading 80 competitors (and those who tie for 80th place) will go forward to the third and final round over the Blue course.