| If you're a weekend golfer, you know the feeling. | | | | consideration, though - this is certainly not a |
| There you are in your armchair, drink in one hand, | | | | championship for the faint-hearted. Aside from having |
| remote in the other, claiming "even I could have got | | | | a maximum handicap of 18 (with a three-quarter |
| that one in." For the past three years, golfers from | | | | allowance), each amateur golfer must have a caddie |
| across the UK and beyond have been given the | | | | and is not allowed to play with friends. Players go out |
| chance to do just that. | | | | three at a time. As they must be on the tee at least |
| The William Hunt 'Trilby Tour' has become a British | | | | twenty minutes before they set off, there are at |
| golfing phenomenon, where amateur players come | | | | least twenty people watching them hit their first |
| head to head with the professionals. Today the | | | | shot. Shouting, blatantly intended to intimidate, is |
| tournament is watched by around two million | | | | common-place. |
| television viewers, which is quite something, when | | | | Yet there are plenty of amateur golfers out there |
| you consider that the Trilby Tour came about almost | | | | eager to take up this challenge of 'playing with the |
| by serendipity. | | | | big boys.' Tickets sell out within weeks of the tour |
| William Hunt, who was once a professional sportsman | | | | opening and the entry fee includes a full, stylish |
| himself before becoming a designer of menswear, | | | | William Hunt outfit including, of course, the ubiquitous |
| had a chance meeting in 2004 with the then world | | | | trilby hat. A complete caddy outfit and Callaway bag |
| number 6, Ian Poulter. Poulter visited Hunt's premises | | | | complete the look. |
| in London's prestigious Savile Row, asking him to | | | | Terrifying though it might be, for skilled golfers who |
| come up with a unique pair of trousers for that | | | | go the distance, having nerves of iron definitely pays |
| year's British Open. The result was Poulter's Union | | | | off: the 2009 winner, 19 yr old Charlie Lidyard, |
| Jack trousers and the rest, as they say, is sartorial | | | | immediately turned pro and received sponsorship. The |
| history. | | | | Trilby Tour Amateur Champion not only wins an |
| As more and more golf professionals approached | | | | exclusive set of personalised Callaway clubs, but also |
| William Hunt for sponsorship, so the Trilby | | | | receives lessons with top coach David Leadbetter |
| Tournament was eventually born. Since its | | | | and the opportunity to play head to head against the |
| inauguration in 2007 at Stoke Park, this series of | | | | top European Tour professionals. |
| thrilling one-day 18-hole games has developed from a | | | | Intimidating, exhilarating and with thrills akin to 20/20 |
| one-club to a nine-club event, touring England, Ireland | | | | cricket, the Trilby Tour is the amateur golfer's chance |
| and Scotland each summer. | | | | to live the dream... and you don't get that sitting in an |
| Those fancying their chances need to give it careful | | | | armchair. |