Kedleston Park eagerly anticipating Open Regional Qualifying Debut

Kedleston Park Golf Club, home to one of Derbyshire’s most highly regarded golf courses, is fully geared up for its debut as a host venue for Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship on 25^th June 2018.

Following completion of an ambitious and comprehensive course improvement and upgrade programme, Kedleston Park is delighted to be taking things to the next level this June having been invited by The R&A to host Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship. The R&A is golf’s governing body and organiser of the sport’s oldest Major, which dates back to 1860 and is contested every July for the world-famous Claret Jug.

The upgrades to Kedleston Park, overseen by renowned course architect, Tom Mackenzie, sought not only to improve the visual appeal of the holes, but also to enhance their strategic and tactical demands, with the specific aim of creating a layout that would reward good shots, while asking more testing questions of golfers who stray out of position.

Along with Martin Ebert, Mackenzie is a partner in highly regarded golf course architect firm, Mackenzie and Ebert, which has been enlisted by The R&A to oversee and implement improvement works at many of the Open Championship links courses in recent years, so the work at Kedleston Park has been entrusted to some of the very best in the business.

Competition for a place in the 156-man field that will eventually tee it up at Carnoustie in Angus from 19^th to 22nd July for the 147^th Open Championship starts in earnest just under a month before the event. Scores of hopefuls from golf’s smaller professional tours, the club pro ranks and the elite amateur world will battle it out in 13 Regional Qualifying events right across the UK and Ireland on 25^th June for the chance to make it through to one of four Final Qualifying venues on 3^rd July.

There, they will be joined by seasoned touring professionals not yet exempt in the final quest to earn a starting place in the field at Carnoustie for golf’s most historic and prestigious title of all. The course at Kedleston Park, which recently hosted a Media Day in the build-up to 25^th June, is shaping up to be in superb condition for its Open Championship debut.

To further bolster its growing reputation, Kedleston Park will also be hosting the McGregor Trophy – the English Boy’s U16 Amateur Strokeplay Championship - the same week as The Open at Carnoustie, having been recognised as an Official Championship Venue by England Golf. The four-round event, with a 36-hole cut, will be played from 17^th to 19^th July 2018.

“This year is certainly going to be one of the most memorable, if not the most memorable, in Kedleston Park’s rich history,” said Club Chairman, Ian Neal. “We are delighted with the course improvements overseen by Tom Mackenzie, and proud that our ambition and vision, along with all the hard work of countless individuals, have been recognised by both The R&A and England Golf. We are looking forward to welcoming competitors and spectators to our club in both June and July and are confident that they will find our improved course a suitably worthy test. Our members are excited about both events, and especially thrilled to be given the chance to become a part of golf’s oldest and most historic event of all – The Open Championship.”

Kedleston Park is a beautiful, mature parkland golf course set in peaceful countryside within the grounds of magnificent Kedleston Hall, a grand National Trust 18^th century stately home just a few miles northwest of Derby city centre. It has long been regarded as one of the finest tests of golf in both Derbyshire and wider East Midlands region.

For further information on Kedleston Park, please visit www.kedlestonparkgolfclub.co.uk, email generalmanager@kedlestonparkgolfclub.co.uk or call 01332 840035.  

You might also like:

GolfPunk Magazine Issue 2: Read FREE here!! WIN an amazing golf break at the legendary Kulm Hotel in St.Moritz PLUS  a 4-Ball at top European course Monte Rei.