Nottingham golfer on course to win new UK golf tournament

An amateur golfer from East Bridgford, Notts, has surprised friends and colleagues by coming out tops on the leaderboard of a new UK golf championship. Steve Lambourne (50), a financial advisor at Routen Chaplin, has pulled out the stops this year and could well secure himself a place in the grand final of the Real Open Golf tournament, to be held at the Belfry on 9 May 2009.

"I started this year with a handicap of 12 and have now got it down to 9, which is quite a lot of shots to lose," says Steve, who plays regularly at Belton Park Golf Club. "I've certainly played a lot more golf this year than I've ever done."

The top 100 qualifiers of the Real Open Tournament get to play at the world famous Belfry venue - a big incentive to improve your game.

"Any amateur golfer would jump at the chance to play the Belfry and walk in the footsteps of the pros," says Steve. "That's why I've been playing at least once a week, usually more, and I think that's made all the difference."

The Real Open Golf grand final will have top European coach Gary Alliss on hand to offer tips and advice to contestants.

Steve's interest in golf goes back a long way. He started playing at eight, having been introduced to the game by his parents, both of whom were keen golfers.

He names Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo among his golfing heroes, but believes today's golfers are robotic, especially American players.

"The Americans play on courses where there's no run on the ball," says Steve. "As long as they hit it straight down the fairway and get it onto the green, it's all down to putting. It's target golf. Get them on courses like Royal Birkdale and they struggle because the ball tends to run away from you. Situations like that demand that you're flexible enough to adapt."

Competition aside, Steve says he finds golf highly therapeutic. "It's very relaxing and gets you away from everything. Mobiles are banned at Belton Park, which is a godsend, although when you're having a pint after the game you usually find you've got a string of messages!"

Further Information

Real Open Golf
http://www.realopengolf.co.uk

Real Open Golf is a new UK based golf tournament. Its grand final is held every year at world famous Belfry golf venue in the Midlands.

Real Open Golf
Rowan House,
Queens Road,
Hethersett
Norwich
NR93DB

Tel: 0844 8009733

Email: christian.realopengolf@googlemail.com

Contact name: Christian Thurston

This release was published on openPR.