Press Releases

2009

BBC Radio interview with Phil & Ben Taylor about winning the Scratch event - click here

More Photos Here

The Irish take the European Father and Son Title
Dermot & Lee Doolan from the little village of Clarina in County Limerick Ireland have won the Father and Son Golf Championship of Europe after beating 128 other golfers from throughout Europe to win the prestigous title which was held over the new Greg Norman golf resort Portaventura near Barcelona, Spain.

Dermot 40 an electrical sale rep and his son Lee, 15 playing off 18 & 15 handicap respectively, played courageous golf to snatch the title from the final days leaders, Tony and James Holt from Lancashire, England. The event was was a 54 hole two ball betterball handicap stapleford played over three days. The Doolans shot an incredible 22 under par shooting 42, 44 and 44 points each day for whooping total of 130 points winning the event by 2 strokes over their eventual nearest rivals the ‘Taylors’ from Leatherhead, Surrey and by three over the Holts. Dermot said "were over the moon, on cloud '9' its a great pick up after such a tough year. Lee was really the one who made the difference over the week, he played consistently steady. I played ok on the first day then had my best ever golf on the Friday. The competition seemed to bring out the best in me. Lee on the Friday played the last 4 holes in one under par, i have never seen him play better. We played perfect betterball where whenever i blobbed lee would be there and vice versa." The Doolans went into the final day trailing by one shot, they were paired with the leaders Tony & James Holt in the final group. Tony Holt (50) said "i did'nt sleep very well the night before, i was defiantly feeling very tense. As leaders the spotlight was on us. Getting the first tee with the first tee announcers and SKY cameras it was very nerve racking and we got to the worse possible start starting bogey, par, bogey, bogey" In contrast the Doolans started steady and after 6 holes had gained three shots and took a two shot lead which extended to a five stroke lead through 7 holes after Dermot made an excellent birdie 4 for 4 points. However credit to the Holts they settled down and showed why they were leaders after two days by going on a run of birdies from the tenth, birding 10,11,12 and 13 getting them back to just 2 strokes on the Doolans. Dermot said "This was the pivotal point in the game, we were aware that the Holts were coming back on us. On 14 both Tony and James had hit the ball to 9 and 8 feet respectively with their approaches leaving them good chances for a birdie. Lee had missed the green and i had hit the ball to 25 feet. Lee chipped up to 4 feet and holed for a par for 3 points taking the pressure off me, which i holed my putt for 4 points. Tony and James both missed so we had a two stroke swing and back to a 4 stroke lead. This i think is where we won the tournament. When we got to the 18th tee we knew two points would win it for us. I hit my drive right and blocked myself out and lee was on the fairway. Lee was very nervous. With a crowd watching and the TV cameras filming Lee turned to me and said "dad i am shaking" i told him just get the ball on the green. He hit a perfect wedge to 20feet, the rest they say is history. I cannot seem to remember much as i think i was in the 'zone'. I just loved the whole challenge we seemed to excel in that environment. Lee two putted to win the event by two strokes over Phil and Ben Talyor from Pachesham Golf Centre who won the scratch championship and by three strokes over Tony and James Holt. Some of Lees mates grabbed him and threw him into the lake on the 18th hole. His dad was there to pull him out. They both won s5 Sky Caddies, a free holiday invitation to come back and defend their title and a fantastic invitation to play in the US father and son golf championship in Myrtle Beach Carolina next summer and a years worth of publicity. Dermot summarised the week by saying “What an event. Faultless. Superbly organised, it was great to see all the families come . It was nice to see the kids in the evening making friends. The whole package was brilliant, it was a week i will never forget i am so proud. We are going to have a family party on the 16thand watch the show on SKYsports ”

