MENA Tour announces details of expanded Q-School series ahead of 26/27 season

Irish Golfer
|
|

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club is one of the venues staging MENA Tour Q-School events

Irish Golfer

Feature Interviews

Latest Stories

The MENA Golf Tour has today announced three international Qualifying Schools this October, with prestigious venues in Scotland, England and the United States giving aspiring professionals the opportunity to secure playing status for the Tour’s 2026/27 season.

The expanded Q School programme begins at Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club near Edinburgh, Scotland, from October 1–2, before heading across the Atlantic to Slammer & Squire at World Golf Village in Florida from October 13–15. The third and final Qualifying School will then take place on the historic Old Course at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park estate in Epsom, England, from October 20–21.

Entry to each Qualifying School in the UK is $350, with the top ten finishers at each venue earning Category 3 status, providing exemption into all 12 tournaments on the MENA Golf Tour’s 2026/27 schedule, each carrying a $100,000 prize fund. Players finishing 11th to tied 20th will secure the highest possible category of MENA Golf Tour card, meaning up to 20 players at each venue can earn Tour status.

The addition of two UK Qualifying Schools, alongside the Tour’s first Q School in the United States, represents another important stage in the MENA Golf Tour’s development, and demonstrates its commitment to making the Tour increasingly accessible to players beyond its traditional Middle East and North Africa base.

“Bringing in new Qualifying School venues at Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club and the Royal Automobile Club, alongside our debut Q School event in the US, marks another significant milestone in how the MENA Golf Tour continues to develop,” said Keith Waters, Chairman and Commissioner of the MENA Golf Tour. “We’ve always aimed to keep the Tour as open and accessible as possible for driven players, giving them genuine opportunities to build their careers. The American Q School introduces us to a fresh and exciting group of players, while Dalmahoy and the Royal Automobile Club offer competitors from the UK and Europe two prestigious locations at which to secure their Tour status. Together, these additions demonstrate just how far our footprint now extends beyond the MENA region itself.

“But at its core, this is really about creating opportunity. Our goal is to give talented players a straightforward route onto the MENA Golf Tour and, from there, the chance to progress further in professional golf.”

Dalmahoy’s renowned East Course was designed by five-time Open Champion James Braid, and is known as “The Beast” for its demanding approaches and testing closing stretch. The venue famously hosted the 1992 Solheim Cup, Europe’s first victory over the United States, along with the Scottish PGA Championship, the Scottish Senior Open and the European Men’s Amateur Championship.

“We are delighted to be hosting a MENA Golf Tour Q School event at Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club,” added Craig Waddle, Director of Golf at Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club. “The club has a proud golfing heritage and we have always believed in supporting the game at every level, so it is exciting to play a part in the next chapter of a Tour that is creating genuine opportunities for aspiring professionals. Q School is a hugely important moment in any player’s career, and we want Dalmahoy to provide a memorable and suitably challenging stage for that opportunity.”

The Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park estate sits within 350 acres of Surrey countryside on the Epsom Downs. Its Old Course traces its origins to renowned architect William Herbert Fowler and officially opened in 1915, providing a fitting, historic backdrop for the season’s final Qualifying School. The event will also be open to eligible players who competed but did not earn their desired status at Dalmahoy or the American Q School, giving them a further opportunity to secure a Tour card.

Mark Bull, Director of Golf at the Royal Automobile Club, said: “Hosting a MENA Golf Tour Q School at the Royal Automobile Club Old Course will be particularly special for me. Having previously worked as Tournament Director for the Tour, I know first-hand just how important these opportunities can be for players trying to establish a career in the professional game. We have a course that will provide a proper examination of the players without taking away from the attacking golf that you want to see at Q School. There will undoubtedly be players competing at Woodcote Park who go on to achieve great things in the game.”

As an added incentive, The Royal Automobile Club will stage an exclusive Pro-Am on 19 October, giving players the opportunity to compete alongside members at the historic Woodcote Park. The first 20 players to enter the MENA Golf Tour Q-School will be invited to take part and will receive a $200 appearance fee, adding further value to their Q-School experience.

MENA GOLF TOUR 2026/27 QUALIFYING SCHOOLS

Q School 1 – Scotland: Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, Edinburgh, October 1–2, 2026 / Entry fee $350 / Field size 78 players

Q School 2 – USA: Slammer & Squire, World Golf Village, Florida, October 13–15, 2026 / Entry fee for the three rounds $950

Q School 3 – England: Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, October 20–21, 2026 / Entry fee $350 / Field size 78 players

Stay ahead of the game. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Irish Golfer news straight to your inbox!

More News

Leave a comment


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy & Terms of Service apply.