Travellers Trophy organised for 2011

Majorca will again be the venue as this great tournament continues to excite the palate of many amateur golfers from around the North West, as well as a significant number from further afield.

Last year's winner Colm McCarroll from the North West Club and who will be Captain of the Ballyliffin Club in 2011, previously won the Trophy on the third and eleventh tours in 1980 and 1988 respectively. He will certainly wish to be there to defend his title.

Michael Doherty, the former City of Derry Golf Club Professional, inaugurated this long-running and exiting tournament way back in 1978 on the Costa del Sol when well-known local golfer Colm Duffy became the first winner of the Travellers Trophy. It is reputedly the largest and longest-running amateur tour of its type into anywhere in Europe from these islands, so great credit goes to Michael Doherty for his vision and execution over the many years he was in charge.

The 34th Tour will get under way with some 40 golfers on the Poniente course on Monday, May 16, at 10.34am, then playing Santa Ponsa on Tuesday teeing off at 11.04am, Poniente again on the Wednesday teeing off at 10.34am and finishing of, as has been the custom for many years, at Santa Ponsa on Thursday, May 19 from 11.04am. Both Poniente and Santa Ponsa are very challenging courses which were constructed in the early 1970's and the travellers will relish both of them again.

The tour arrangements will again follow the pattern of the last two years with the Tour Organiser looking after all aspects of the golf.

All travellers will be responsible for their own travel plans to and from Majorca, but the organiser will co-ordinate all hotel accommodation needs for the bulk of the party which will be likely to stay again in the Sol Guadalupe and Sol Antillas hotels.

The tour will be restricted to the first 44 players who need to secure a place by paying a deposit of either 100 euros or 100 to the organiser Andy Meenagh, or to him via the City of Derry Golf Club Professional Sam Smallwoods. To secure a place, deposits have to be made on or before Friday, December 17.

Finally, those seeking a place on the tour should note that the Tournament Draw will take place on Friday, April 22. at the City of Derry Golf Club and the presentation of prizes and dinner two weeks after the tour will take place on Friday, June 4.

Prizes will again be for the first three on each day, the top ten finishers over the four days and the top three teams over the four days.

Special other prizes will be presented, including the Norman Bruce Trophy for the best 16+ handicapper over the four days who fails to pick up any other individual prize and for the Bill Canning Bowl for the best score on the last day's competition.