What is the PGA Assistant’s Championship?

The PGA Assistants’ Championship is one of the most popular tournaments managed by the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association), which is the leading organization that supports golf activities in the United Kingdom. The tournament is exclusively available to golf club assistant professionals.

This championship has a long and renowned history, having been founded in 1930, four years before the famous US Masters. Since its beginning, the event has been conducted annually.

The PGA Assistants’ Championship is highly respected in the golfing industry and is regarded as a crucial milestone in the career of any golf club assistant. It offers a one-of-a-kind chance for aspiring golfers to demonstrate their abilities and gain exposure.

The History of PGA Assistants Championship

Although the first official PGA Assistants Championship was held in 1930, the origin of the tournament dates back to 1910 when PGA opened its first major golf club assistants’ tournament at Bushey Hall Golf Club. It was called Perrier Water Assistant Professionals’ Tournament.

Then in 130, PGA Assistants Championship was officially established. It features a 36-hole strokeplay competition conducted on a single day. Bill Branch of Henbury Golf Club in Bristol won the first championship.

Changes Throughout the History

Over the years, the structure of the competition has changed a lot.

Number of Holes

The number of holes, for example, was initially 36. However, in 2003, it was decided that the game was to be played over 54 holes.

Number of Days

Furthermore, while the original event was held for one day, it’s been extended to three days. Each day consists of one round.

Total Prize

The total prize fund for the championship also kept increasing over the years, although this has something to do with inflation. In the 1910 PGA game for assistants, the winner received £21 and a gold watch. However, in 2023, the prize fund is set to be £29,800. The first place in the tournament will get £5,000.

Names

PGA Assistants’ Championship has also gone by a lot of names. Sponsorship often affected this. Starting from 1933, it was known as Daily Mirror Assistants’ Tournament. Then starting in 1951, it adopted the name “Gor-Ray Cup.” The tournament had several other name changes, but now, it’s called Coca-Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship.

There were several periods when the tournament was not held. The first one was during World War II from 1940 to 1948. There was also no tournament between 1968 to 1980.

Despite these changes, the PGA Assistants’ Championship is still a highly respected and coveted title within the PGA. The competition has grown in popularity and reputation since its establishment.

It is now also one of the most important golf tournaments on the PGA calendar, allowing outstanding young pros to exhibit their abilities and compete against their peers. Its winners have gone on to great success in their careers as both players and coaches.

Past Winners

Some of the most well-known figures in British golf have previously won the PGA Assistants’ Championship. Dai Rees was the first golfer to win the tournament twice, in 1935 and 1936. Harry Weetman also achieved this in 1949 and 1950 with scores of 295 and 287.

In 2005, Matthew Tottee joined these names by also winning two tournaments in 2003 and the same year. He also managed to get his name into the history books at The London Club.

This record was broken by Matthew Cort, who won the championship three times in a row in 2011, 2012, and 2013. He remains the player with the most wins in the history of the PGA Assistants’ Championship.

How Challenging Is It?

The PGA Assistants’ Championship is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and challenging competitions for golf club assistant professionals to win. It’s also recognized for its tough conditions, which put the players’ mental and physical talents to the test. There are a few rules to obey for players to be eligible for this championship.

Only golf club assistant professionals who have completed their three years of training are eligible to compete in the championship. With a fiercely competitive field, it can be an excellent opportunity for golf club assistant professionals to get significant experience and build a name for themselves in the golfing industry.

Tournament Format

This game is played in the format of strokeplay, the most common format of golf. The rules are pretty simple. In strokeplay, each player plays their own ball from the tee box to the hole.

With this format, the players don’t match directly with other players. Instead, they compete against the course and the conditions over a few rounds, attempting to get the lowest possible score on each hole. Anyone who gets the lowest hole score in the final round is crowned the winner.

2023 Coca-Cola Championship Golf Tournament

Like the past three years, the 2023 PGA Assistants’ Championship will be sponsored by Coca-Cola. There also hasn’t been a planned significant change from the previous three golf tournaments.

Sponsorship Information

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is an independent bottling company that has grown to become one of the world’s largest. The company is in charge of creating and distributing a variety of popular Coca-Cola products throughout the United Kingdom.

Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Schweppes, Monster, Oasis, and SmartWater are among the many beloved brands that have been enjoyed by consumers for generations.

With a vast network of production facilities, offices, and depots, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners employs thousands of people worldwide, assisting in the growth of the beverage industry and delivering high-quality products to customers. The company’s dedication to innovation, quality, and sustainability has won it a strong reputation as an industry leader.

Tournament Information

These are some facts about the 2023 Coca-Cola Championship Golf Tournament:

Venue: Farleigh Golf Club

The tournament will be held at Farleigh Golf Club, Warlingham, Surrey, United Kingdom. Farleigh Golf Club is a golf course that was established in 1997. It is a downland-style course located in Surrey, England.

The course features three separate 18-hole layouts. It’s well-known for its great quality and variety of obstacles for members to play for each round.

Dates

The event will be conducted on July 25, July 26, and July 27. Each day consists of one round, with the final round taking place on the last day.

Prize Funds

The first place will receive the highest price, which is £5,000. As for the second place, they will receive £3,000. The person who gets the third place will receive £2,200.

50 players will get prizes according to their rank. In total, the prize money is £29,800.

Entry Fees

To enter the competition, golf club assistant professionals must pay the entry fee of £75.

Winning Criteria

The winner is the player with the lowest score at the end of the final round. This score for each hole is recorded as the number of strokes taken to complete the hole. The winner is the player with the lowest cumulative score after each round has been played. If there’s a tie, the winner will be determined by a sudden-death playoff

Pre-Events

Before the main event takes place, members can participate in the regional championships first. The first one will be held on June 7, and the last one will be conducted on July 5. Each PGA regional championships has an entry fee of £45. Registration for all events close on May 24.

Bottom Line

The PGA Assistants’ Championship has a rich history. Its relevance goes beyond the golf course, as it helps golf club assistant professionals’ careers advance. As the championship evolves and grows, it will undoubtedly remain an important event in the golfing industry.