Buckinghamshire Golf Club is the home of the Ladies European Tour and it is hosting the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters for the first time this week.
The LET members are exceptionally excited about the event and are full of praise for the high quality and excellent condition of the challenging John Jacobs designed championship golf course, located just 20 minutes from London.
Course Manager, Andy Ewence and his team, have been working extensive hours in recent weeks to deliver the best playing surfaces to the ladies’ golf professionals.
The LET’s current ISPS Handa Order of Merit leader, Carly Booth, playing the course for the first time in the Pro Am on Tuesday, was one of several competitors who complimented the venue.
“It was fantastic, a lot of run on the ball. The ground is pretty firm and they are the best greens I’ve played all year. I’m looking forward to the week and I think there will be some good scores around here,” Booth said.
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| The magnificent Georgian clubhouse |
Rebecca Hudson commented: “I think it’s one of the best we’ve played this year. I think if we played golf courses like this every week, I think we’d be better golfers because you have to think your way round. The greens are perfect and it’s just great to be here. I’m happy to play in Great Britain and of course it’s great to play in front of your home crowd. It’s great to be here and after the Olympics hopefully we can get a British winner as that would be fabulous.”
Florentyna Parker added: “It’s really good. I played nine holes on the back nine and really, the greens are perfect and the fairways look really nice. I’m playing well and looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd. I played here in a Henderson Pro Am here four years ago so I do know the course but I’ve only played nine so far this week.”
Elizabeth Bennett said: “I thought it was in fantastic condition. The greens were holding yet to putt on they were quick. I’m looking forward to the week. I played in a Pro Am a month ago just to get a feel for it but it was completely different because it was pouring with rain and wet but it’s playing very differently because it’s running a lot on the fairways today.”
Holly Aitchison commented: “I haven’t played here before and I think it’s brilliant. The greens are fantastic and the whole course is set up really well. I can’t complain.”
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| A relaxed and informal atmosphere in which to eat, drink and play golf sets the Buckinghamshire apart from other golf courses in the UK |
Henni Zuel: “It’s amazing. I’m really impressed, actually. I played a Pro Am here, like a month ago and the difference between then and now is unreal and I’m very, very impressed. I think the growth’s really good. There are no real bare patches. The greens are in great condition. I think because of all the rain they’ve had really nice growth and they’ve looked after it very well. They seem to have done the right things.”
Linda Wessberg: “It’s fabulous. It’s so pretty and great condition and totally different than what I expected actually. I’ve been here for the players’ council meeting and its been raining both times and I didn’t have any expectations at all. The course is really nice: I really like it. It’s been very wet the last few weeks and where we’ve been playing you can hit the ball and it pitches there and stops. Here you have to think a little bit more because it can run out 30 or 40 yards in some places. The larger greens are tough, I think, because if they are smaller it’s easier to aim but when they are so big, it can get confusing, but it’s good!”
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| John O’Leary, Director of Golf at Buckinghamshire GC |
Director of Golf at Buckinghamshire Golf Club, John O’Leary, a member of the 1975 European Ryder Cup team, is keen to welcome as many local golfers to the Buckinghamshire Golf Club as possible this week, to watch the new masters emerge and to share in the excitement.
O’Leary commented: “This is the club’s 20th anniversary year. We are very proud to share many special moments so far in our brief history, from the main European Tour events such as the Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf to the likes of top amateur events like The Trilby Tour.
“We have all seen and watched with excitement some of the biggest names in sport in recent weeks and although golf will be heading back to the Olympics from 2016, this tournament, no doubt will produce world class performances worth watching.”
The Buckinghamshire Golf Club’s par-72 championship golf course will be playing at 6379 yards, or 5833 metres, for the tournament on August 16-18.
The two nines will be played in reverse order, bringing additional drama to the closing stretch and the last three holes in particular, finishing on a par-three in front of the majestic Georgian clubhouse and its impressive terrace, which should provide an incredible garden-party atmosphere for the final round on Saturday.
Tickets are still being offered for purchase at Ticketmaster and will also be available to buy on the gate.
