Press Release
GOLF FACTOR 2012 - THE JUNIOR GOLF TALENT SEARCH FOR ALL!
Golf Factor 2012 is launched this month by The Chris Gill Junior Golf Foundation. Winners and runners up receive a fantastic package of golf support including equipment, and swing coaching provided by sponsors Direct Golf UK and John Letters Golf Academy and also invited to attend a behind the scenes look at the two of the best golf tournaments in the world – The Open and the PGA Championship at Wentworth, with the winners rubbing shoulders with none other than Rory McIlroy!
To become a winner, junior golfers must progress through four stages and have every aspect of their games tested by a panel of judges which last year included Challenge tour Pro Chris Hanson and John Letters Academy director Tom Denby.
For young children or children new to the game “Future Stars” runs parallel to the Golf Factor auditions. James Beattie of Chris Gill Junior Golf Foundation said “We work in schools every day to introduce the game to school children so we came up with a skills test for new players to encourage entries from beginners to experience a golf factor event”.
All young people can enter Golf Factor; you do not need a handicap or to be a club member. Players must hit a variety of shots in front of a panel of expert judges whom score the candidates performance. Successful applicants progress through to a “boot camp” which is a more intensive set of skills tests and the regional final and grand finale is played on a golf course.
Last year organisers introduced a Champion of Champions Event to determine the very best player from the regional heats and produced a worthy Champion in 14 year old John Paul Ralph of Merseyside. JP said: “Golf Factor is the best thing I have ever done and the support I have received since winning the final has really improved my game. Its great fun and a good test of your golf under a little bit of pressure!”
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Event Details: Stage One: 16th/17th Jun, Stage Two: 30th June, Regional Final: 1st July, National Final 15th September.
News
NEW 2012 GOLF FACTOR DATES OUT NOW
Junior golf’s premier talent search are already planning towards next seasons exciting Golf Factor
& Future Stars Talent search and are pleased to announce the dates for group stages. The dates for
your diary should be :
The weekend of Saturday June 16th & Sunday June 17th -
For 1st auditions and future stars skills challenges.
The weekend of Saturday 30th June & Sunday 1st July -
For bootcamp & regional finals.
Next year all the regional competitions will be taking place across the same weekends building up to the Champions weekend in September.
Applications in writing to:
James Beattie
John Letters Golf Academy,
Stadium Way,
Huddersfield,
HD1 6PG
or email your application to:
golffactor@johnletters.com
Golf Factor – Class of 2011 – End of year report
Well it’s been a fantastic year for the golf factor talent search and now the dust
has settled we thought it was time to take stock of the year.
It all started in the home of Golf Factor – Huddersfield - in May. The opening weekend
included the first round of the newly introduced Future Stars Skills Challenge using
Tri-golf Equipment for younger children who were new to golf but still wanted to
take part in the talent search, this was won by young Louie Tissiman.
The final was held at Crosland Heath Golf Club in extremely tough conditions- watching
on was John Letters Tour Professional Chris Hanson who remarked on the first tee
that he “would not fancy it!” due to the testing weather!
The Yorkshire Heats unearthed some great talent who have gone onto do some fantastic
things in golf this year, none more so than George Brady, who won the competition.
Golf Factor 2010 winners were treated to a behind the scenes look at the European
Tour, as the BMW Championship descended on Wentworth in Surrey and Open championship
at Royal St. Georges. Lucky winners were able to meet Ryder Cup Legend and Major
winner Jose Maria Olazabal and also new superstar Rory McIlroy who spent time with
our winners on the practice ground.
From Huddersfield it was onto Merseyside in June, and to the Moreton Hills Golf
Centre for auditions. Stage one was a hotly contested competition and the players
had to be at the top of their game to progress. Experience was the key to success
in the Merseyside heats with the majority of finalists entered the previous year.
The final was held at Arrowe Park Golf Club on the Wirral in sultry conditions and
produced winner Daniel Heron, who finished in the runner up places the previous
year.
Then onto the Midlands and Solihull, where competitors flocked to the John Letters
Golf Academy at the 3 counties golf centre where the summer sun shone on those who
came to test their skills. The final was played at Gay Hill Golf Club with talented
youngster 10 year old Rhys Hopkins coming out on top. 10 year old Rhys demonstrated
a great no nonsense approach to his game which was refreshing and has a bright future
in the game.
A first for Golf Factor this year was the Inaugural Champion of Champions Event
played at Whittlebury Park in Northampton. This event was created to bring the cream
of the 2010/2011 crop of winners and runners up to one place and play 18 holes of
stroke play to determine the Champion of Champions! We teamed up with growing junior
tour UK Kids Golf on the day who were also playing their own tour finals. Talented
JP Ralph came out on top and took home the Silver Cup which he has to defend next
year!
Finally onto Cambridgeshire for the last of the regional heats, held at Cambridge
Golf and Conference Centre – a fantastic venue that lends its self well to the Golf
Factor competition. The weather also played its part as unseasonably high temperatures
were order of the day. The final held at Brampton Park Golf Club was the closest
yet with any number of the players still in with a great shout of winning the competition
coming down the last hole in the fading light. Emerging on top was Aron Kumar who
equipped himself well throughout the competition and was a worthy winner!
Well done to each and every participant of Golf Factor 2011 and we are all looking
forward to seeing you all again in 2012 – happy golfing!