North West Matchplay

The North West section of the Golfdelaluz.com Northern Matchplay Golf Championship is a season-long knockout tournament for amateur club golfers in Lancashire and Cheshire.

There is an Individual and Pairs competition where golfers compete in matchplay rounds throughout the year trying to reach the regional final.

In 2012 the North West final will be held at Formby Golf Club, one of the best courses in the country and arguably the world, on Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd October.

The winners at Formby will progress to our grand final at the stunning Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate, Cadiz, Spain.

The entry-fee is £15 per person for the Singles competition and £25 per pair for the Betterball event.

The championship is sponsored by Golf de la Luz, your leading golf breaks experts.

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Entrants are drawn against other golfers, initially on a local basis in order to minimise traveling distances.

Within the North West section there are two sub-regions; Lancashire and Cheshire.

The first round is played over 36 holes on a 'home and away' basis. This has proved extremely popular in previous years because everyone is guaranteed at least one round away from their own course.

A draw takes place for home advantage in subsequent rounds with approximately four weeks provided for each tie to be completed.

Golf clubs often grant courtesy of their course otherwise the members guest fee is split equally amongst all competitors. The event provides an excellent way for competitors to play different courses either free of charge or at a significantly reduced rate.

The maximum handicap limit is 18, however, players with 19-28 handicaps may enter but must play off 18.

Full handicap difference applies in the Individual event and 3/4 allowance in the Pairs.

The championship is only open to those golfers with an active CONGU handicap.

You must win a maximum of just six matches to reach the regional final at Formby.

Regional final at Formby...

Four individuals and four pairs will compete at the regional final over the memorable Formby links.

Semi-finals will be played on the afternoon of Monday 1st October with the winners playing a final the following morning. 

A 3rd place play-off will take place on the second day for the semi-final losers.

Dormy House accommodation has been reserved for those wishing to stay over but please note this is optional and not included.

There will be no green-fees to pay and food is included.

Vouchers will be awarded to the runners-up and 3rd place play-off winners whilst the victorious individual and pair go forward to our grand final.

Formby is currently ranked as the 12th best golf course in England and has hosted the English Amateur Championship on no less than five occasions.

It has also been the venue for The (British) Amateur Championship four times, the most recent in 2009 when Matteo Manaserro won. It also produced another famous winner when José María Olazábal defeated Colin Montgomerie in the 1984 final.

Overseas grand final...

Thanks to our main sponsor, Golf de la Luz, the successful individual and pair at Formby will qualify for a magnificent overseas grand final at Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate, 14th-18th October 2012.

They will be joined by the winners from our other regional finals and battle it out to become the Champion Golfers of the North.

A total of 12 golfers, four individuals and four pairs, will make the trip to Cadiz in Spain. Grand finalists will enjoy a practice round followed by two rounds of competitive matches. Flights and villa accommodation on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis are also provided.

Arcos Gardens is ranked as one of the best golf courses in Spain and has staged the European Tour Qualifying School on several occasions. It is also used by the Swedish Golf Federation and English Golf Union as a winter training facility.

How to enter...

• Check out our full rules and regulations to make sure that you are eligible to play. In summary you must be a male golfer aged 16+ on 2nd April 2012 and have an active CONGU handicap held at a golf club affiliated to either the Lancashire or Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs.

• Register & pay online.