Luffenham Heath Golf Club has been named Tournament Venue of the Year at the 2026 England Golf Awards, recognising its exceptional delivery of the 2025 Carris Trophy and its reputation for championship‑standard hosting.
The accolade reflects a week in which the club demonstrated outstanding professionalism, meticulous planning and an unwavering commitment to creating the best possible experience for players, officials and spectators.
Operations throughout the championship were seamless. Volunteers covered every key duty with enthusiasm and reliability, while staff consistently anticipated the needs of competitors and England Golf officials.
The course was presented in immaculate condition each day, expertly prepared by the course manager and greenkeeping team, with dedicated evening divoting crews ensuring the highest standards of playability.
The practice ground was elevated to elite level, with club range balls replaced by Pro V1s and neatly pyramided for each competitor.
To accommodate increased attendance, the club expanded parking into a neighbouring field, ensuring smooth access and efficient traffic flow for visitors.
Inside the clubhouse, staff delivered excellent service despite heightened demand, maintaining quality and consistency throughout the event.
Volunteers were a standout feature of the week, quickly building rapport with players and officials and contributing significantly to the championship atmosphere.
Thoughtful touches—including a dedicated Carris Trophy history display and multilingual welcome messages—celebrated the event’s heritage and international reach.
Club Manager at Luffenham Heath Golf Club, Tom Sharpe, said: “It kind of means everything to us. It reflects all of the hard work that not only myself and the team have put in, but the 100-plus volunteers that we had who put tireless amounts of work into the event.
“There was something like over a hundred different roles through the week, so it's just the perfect recognition for what was a memorable week at the golf club.
“Our aim was to go above and beyond. We didn't know if it was going to be once in a lifetime for us or if it was five years, 10 years, whatever it would be. We made every effort to make this experience memorable for everybody. We tried to make the journey for these young, talented juniors as easy as we possibly could, and for the parents and other spectators. We wanted it to put Luffenham on the map for us, but also a pathway for those juniors moving forwards.
“We're in the smallest county in England, but we like to think that we can bat above our average!”
Winning Tournament Venue of the Year reflects Luffenham Heath’s ability to deliver a truly first‑class championship experience and its commitment to excellence at every level.
Operations throughout the championship were seamless. Volunteers covered every key duty with enthusiasm and reliability, while staff consistently anticipated the needs of competitors and England Golf officials.
The course was presented in immaculate condition each day, expertly prepared by the course manager and greenkeeping team, with dedicated evening divoting crews ensuring the highest standards of playability.
The practice ground was elevated to elite level, with club range balls replaced by Pro V1s and neatly pyramided for each competitor.
To accommodate increased attendance, the club expanded parking into a neighbouring field, ensuring smooth access and efficient traffic flow for visitors.
Inside the clubhouse, staff delivered excellent service despite heightened demand, maintaining quality and consistency throughout the event.
Volunteers were a standout feature of the week, quickly building rapport with players and officials and contributing significantly to the championship atmosphere.
Thoughtful touches—including a dedicated Carris Trophy history display and multilingual welcome messages—celebrated the event’s heritage and international reach.
Club Manager at Luffenham Heath Golf Club, Tom Sharpe, said: “It kind of means everything to us. It reflects all of the hard work that not only myself and the team have put in, but the 100-plus volunteers that we had who put tireless amounts of work into the event.
“There was something like over a hundred different roles through the week, so it's just the perfect recognition for what was a memorable week at the golf club.
“Our aim was to go above and beyond. We didn't know if it was going to be once in a lifetime for us or if it was five years, 10 years, whatever it would be. We made every effort to make this experience memorable for everybody. We tried to make the journey for these young, talented juniors as easy as we possibly could, and for the parents and other spectators. We wanted it to put Luffenham on the map for us, but also a pathway for those juniors moving forwards.
“We're in the smallest county in England, but we like to think that we can bat above our average!”
Winning Tournament Venue of the Year reflects Luffenham Heath’s ability to deliver a truly first‑class championship experience and its commitment to excellence at every level.
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org