What is the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour?
Who can play on the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour?
Will my handicap affected by playing on the Tour?
Do I have to join the Volvo Tour / FORE Society?
How do I enter the events?
What is the playing format?
Can I invite friends to play?
Do you monitor handicaps?
What kind of prizes can you win?
What does a typical day include?
How does the Order of Merit Work?
What is a Volvo Championship Event?
How do I qualify for the Volvo Tour UK Final?
How do I qualify for the Volvo World Final?
Who organises the Volvo Tour?
What is the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour?
In 2008 Volvo became the title sponsor of what for the previous 10 yrs was known
as The FORE Tour and is now known as the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour. The Tour is a
series of professionally organised events which provide an opportunity for amateur
handicap golfers to play competitively in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere on some
of the UK's most renowned championship courses.
"Absolutely the best golfing events to attend as someone who
wants great golf, no bandits, an efficiently run event and very friendly reception"
Who can play on the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour?
All golfers, male and female of all levels of ability are welcome to play in the
events. All we insist on is that you have a handicap issued by a CONGU affiliated
golf club. You can enter as an individual or with friends and we will match you
up with golfers of a similar handicap and ability. Competitors under the age of
18 are welcome to take part but must be accompanied by an adult.
Competitors under the age of 18 can qualify for the UK Final but they are ineligible
to qualify for the Volvo Amateur Golf World Final and will be awarded a voucher
for £150 in lieu of a place in the World Final should they qualify.
"Absolutely the best golfing events to attend as someone who
wants great golf, no bandits, an efficiently run event and very friendly reception"
Will my club handicap be affected by playing on the Tour?
Yes. The Volvo Amateur Golf Tour has CONGU status and your golf club will be required
to amend your handicap in line with CONGU guidelines. All the events in the UK are
run as CONGU qualifying events and it is the responsibility of every player to ensure
that their scores are submitted back to their golf club. For members of golf clubs
in England this will generally be done automatically through the Central Database
of Handicaps
"I have yet to play a course I would not want to play again
or be partnered with anybody whose company I did not enjoy. You can't ask for more"
Do I have to join the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour?
You can play as a non Tour member but if you wish to be included in the Volvo Order
of Merit you must join the Tour for an annual fee of £35 which runs from the first
event to the last event of any given Tour schedule.
A competitor new to the Tour can play in one event before joining and the merit
points for that one event will be awarded retrospectively to that competitor on
joining.
"the Volvo Tour is the best thing I have ever done relating
to golf"
How do I enter the events?
- Click the ‘ENTER’ button on the above menu
- Email info@volvogolf.co.uk
- Call the Tournament Office on 0845 466 2222
- Post completed entry form to the Aylesbury offices.
If entering online you will first need to Register by adding your email address
and a password in the appropriate boxes after pressing the ‘ENTER’ button on the
top menu bar.
To secure a place in an event the relevant deposit is payable at the time of entering.
Full payment is due one calendar month before the event unless otherwise stated.
If full payment has not been made one calendar month before the event we cannot
guarantee your entry and someone on the reserve list may take your place.
You can enter an event which is Full and your name will appear on the Reserve List.
A deposit is not required to be included on the Reserve List
The Competitor’s Information, including the Draw and itinerary, is published online
at www.volvogolf.co.uk 7/10 days before each event.
"very well organised events, friendly atmosphere with none
of the stuffiness you can experience at a lot of golf clubs"
What is the playing format?
Play is either in three or fourballs and the format is always individual Stableford
with full handicap allowance. The maximum playing handicap is 24 for men and 30
for ladies. Play is normally from the white tees where permitted and depending on
the length and difficulty of the course and conditions on the day. Ladies play from
the red tees.
"I play cricket - but I cannot play at Lords, I play tennis
but I cannot play at Wimbledon, I play golf and on the Volvo Tour I can play the
best courses"
Can I invite friends to play?
Yes Tour Members are welcome to invite guests and we can put you in the same match.
We are finding that more and more businessmen are treating their colleagues and
clients to a great day out. Non Tour members do not qualify for Volvo Order of Merit
points but if they become a member we can award points retrospectively for the last
event played before joining.
"a brilliant day out, I look forward to every event"
Do you monitor handicaps?
We monitor handicaps very carefully and at each event we ask to see proof of handicap
as competitors check in.
"Well organised, great courses, excellent value. Keep it up"
What kind of prizes can you win?
This question has never really been asked but without fail at every event we receive
compliments about the quality of the prizes. The winner receives a trophy and the
leading three competitors at least, receive a prize. We also run two Nearest the
Pin competitions and a special 'Ray of Hope' prize for the player returning the
least number of points. Remember there is always the possibility of winning a place
in the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour UK Final and World Final.
What does a typical day include?
Coffee and bacon rolls await competitors on arrival at the golf club. The first
match usually tees off from about 10am. The golf is followed by a dinner and prize
presentation at approximately 5.00pm and the day winds up at about 6.30pm. When
we have 70 or more competitors playing the first few matches are offered the opportunity
to eat as soon as they finish to avoid waiting around. Play starts at approximately
8.00am on days when we are playing 36 holes. Dress code for the dinner is usually
smart casual although some clubs insist on a jacket and tie and the equivalent for
ladies.
How does the Order of Merit Work?
Every event on the schedule counts towards the OoM.
- Merit points are awarded on the basis of 100 to the winner of each event, 99 for
2nd place, 98 for third and so on.
- A competitor’s final OoM position is determined by the total merit points accumulated
in his/her best five results throughout the season. Competitor’s can play in as
few or as many events as they wish but it is only their best five results that count
on the OoM so that no one can buy their way to the top of the table.
- Competitors must be a member of the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour to be eligible for merit
points. The annual membership fee is £25 for 12 months from the date of joining.
What is a Volvo Championship Event?
Just like the professional tours the VMA Tour has it’s own equivalent of the majors
referred to as Championship Events and these are denoted on the schedule with a
C.
The prizes will be upgraded at the Championship Events and the winner and the leading
Volvo owner will automatically qualify for the Volvo Golf UK Final. In order to
accept the prize of UK Final qualification a competitor must have played in three
previous VAG Tour events or, if he / she is new to the Tour, play in three subsequent
events before that season’s UK Final.
How do I qualify for the Volvo Tour UK Final?
The following competitors will qualify for the UK final:
- The top 23 and ties in the OoM after the last qualifying event of the season
- The leading 2 ladies in the OoM after the last qualifying event of the season
- The leading 4 Volvo owners in the OoM after the last qualifying event of the season
- The winner in each of the Championship Events
- The leading Volvo owner in each of the Championship Events
- The winning aggregate score at the ¾ day events.
If any competitor qualifying under categories 2 - 6 above, finishes in the top 20
of the Volvo Order of Merit after last qualifying event, then the next competitor
on the Order of Merit will qualify for the UK Final.
How do I qualify for the Volvo World Final?
The venue for Volvo World Golf Challenge is the Fancourt Resort in South Africa.
The qualifiers include:
- Winner of the Volvo Order of Merit
- Winner and the runner up in the Volvo UK Final
- Leading Volvo owner at the Volvo UK Final
- Leading Lady at the Volvo UK Final
- Winner of the Volvo National Golf Club Challenge
Who organises the Volvo Tour?
The GMM team is headed by David Hughes who is a former professional golfer and an
ex PGA and Ladies European Tournament Director with responsibility for managing
in excess of 70 professional tournaments throughout Europe. There is usually a minimum
of two staff at each event with a wealth of experience and knowledge about golf
and event management.
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