All to play for in the north

A visit to the first-ever British host of the Ryder Cup is among the highlights of The PGA in England and Wales (North) 2015 schedule.

This year’s Michael Slater Memorial Order of Merit will feature five 36-hole tournaments, from which the top three will qualify for the national PGA Play-Offs.

The first ranking event is the PGA North Region Championship at the end of May which moves to its new home, Cumbria club Carus Green.

Next up is the iconic Leeds Cup, professional golf's oldest trophy, which is celebrating its 100th staging. It will head to Moortown, host of the very first Ryder Cup in Britain in 1929.

The Manchester Open, inaugurated in 2002, will tee off for the eighth time at Manchester's Marriott Worsley Park in late August followed in mid-September by the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore.

To complete the set, the resort's Herons' Reach, a regular home of the North Region Championship, keeps in the loop by hosting the PGA (North) Tour Championship which is a new event in early October.

There will be pro-ams at all five venues.

Assistant professionals are also well catered for with a record seven events with at least one in each county.

Spreading throughout the campaign are 21 pro-ams. One of the best supported is expected to be England's Golf Coast pro-am played over three days at West Lancs, Formby and Royal Birkdale in April. The event is open to the whole country.

Meanwhile, Humberside club Cottingham returns to the fold after a year's break to rejoin hardy annuals the Brough Classic and Aberdovey and Royal St David's, each run over two days. Once again there are also ‘ladies only’ pro-ams at Brough and the beautifully appointed Chester Club Eaton, the latter looking to increase their field this season.

PGA (North) secretary Graham Maly commented: "As always we have attempted to add new playing opportunities across our broad spectrum of members.

"We have secured continued sponsorship from James Brearley, Mansell Finishes, Worsley Park, Carus Green, Stewart Golf & Raa Putters with some new backing which should make this year one of the most successful to date."