Wildernesse Golf Club in Kent has been selected as a Regional Qualifying course for The Open Championship for the next five years.
The Sevenoaks-based club will hold the qualifier on June 22, when up to 100 hopefuls will begin a journey that, for a lucky few, may end with a coveted place in the starting line up for the 144th Open Championship at St Andrews on July 16.
Wildernesse has previously hosted a number of prestigious competitions, including the British Seniors’ Championship, and last held Regional Qualifying status between 1998 and 2003. Its return in 2015, reaffirms the parkland course’s reputation as one of the best inland layouts in the South East.
The staging of Open qualifying is also a welcome birthday present for the club, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. A packed calendar of events and activities for members and guests is planned, details of which can be found by visiting the club’s website. The course, which was originally laid out in 1890, winds its way through picturesque woodland and at just over 6,500 yards, whilst providing a challenge for the very best players, is equally an enjoyable test for golfers of all abilities.
Club secretary Andrew Lawrence said: “We are delighted to have been selected as a Regional Qualifying course for the 144th Open Championship this year. The club is very much looking forward to welcoming the many professionals taking part in the tournament and hopes that by playing a part in the Open, in our 125th year, it will encourage new visitors to experience the opportunities that Wildernesse has available to all. We offer a beautiful course with warm hospitality in the heart of Kent, located just 30 minutes away from London.”