The Taylors crowed the best scratch Father and Son Golf Champions of Europe

Phil & Ben Taylor from leatherhead in Surrey havejust successfully defended their title and been crowned the best scratch Father and Son golf Champions of Europe held at the new Greg Norman golf resort Portaventura near Barcelona, Spain.
Phil ,50 and his son Ben, 17 played magnificent golf over the three days to post an incredible 20 under par gross in a two ball better ball format, winning the event by a massive 9 strokes over their nearest rivals the ‘Holts’ from Dinckley, Blackburn.
Phil is a PGA Golf professional and runs a very successful driving range business at the Pachesham Park Golf Centre in Leatherhead Surrey and Ben is an amateur golfer who recently has just been selected into the England under 18 national squad. Phil who stopped playing full time golf way back in 1989 to start his golf driving range business now only plays around 20 rounds a year, puts this victory down as one of his finest achievements as a professional golfer, he said “we are chuffed to bugger to win! I am so proud of Ben, he played magnificently, especially on the last day. He shot 7 under 65 gross, closing the back 9 holes with only 30 strokes. I did not play badly but i only came onto the card three times on the last day because Ben was having so many birdies. We played with our nearest rivals the Holts (who were smashing lads) on the Friday and we managed to pip them by one stroke on the last hole. So going into the final day we only had a one stroke advantage. All day i did not want to know any scores, just relying on the fact that if we kept making birdies then we would be hard to beat. Coming down the last hole my hands were shaking and my teeth chattering. I had a 80 yard pitch shot over a lake in front of the SKY Sports cameras with a big crowd watching us and all i wanted to do was get my ball safely on to the green without duffing it into the water, which i managed to do. Ben hit a great approach shot under severe pressure to 15ft under the hole and then holed it for a birdie three. The tournament director Toby Marsden told us we had won and i felt a huge sense of relief and pride in what we had achieved.
On the final day Phil and Ben wore matching logo yellow shirts in dedication to one of Phils brothers who they lost to illness. Since Phil has raised over a hundred thousand pounds in charity in memory to his brother. So it was an emotional day for the Taylors. Ben is currently waiting to hear if he has been successful in gaining a golf scholarship in the US and clearly has a very bright future in golf. They have won a free holiday and invitation to come back and defend their title next year, a free holiday invitation to travel to Australia to compete in the Australian Father and Son Golf Championship in December. Phil summarised the week “This event is going to grow and grow. I have had a great week. There are very few opportunities for me as a professional to play golf with my son in competitive situations. The event is so well run and we cant wait to come back and defend our title.”

Event Summary

This year’s Father and Son Golf Championships held at the Greg Norman Portaventura (near Barcelona, Spain) during the 29th – 31st Oct 2009 has concluded to a fantastic finale. The Irish have taken the title with Dermot & Lee Doolan from County Limerick winning in emphatic style. After scores of 42, 44 and 44 stapleford points they posted an unbeatable 130 points total and incredible 22 under par. The event is a 54 hole two ball betterball stapleford competition with ¾ handicap allowance. The Doolans nearest challengers were the awesome Taylors from Leatherhead Surrey, Phil a PGA professional and owner of Pachesham Golf Centre and his under 18 England International squad player Ben Taylor posted a gross 45 points (9 under) as they had no shots on the final day to post a leading score of 128 points giving the Doolans something to think about, alas it was two shots short shy. However they did not walk away empty handed as they walked away with the Scratch title with a gross two ball better ball total of 20 under par after blitzing the field by 9 strokes from their nearest rival Tony and James Holt from Blackburn. So the Talyors are officially the best scratch Father and Son Champions of Europe. Ben with his own ball posted a gross 30 strokes on the back nine of the last day and magnificent 7 under 65 gross. Clearly a golfer with a bright future and one to watch.
The event was played over two courses the North and South. Both championship quality in their own right. The greens were smooth and true. They rolled at a steady pace over the North but noticeably quicker over the South Course leaving some slippery putts should you finish above the hole. The pins were deliberately put in challenging positions on the final day making for a stern test and deserving champions. Both courses were presented in excellent condition for the event and a tribute to Thomas the head greenkeeper and his staff.
The weather was unusually warm for the whole half term week. From the Monday to the Sunday hardly a breath of wind blew. Mainly clear blue skies and sunny conditions. The temperatures were unseasonably high ranging between 20 to 25c most days. In summary glorious and perfect for golf.
The maximum 128 player field and there non golfing familes came from all corners of Europe. Teams from the Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France and South Africa. With ages from 11 to the tournament mascot Norman Taylor an incredible 88 years of age! All teams gelled like they have been friends for life. The whole event was played in the spirit it was intended; a fun friendly family event. Old friends congregated and new friends were made.
The official practice day was held in aid of Charity the Diabetes UK Association and in memory of Brett Payne one of our fathers we lost last year. Played as an individual stapleford competition it was won by none other than last years champion Connor Hamilton with a excellent 39 points with George Cardwell and Ben Taylor chasing with superb 38points. At the welcome drink Connor showed exemplary maturity in giving back his €100 winners prize back to Charity which was a marvellous gesture. The day raised over £1000 to the charity.

