2026 is a significant year for Sir Nick Faldo for more reasons than one. It will mark the 30th anniversary of his third Masters victory, and also the 30th anniversary of the birth of the Faldo Series.
The Faldo Series is a global junior golf series that has allowed thousands of youngsters around the world to compete in World Amateur-ranked events, but also to take their first steps into the game from as young as seven years old.
45,000 boys and girls have played in Faldo Series events across these three decades. 40 golf clinics are held each year, and the Series has visited 45 different countries.
In the current era, the Faldo Series is defined by three levels in a pyramid: The Faldo Futures, the Junior Tour and the Elite Tour.
The Faldo Futures concerns the youngest competitors aged between seven and 12 and holds events at local golf clubs in the UK during the Easter holidays. The winners from each category then compete in regional finals in May for a place in the Faldo Futures Final at the Belfry in August.
“We almost stumbled across the Faldo Futures,” Matthew Faldo, Sir Nick’s son and director of the Faldo Series, said to the NCG Golf Podcast. “We did a big restructure after COVID. There was massive interest in the game, so we were trying to work out what’s next and how we move forward and rebuild after a couple of poor years.
“Mainly because we were international, so travel and everything were stopped. So, the big rebuild introduced this pyramid, and the pyramid at the bottom is the widest, so that was the youngest phase, and we were just thinking, let’s do a national program, why not?
“Let’s go with something big – We had 50 golf clubs that signed up in the first year. They ran the tournaments over the Easter holidays, and that was the key for us. Golf didn’t really kickstart for the little kids.
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“Normally, with Golf Sixes and things like that, it doesn’t start until May or June, and then it warms up a bit. We found the Easter holidays were the perfect time, and clubs are really keen over the winter to get something going and kickstart their season.
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“Getting clubs on board was a bit of a challenge at the beginning, but we’ve managed to get a lot of them from year one into year two, and we’ve already got over 130 signed up for next year. We’ve gone from 50 to 100, we’re aiming for 150 plus for Easter 2026. That spat out about 2000 golfers that played over the Easter holidays this year.
“I remember Matthew said after we opened up (after COVID), we’ve got double the entries. Normally, we’re trying for 120, and we’ve got 240 or 250 kids. What do we do?” Sir Nick said.
“We didn’t turn anybody away. We tried to just double things, so that’s made the Series very popular right now, and our present initiative is the Faldo Futures.
“Out of COVID, mums and dads said golf is a very good, healthy, safe sport. Get out, get some fresh air. It’s productive, get them off their phones, go out and do something. We’ve done year two, and everything’s doubling in size. We’re excited about that, because that’s getting some good recognition.”
The list of players who have previously competed in the Faldo Series is remarkable. Rory McIlroy, Yani Tseng and Danny Willett are part of the distinguished alumni with 11 major titles between them, not to mention Tyrrell Hatton, Nasa Hataoka, Mel Reid, Nick Dougherty and Henni Zuel.
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“I had an institute there in Orlando. Then later, I had a thing called Team Faldo,” he added.
“I remember in California when James Heath was actually the best amateur, and Rory was third, the young skinny kid! Rory McIlroy wasn’t the best then. Then we had a young girl by the name of Yani Tseng, and Melissa Reid was there.
“Originally, it was just those couple of names, and now the Series has been going for 30 years. Guys come up to me and say, ‘I played it’. They may not have won, but they played in a couple of events. Everybody remembers their experience, which I like, and people have stayed in the industry.”
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Faldo Series has inspired many more junior golf initiatives
As well as the opportunities for youngsters to enjoy and compete in the game, the Faldo Series has also inspired other players to begin their own junior tours.
Robert Rock has the Rock Golf League, the Tommy Fleetwood Academy holds events at weekends and in school holidays via the TFA Programme, and Justin Rose heads up a Junior Golf Championship and of course, the Rose Ladies Series.
“Robert Rock was one of the first ones. They run an Order of Merit and junior events, and then they run a couple of events into the Futures as well, and their older kids come through to our Grand Final as well,” Matthew said.
“Similar to the Tommy Fleetwood Academy, we had a lot of kids that played in the Futures, and then Justin (Rose), we are going to get some spots through their Rose Series to help the girls for extra opportunities there. That stepping stone for the girls in the UK is quite tricky in the mini tours.
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“We work with lots of federations around the world, whether it’s golf clubs as well. We’re open to other groups. The Stenson Sunesson (Junior Challenge), through my dad’s association with Fanny, they had winners come through from Sweden to our European Grand Final, so working with lots of groups is the good part of it.”
Among the many companies and organisations that the Faldo Series partners with, including the R&A, the DP World Tour and the PGA, is Trackman, which supports the Faldo Virtual Series.
This started in 2025, which is an indoor tournament played on Trackman simulators. Over a thousand players aged between seven and 21 participated across 40 different countries and logged over 56,000 shots.
From December to February 2026, players can take on virtual courses in their own age groups, and there are over 25,000 Trackman simulators worldwide where people can compete.
“The simulators are so good now, they’re so realistic, and that’s what they pride themselves on, all those humps and bumps, and the ball bounces how it would on a golf course,” Sir Nick said.
“These kids have had this opportunity to get on Trackman and to get on simulators indoors, and they know exactly what to do. I stand back!
“They’re brilliant through winter to still be hitting golf balls, that’s what is so fantastic about it.”
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The Faldo Series 2026 promises to be even bigger and better! Visit the website here. Let us know what you made of the Faldo Series 2026 chat in the NCG Golf Podcast on X!
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