Tournaments
ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters
16 August - 18 August
Players praise Buckinghamshire Golf Club
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’s 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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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 established competitors, such as Laura Davies and Melissa Reid, as well as the new masters emerge.
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. For the final round on Saturday, the finishing hole will be the 172-yard/157-metre par-three, in front of the majestic Georgian clubhouse and its impressive terrace, which should provide an incredible garden-party atmosphere.
Tickets are still being offered for purchase at Ticketmaster and will also be available to buy on the gate.
