England Golf has launched the Team England Golf Professional Golf Development Programme as it makes a major investment to give young English golfers competitive starts and structured support to excel in the professional game.
From this season, England Golf has secured playing opportunities for male and female players on the HotelPlanner Tour and the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS).
The programme is one of the most significant enhancements to England’s performance pathway in recent years. As part of it, players recently competed in the English Open at The Vale Golf Club, while the Women’s English Open will provide opportunities for players at The Manchester Golf Club on July 8-10.
To-date, England Golf has secured 50 invites for the 2026 HotelPlanner Tour season and English players may receive up to nine tournament invitations, while amateurs are now eligible to earn Order of Merit points.
There are also 35 invites for LET Access Series events with no limit on the number of starts per player, and amateurs are also eligible to earn LETAS Order of Merit points.
Players selected for Team England Golf will have the England Golf logo on their headwear, apparel or bag for a minimum of two years, share performance data and contribute up to three days per year to support the amateur game, and receive access to The National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa and ongoing management support. Agreements will run for one year, with players eligible for up to three agreements across three years.
Players taking part in the programme this season include Yorkshiremen Barclay Brown and Bailey Gill as well as George Bloor, Conor Gough, Will Hopkins, Joe Long, Joe Pagdin, Ellie Gower and Bel Wardle.
England Golf performance director Nigel Edwards said: “This is a transformational step for performance golf in England. 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 changes that.
“It gives our players meaningful opportunities on recognised tours, allowing them to test themselves, learn quickly and build the foundations for long-term professional success. 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.”
