Race 2 Rockliffe details confirmed
February 6, 2012

Durham's successful junior golf order of merit - the Race 2 Rockliffe - is back in 2012 and promises to be even bigger and better than last year!

More than 170 boys and girls played over 700 rounds of golf between them during a series of qualifying events held throughout last season in a bid to be one of 30 finalists who competed at Rockliffe Hall in September.

European Tour star Graeme Storm was even on hand to congratulate the first winner of the Durham County Golf Partnership event, three-handicapper Bradley Hildreth of Billingham Golf Club.

This year will see the number of qualifying events rise from to 15, starting with the Durham County Junior Golf Society Spring Meeting on April 12.

New Junior Opens in the calendar will take place at Ramside Hall, Dinsdale Spa, Crook and Beamish Park, while Whitburn, which hosts the opening DCJGS event of the season, and Whickham, venue for the Green and Crombie Trophy, also join the list of host clubs.

The list of qualifying events is:

April 12 DCJGS Spring meeting Whitburn GC

May 7 DCJGS Green & Crombie Trophy Whickham GC

June 4 Junior Open Billingham GC

June 6 Junior Open Ramside Hall GC

July 23 Junior Open Houghton Le Spring GC

July 25 Junior Open Dinsdale Spa GC

July 30 Junior Open Wearside GC

August 2 Junior Open Crook GC

August 7 DCJGS Euro Cup South Moor GC

August 9 Junior Open Chester Le Street GC

August 13 Junior Open Boldon GC

August 17 Junior Open Bishop Auckland GC

August 21 Junior Open Beamish Park GC

August 23 Junior Open Tyneside GC

August 27 Junior Open Durham City GC

The Race 2 Rockliffe order of merit is again completely free to enter and open to any club member in County Durham with a CONGU Handicap (max 28 boys/36 girls) aged under 21 on 01.01.12.

The competition is once again backed by Mizuno Golf and Rockliffe Hall, which will stage the final on September 8.

Says Jonathan Ward, County Development Officer for the Durham County Golf Partnership: "We are delighted with the way the first Race 2 Rockliffe went last year but hope that we can make it even better in 2012.

"Thanks to the continuing support of Mizuno and Rockliffe Hall, the end of season final will again be a day to remember with some great prizes on offer and a golf course to match."

Players can find further information, registration details and rules by visiting the Durham County Golf Partnership website www.durhamgolfpartnership.com

The Durham CGP are also looking for further sponsors to support the cost of scoreboards, trophies and banners at the final. So if any local businesses would like to get some great exposure please contact Jonathan at durhamcdo@hotmail.com

The Race 2 Rockliffe is one of a number of projects aimed at increasing participation in golf, run under the umbrella of the English Golf Partnership. This is a collaboration of a number of stakeholders in the sport including the England Golf (the new organisation formed by the merger of the English Golf Union and the English Women's Golf Association), the PGA, the Golf Foundation and Sport England.

This partnership is replicated at county level and brings together the Durham County Golf Union, Durham County Ladies Golf Association and the North East PGA.

For more details of the Durham County Golf Partnerships activities, please visit www.durhamgolfpartnership.com