8 December 2025
The Faldo Virtual Series (FVS) has launched Season 2, expanding the world’s most accessible junior golf competition to Trackman simulators and Trackman-powered driving range bays across six continents.
Running from December 2025 through February 2026, Season 2 introduces three distinct competition formats designed to accommodate different playing environments and skill levels. The flagship FVS stroke play tournament returns, alongside two new additions — the Faldo Nearest the Pin Challenge, exclusive to outdoor Trackman ranges, and the Faldo Parent & Child Foursomes, an alternate-shot format designed to bring families into a team golf environment.
Juniors aged 7 to 21 can take part for just $10 per month, giving them three opportunities to post their best score. Competitors can join from any Trackman-equipped location worldwide, whether that is a high-street simulator, a driving range bay, or a private facility.
“We’re opening the door for young golfers everywhere to compete on a global stage,” said Sir Nick Faldo, the six-time major champion who founded the Charitable Trust, The Faldo Series, in 1996. “The growth of this platform is bringing competitive golf to places that have never had access before. These are opportunities that simply did not exist a generation ago.”
Scale & Substance
With more than 75,000 Trackman-enabled bays, the FVS has achieved genuine global reach. Players in rural Wyoming can compete against juniors in suburban London or metropolitan Singapore — all on the same leaderboard, playing the same courses, under identical conditions.
The concept’s viability was demonstrated in Season 1. Three FVS participants — Eloise Feely and Esme Counsell from Great Britain and Ireland, alongside Sweden’s Carl Hugo Eriksson — earned spots in the British Masters Pro-Am, playing alongside Ryder Cup star Matthew Fitzpatrick. The lucky draw selection process gave every registered player, regardless of score, a chance at the opportunity.
Three Formats, One Platform
The main FVS competition remains an 18-hole stroke-play event (9 holes for 7–12-year-olds), played on championship courses including Royal Birkdale, Yellowstone Club, and Adare Manor. Players compete across four age categories — 7-12, 13-15, 16-18, and Under-21 — with boys and girls competing separately.
Category winners from each monthly tournament earn invitations to a Faldo Series Grand Final held in the UK, Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, with travel support up to $1,000. Eight winners per tournament across three months means 24 Grand Final places are available throughout the season.
The new Faldo Nearest the Pin Challenge offers a different test — four holes, one shot per hole, aggregate distance determining the winner. Penalties apply for missed greens, rewarding accuracy over bravery. Played exclusively on outdoor Trackman ranges, it’s designed for facilities that may not have full indoor simulator setups but still want to offer participation opportunities.
The Faldo Parent & Child Foursomes addresses a common criticism of simulator golf — that it lacks the social element of traditional play. Free to enter, the alternate-shot format encourages families to compete together, with three attempts per tournament to post their best combined score.
Technology Meets Tradition
The partnership with Trackman extends beyond simply hosting the competition. Trackman’s Virtual Golf technology has matured significantly in recent years, offering ball flight physics and course simulations that replicate real-world conditions with impressive fidelity. From green firmness to crosswinds, the settings mirror what juniors would encounter on actual championship layouts.
“This partnership gives juniors of all backgrounds a chance to compete globally, whether from an indoor facility in your hometown, a range, or a private simulator,” said Bernd Larsen Linde, Head of Marketing at Trackman. “The Faldo Virtual Series aligns perfectly with our vision of connecting players through meaningful, technology-driven competition.”
For facilities using Trackman equipment, the series represents an opportunity to drive traffic during typically quiet winter months, while introducing the next generation of golfers to world-class technology many may not have encountered before.
Venue Activation & Community Building
The Faldo Series is encouraging golf clubs, driving ranges, academies, and simulator venues to host activation events throughout the season. Facilities can host “Virtual Series Nights,” create month-long leaderboards, or integrate the competitions into existing junior programming — all at no cost beyond standard facility hire rates.
“Host venues are helping shape the next generation of golfers,” Sir Nick said. “These facilities are becoming part of a worldwide community, all united through the game.”
National governing bodies, including England Golf, are supporting the initiative, helping promote activations and drive player registrations across their region.
Prizes Beyond the Podium
While Faldo Series Grand Final invitations headline the prize structure, the series offers depth beyond the top performers. Runners-up receive 12-month Upgame subscriptions, fourth and fifth place finishers earn EA Sports game vouchers, and social media competitions award custom putters. Facilities hosting successful activations can win Sir Nick-signed flags and personalised media content.
The lucky draw format returns for Season 2, offering more Pro-Am opportunities alongside PGA and DPWT event tickets, depending on winners’ locations — a deliberate choice to ensure that participation, not just performance, carries value.
A New Pathway, not a Replacement
The FVS doesn’t aim to replace traditional junior golf. Instead, it offers a parallel pathway for players who might not otherwise compete — juniors in regions without established club systems, families with scheduling constraints, or young golfers testing their interest in competition before committing to travel and tournament fees.
For some, it will serve as an entry point into grassroots golf. For others, it’s a winter training ground or a low-stakes way to build competitive experience. And for a select few, it will open doors to Faldo Series Grand Finals and beyond.
Tournament Schedule:
Tournament 1: Royal Birkdale (England) – December 1-21, 2025
Tournament 2: Yellowstone Club (USA) – January 1-25, 2026
Tournament 3: Adare Manor (Ireland) – February 1-22, 2026
Registration is open now via the Trackman app, website, or at www.faldoseries.com.
Entry fee: $10 USD per tournament (FVS stroke play only; NTP and Parent & Child Foursomes are free).
