A Championship Year at Fulford
The end of April saw Fulford host the inaugural R&A Girls Under 16 Open Championship. The Championship has been introduced as part of The R&A’s drive to boost the girls’ game in Great Britain and Ireland and beyond, as well as provide a pathway to the elite amateur level for leading young players. The event kicked off on the Thursday evening when all players, coaches, volunteers and staff were invited to a barbecue and trickshot show. The barbecue presented by the catering team at Fulford went down a treat and then Paul Barrington entertained the spectators with his fabulous trickshots some of which involved Fulford Captain Paul Hemlin.
The serious golf started on Friday morning as the 90 players from 11 different countries got their round underway. The competition came down to a tense sunny Sunday afternoon as Hannah Darling from Broomieknowe in Scotland managed to clinch victory with a winning total of -4. Upon receiving the trophy she said “The competition has been amazing. The R&A have done an amazing job as have the Fulford Golf Club and the green staff to keep the course in such good condition”. However, the youngest player in the field, 10 year old Rosie Bee Kim shared some of the limelight. Her round on Saturday included 5 birdies in a row and finished the day with a one under par 73. She held it together on Sunday to win the ‘Fulford Quaich’ for the U12 division.
Over 100 volunteers were involved throughout the week to ensure the event ran smoothly and Fulford thank them for their support. This event will stay at Fulford for the next two years as they host the Championship again in 2019 and 2020.
Next up, it’s the boys turn.
The York venue is set to host the England Boys Carris Trophy in July. This prestigious event will see England’s elite Under 18’s golfers visit Yorkshire and compete for the esteemed trophy over four rounds in as many days. 144 players will start their championship on Tuesday 24th July however only the leading 60 competitors and ties will advance to play the final 36 holes over Thursday and Friday.
Previous winners of the competition include 2013 U.S Open winner Justin Rose (1995), Two-time Major champion Sandy Lyle (1975) and Fulford member Jonathan Plaxton (1978). The par 72 course which totals 6925 yards will be a challenging test for the high quality field competing.
Further information about the event including start times and live scoring will be published nearer the time. Spectators are welcome to attend free of charge and use the clubhouse facilities at their leisure. The halfway house will also be open to purchase refreshments on the course. There will be some fantastic golf on show throughout the week so make sure not to miss out.
The Fulford Experience
Fulford is often a popular venue for societies to play and dine. Visiting golfers are offered a warm welcome all year round. The head chef and his team offer high quality catering services and have a range of meals available from their extensive menu. After your round, the bar staff will be on hand to welcome you back with a refreshing drink from our well stocked bar. Feel free to take advantage of the outside seating area overlooking the 18th hole whilst you enjoy a drink with friends in the sun.
A recent review from Trip Advisor stated “The course was in excellent condition and the greens are better than perfect. A very challenging course with hidden awards. Would love to play again. All staff were polite and made it a brilliant day. Would highly recommend this course to anybody”.
The course itself lies just one mile from the centre of the historic city of York making Fulford an ideal venue for golfers throughout the year. The club regularly achieves a ‘Top 100’ status for courses in England and is widely regarded as one of the best inland courses in Britain. Please be advised to book early to avoid disappointment. Last minute tee times may be booked online or please feel free to visit the website for further information.
