This year the International Golf Championship of the Shoe, Leather & Allied Trades returns to the Lancashire coast, and specifically Hillside Golf Club and Formby Hall Golf & Spa Resort. Hillside Golf Club is a Championship Links course, and a qualifying course for this years Open at Birkdale its next door neighbour. Formby Hall is a new venue for the Championship, providing a parkland course with links style bunkers. It is an American design with water on the majority of holes, generous fairways and large undulating greens many protected by water.
Last year about 100 golfers from all branches of the trade attended the Championship at The Vale Hotel & Spa Resort in South Wales. Shoe manufacturers, Retailers, Agents, Wholesalers, and Distributors, and representatives of the Leather Industries, all competed for the array of Silver Trophies for both Regional and National Competitions, along with
Vistors competing for their own Trophies. As a result a total of £15,000 was donated to the Trade Charities, the beneficiaries being the FBS now known as Footwear Friends, and LHTBI (Leather & Hides Trades).
The main event is after the International match, England & Wales V Scotland & Ireland, and is played over 36 holes, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Ladies and Gentlemen are eligible to play, as long as they have a recognised golf handicap and their business is at least 75% in the Trade. Visitors are most welcome and compete for the Marlone Trophy, also over 36 holes, and this year we are including the Visitors event within the main field.
There is a Scratch Trophy for the low handicaps, a Veterans Trophy, an Under 35s Trophy, plus all the regional trophies. all being a handicapped Stableford format.
This year we are hoping for increased numbers and more
visitors, many from Ireland, and Europe, and the main social event is the Informal Trade Banquet on the Thursday evening June 12th, when Lee Wilson is the Guest Speaker and entertainer. This will be at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport.
Entry forms will be sent out early February, and entries close late April, full details are also available along with an entry form on our website http://www.shoeandleathergolf-international.co.uk/
For any further information please contact the Admin. Secretary, Rodney Gibson, telephone 01162 434081 or rodney@leicesteruk.co.uk
In 2009 the event is to be played at Slaley Hall in Northumberland, before returning to Killarney in Ireland for 2010.
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