HAMPSHIRE’S Future Champions Tour has been dubbed a great success by the county’s junior organisers who are keen to grow the grassroots game – and hopefully find the next Justin Rose for good measure.

A series of events for players aged U12 – both with and without a formal handicap – has been played this summer, with the emphasis on having fun and enjoying a positive experience of playing in competitions for the first time.

Assistant county secretary Chris Harrison, who took on his role at the start of the year, assisted Richard Arnold in creating the competition, which was staged at Southampton Municipal, New Forest GC, and Blacknest GC, near Alton.

And no sooner had the last putt been holed and the prizes awarded – with a Hampshire Golf memento for every participant – then the county began looking forward to producing a bigger, and better Future Champions Tour for 2024.

Basingstoke Gazette: Future Champions Tour

After the final held at Ampfield Golf & Country Club, near North Baddesley, Richard said: “When I became county secretary in 2021, it was one of my priorities to increase the opportunities for younger golfers across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands, which we administer.

“This year has been a learning experience, but we have been delighted with the number of boys and girls we have helped attract to our first four events – 50 in total.

“We tried to identify suitable venues – those clubs that are very family-friendly with the right facilities and a suitable course, in terms of the kind of holes the kids can play more easily.

“We have had new players turn up at every venue – one per month over the last four months, and we have had a number that have played in more than one event, with their parents happy to travel to take part.

“The youngsters have had a lot of fun, the parents have enjoyed being able to walk around the courses with them, and the clubs have been delighted to host us.

“We know they will be happy for us to return next year, and if we can find a headline sponsor, even better.

“We are also grateful to Adidas for all their support with prizes for this year.”

Richard told the players that took part at Ampfield – one of the oldest and finest short courses in the country: “I am sure that in another 10 years' time, you will be playing in our county first-team which will just be fantastic for the county.”

Chris Harrison, who played for Hampshire Colts in 2009 and 2010 before turning pro, said: “We are already looking at having more events spread around the county next year.

“We have had 50 players register and play this summer and it will help the county identify players with potential – get them the right kind of coaching from the PGA professionals we work with – and help us fill the age squads we currently run, starting at U10s and U12s.

“We have had an U12s and U10s competition as part of our junior championship over the last few years – we just want to increase the numbers and the standard of competition, which we are sure the Future Champions Tour will help us do.”