Day One
The first day of the event got off to a great start with a big group jostling for position with excellent scores over 40 points. Leading the way was the Holts with 43 points followed by a record number of 42 points the Doolans, Taylors, Jensen, Round, Noye and Smiths. Clearly the standard this year was going to be high.
Day Two
Friday we returned to the North course. A longer more demanding course, again the days play was amazingly high. The Doolans and the Holts came strong off the blocks to make claim for the title with two magnificent 44 point totals along with Cavell Noye, Hoggett. The Taylors were stamping their dominance on the Scratch title by paring with the Holts and level necking all the way round until they managed to get a point advantage on the very last hole over their partners giving them a one shot lead going into the final days play.
In the evening a Halloween party was laid on at the New Gold River Hotel at Portaventura where fancy dress and Line Dancing was the order of the day. It was great to see the teenagers come together and make friends and have such a good time. John Mansell definitely won the event for the best line dancer on all fours!
Day Three
The story of day was how both champions excelled under the severest of examinations and came through as undisputed winners. Both the Doolans and the Taylors thrived under the pressure and played their best golf. Doolans posting 44 points and The Taylors posting 45 points. Sadly for the chasing Holts they got off to a poor start and although made a gallant late charge it was too little too late. As for the Noyes they had a poor day by their standards and fell away with their challenge. As did the brave Mansells. The Gearys played consistently well all week and did nothing wrong with their final 43 points but such was the standard it was not enough. A special mention must go the leading best score of the week 46 points on the final day by the McGuigans from Northern Ireland, a magnificent score.
The exhausting day of high drama and tension was completed at the new state of the art conference centre at Portaventura where a superb feast was laid on for the competitors and the prizes awarded to the winners.
Summary
The event will be hard to beat. Amazing weather, amazing golf and amazing people. It was clear the event was a big success and everyone seemed to have a great time. New friendships were formed and we all look forward to meeting again in 2010

2008

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Lambourne Pair too good for the rest PDF

Old Thorns Duo come up short PDF

Round Team chases Duo PDF

Event secures SKY Deal PDF

2008 Photos

Download stream videos of this years event here (coming soon

Well what can I say. What a wonderful week it was. Everything ran like clockwork and we had a ball. Obviously winning was a great bonus but the most enjoyable part of the week was meeting the fathers, sons and their families - especially relaxing at the end of the day.Connor had a fantastic time, staying up a little too late every night, especially on the final night, with all the other young teenagers and is looking forward to meeting them all again next year.As far as I'm concerned it was the most nerve racking time I have ever spent on a golf course. Being in the lead from day 1 was wonderful but very stressful as everyone suddenly wanted to beat us. I was very proud of Connor for keeping cool under pressure, especially the final nine holes of the competition as his father was not quite as relaxed inside.I'd like to than you both for organising such a fantastic and enjoyable event and also for being so friendly to everyone throughout the week. The Sky TV crew were also incredibly friendly even though they increased the stress level in my heart. We're both looking forward to defending the trophy next year and hope to see many of the same faces.

Kind regards

Connor and Martin  Hamilton, UK , winners of the 2008 championship   

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Toby Marsden on 01702 337020 or email toby@fatherandsongolf.co.uk