Oakmere To Host PGA Assistants Championship

Oakmere Park near Oxton is to host September’s Coca Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship.

The resumption of the PGA’s national tournament schedule later this year will see Nottingham’s impressive Oakmere Park play host to the Coca Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship over three rounds in a strokeplay format.

Beginning with a qualifying round on September 21st the Nottingham-held tournament will see participants play for a share of a near £28k prize fund, the winner collecting £5k of that.

Among the oldest tournaments on the calendar, first being played 90 years ago, in 1930 the PGA Assistants’ Championship has been won by a number of top golfers including a two-time major champion and Ryder Cup-winning captain Tony Jacklin (1965), Peter Alliss (1952) who has appeared in eight Ryder Cups, Harry Weetman (1949 and 1950) who was the 1965 Ryder Cup captain and appeared six times, and Dai Rees (winner 1935 7 1936) who has made nine appearances and been captain on five occasions; the current holder of the Coca Cola OGA Assistants’ Championship is Pleasington’s Michael Bullen.

Speaking of Oakmere hosting the upcoming championships, Daryl St John Jones, Director of Golf, said: “Hosting the Coca Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship is the culmination of six year’s hard work.

“As a PGA Professional who has worked at Oakmere Park for more than 23 years as their Director of Golf, it makes me very proud that we have been able to bring such a prestigious tournament to this venue.

“We have six PGA Professionals and Assistants who make up the team in the shop at Oakmere Park and they are really excited to be part of this transformation and to host this Championship.”

Having undergone some significant redevelopments over the past five years, Oakmere Park hosting the championship is much-welcomed news and comes with the venue having enlisted the help of golf architect, the renowned Tom Mackenzie, who has worked on prestigious courses that includes Turnberry and Royal Portrush.

Welcoming a 120-strong field of players, Daryl St John Jones added: “We rebuilt all 18 green surrounds, re-bunkered the entire course, created four new holes and recommended the installation of the latest Toro, state-of-the-art irrigation system.

“The course is just under 6,800 yards and our members and amateurs from around the area rate is as one of the toughest challenges in the County. It’ll certainly be no picnic for the PGA Assistants.

“I honestly believe the Assistants will love the challenge at Oakmere Park, there are plenty of opportunities for birdies and it will reward the straight hitter who also has the touch of a surgeon.”

The PGA’s Head of National Tournaments, Charles Hine, added: “We are delighted to take one the Association’s most historic tournaments to Oakmere Park.

“The improvements made at Oakmere Park in recent years have made it one of the ‘must play’ venues in Nottinghamshire, and I’m certain it will prove a very popular venue for PGA Assistants in September.

“We look forward to working with Daryl and his dedicated team at Oakmere Park in hosting this year’s Championship.”

Oakmere Park, Nottingham, hosts the Coca Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship between Wednesday 23 and Friday 25 September, with qualifiers being played out two days prior to the main tournament.

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