Hanson launches new Tyke tour

Players competing in the newly formed equal gender 2020Protour will have the chance to collect £20,000 by making 100 birdies over the 22 events that make up the schedule for this year.

Founded by Yorkshire Golfer columnist Chris Hanson and his caddie Adam Walker the 2020Protour has teamed up with Malton based insurance specialists McClarrons Sport to launch the ‘Race to 100 Birdies’ which offers a season changing prize of £20,000.

Competitors will have to average approximately 4.54 birdies per round, but Rotherham’s Jonathan Thomson recently equalled the world record of 9 consecutive birdies and Richard Mansell averaged 4.6 birdies a round on the EuroPro Tour last year.

If only one player reaches the 100-birdie mark, they will go home with all of the £20,000, but the race is on for the whole season so it may be shared between a few of the birdie machines.

Hanson said: “Having spoken with McClarrons Sport over the New Year, they were extremely supportive of the 2020Protour’s vision to grow male and female golf through our equitable policy and showed no hesitation in wanting to partner with the 2020Protour.

“We feel this is a fantastic incentive for players to aim for and we are delighted to be working with McClarrons Sport going forward, it would be amazing if at the Tour final there were a few players chasing down the magic 100 birdie mark”.

Throughout the season McClarrons Sport will also be offering players the chance to back their own performances and that’s not just on the new tour but worldwide, giving players that extra incentive to perform and increase their own earning potential.

McClarrons' Tom Landale said: “We’re very excited to have teamed up with 2020Protour for this year’s season. The £20k race to 100 birdies is a great opportunity for players and we feel adds another element of excitement to what is already set to be a great tour! We’re looking forward to watching the players chase down their share of £20k!”

The women on the 2020 Pro Tour will play a course 11 per cent shorter than their male rivals, a figure that research has shown offers a level playing field, with all the entrance fees for the 18-hole competitions – bar the green fee costs - going into the prize fund.

The schedule of events on the gender equal 20 20 Pro Tour has been released with the inaugural tournament to be played at Huddersfield Golf Club.

The tournaments are open to anybody with professional status and amateurs with a handicap of 2 or less, and membership is set at £119 and comes with a member's benefits package, discounts on various brands, and a discounted entry fee of £99 per tournament (£49 for amateurs).

Players who want to compete can go onto the home page at www.2020protour.co.uk , click either enter or register at the bottom, create an account and join the tour or simply enter events.

The full schedule of events is:

Monday 24th February HUDDERSFIELD GOLF CLUB

Monday 2nd March ROCKCLIFFE HALL

Monday 16th March CROSLAND HEATH GOLF CLUB

Monday 30th March FULFORD GOLF CLUB

Monday 20th April SELBY GOLF CLUB

Monday 27th April GARFORTH GOLF CLUB

Monday 4th May HALIFAX WEST END GOLF CLUB

Monday 18th May WINDERMERE GOLF CLUB

Monday 1st June COOKRIDGE HALL

Monday 15th June WOODSOME HALL GOLF CLUB

Monday 22nd June CLECKHEATON GOLF CLUB