England Golf charts new course with launch of Professional Development Programme
The new programme will open opportunities for English talent on the both the HotelPlanner Tour and the Ladies European Tour Access Series.
Making the leap from a talented amateur to an established tour regular is perhaps the toughest rite of passage for any aspiring pro.
That huge step is now more accessible for England's wealth of amateur talent, with the announcement this week that England Golf is launching a brand new Professional Development Programme to get the amateurs on Team England Golf's elite squad more access to high-level tour events.
“This is a transformational step for performance golf in England," said England Golf performance director Nigel Edwards. "For years, we’ve seen talented amateurs reach the cusp of the professional game but struggle to access the competitive starts they need to truly progress.
"This programme gives our players meaningful opportunities on recognised tours, allowing them to test themselves, learn quickly and build the foundations for long-term professional success.
As part of the deal, England Golf has secured invitations for Team England Golf members into HotelPlanner Tour and Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) events, beginning with this year's men's and women's English Opens, set to take place over the next month.
Team England Golf is currently made up of George Bloor, Barclay Brown, Bailey Gill, Will Hopkins, Joe Long and Joe Pagdin on the men's side, with Ellie Gower and Bel Wardle making up the squad's female contingent.
The chief aim is to get more male players becoming self-sufficient on the HotelPlanner Tour, or perhaps even securing DP World Tour playing rights. For females, the aim is the same: get more English women achieving LETAS exemption or earning LET membership.
Fifty England Golf invites will be made available to players across the 2026 HotelPlanner Tour season, with a further 35 for LETAS events. There will be no limit on the amount of events any one player can play in the ladies events, and men can play up to a total of nine events on the DP World Tour's feeder series.
Both the male and female players will be eligible to earn Order of Merit points on their respective tours, potentially opening up a pathway to DP World Tour and LET membership.
"What excites me most is the clarity this brings to the pathway. Whether it’s a male player aiming for the DP World Tour or a female player targeting LET status, we are giving them the competitive platform to make that jump with confidence. It’s a programme built on opportunity, accountability and ambition – and it will raise standards across the board.”
Participants can learn more at England Golf's website.
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Brad Nash is Reviews Editor at GolfMagic, having joined the team in June 2025 to look after all things reviews, soft goods testing and equipment alongside Equipment Editor Georgina. Primarily a writer, you may see him pop up in videos or on the GolfMagic socials from time to time.
