2003 season summary

The FORE Tour 2003 reached the end of another very successful season at Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire in October which meant the top 20 places in the Bill Goff Golf Tours Order of Merit were finally settled. The Tour started back in March at Saunton over the superb East and West Courses and since then competitors have been treated to some of golf's most renowned venues including: Royal St. Georges, to sample the course before the worlds leading professionals; Royal Birkdale where competitors ran out of superlatives; Woodhall Spa where competitors ran out of balls; Sandwell Park in Birmingham, a real hidden gem; West Sussex which served some of the best food of the season; Sherwood Forest and Ganton which were voted fastest greens; Chart Hills in Kent which is perennially popular; Notts - Hollinwell which was voted toughest test of the season and West Hill in Kent which is always a joy to visit.

In September the FORE Tour visited Scotland. The trip had been sold out since January and there was huge excitement anticipating the courses which without fail lived up to everyone's expectations. The scenery and layout at The Kings Course, Gleneagles is breathtaking just as it is at Kingsbarns and Sir Michael Bonallack was justified when he said 'Mere words cannot convey just how extraordinary the place is. It must be seen to be believed'. On the Monday we played Carnoustie which is a personal favourite and a great test of golf.

In total the FORE Tour visited 30 different venues, 12 of which were in the 'Top 100 UK Course'. An average of 58 golfers competed in each event and the average winning score was 38 stableford points. Eight handicap Philip Dobson from Wychwood Park in Cheshire won the FORE Tour Order of Merit with an incredible 199 points from a possible 200. Philip has become a specialist on the toughest courses under the most difficult conditions and he recorded four wins at Saunton East (34 points), Royal St. Georges (32 pts), Ganton (35 pts) and Gleneagles (35 pts). His second place finish came at The Old Course, St Pierre (35 pts).
	In runner up spot in the Order of Merit was 4 handicap Philip Gee from Milton Keynes who is probably the Tour's most improved player in category one having started the season off 9. Phil also played well in the FORE Tour Champion of Champions in Penina where he finished in third place.
In third place in the Order of Merit was 6 handicap Mike Abbotts from Oxfordshire. Youthful Mike, who is a self confessed golfaholic was also the leading Senior of the Year and has only been playing golf for 5 years. 58 year old, 16 handicap ex Watford footballer Dave Middleton from Nottinghamshire was the Leading Rookie of the Year and Leading Lady was 13 handicap Debbie Harridge from Hertfordshire.

Thanks to Bill Goff Golf Tours and Le Meridien the top 20 in the Order of Merit enjoyed a superb 4-night trip to Penina on Portugal's Algarve Coast to compete in the Champion of Champions. In runner up place, improving on his third place last year was ex Sheffield united professional footballer, 4 handicap Keith Larner from Southampton. Champion of Champions of 2003, winning by one point was last year's joint Order of Merit winner 13 handicap Richard Teasdale from Sussex.