Ken Schofield
Name:
Kenneth Douglas 'Ken' SchofieldCountry:
ScotlandBorn:
Feb 3, 1946 in Perthshire, Scotland.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
European Tour Executive Director (1975-2004)Turned Pro:
World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2013). Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (1996).
Originally a bank manager (at age 23 probably Scotland's youngest), Schofield took a significant career turn in 1971. He was offered the role of PR executive to John Jacobs, the British PGA Tournament Director. Having launched the modern-day European Tour in 1972, Jacobs stepped down in 1975. He was replaced by Schofield as the first Executive Director of a fully autonomous European Tour.
Under Schofield’s direction the European Tour grew from 17 tournaments when he took over to 45 in 2003. The Tour’s staff expanded from 10 to more than 120, and the developmental Challenge Tour and European Seniors Tour were also launched. The official prize fund in 1975 barely reached £600,000; upon Schofield's retirement the Tour's annual prize money was well over €100 million.
Global expansion of both the game of golf and the European Tour were also major achievements under Schofield. So too was the reincarnation of the Ryder Cup. Throughout the 1970s and '80s the Cup had become a rather one-sided contest between the USA and Great Britain & Ireland. Schofield was instrumental in bringing the rest of Europe into the competition (and with it the likes of Seve Ballesteros). He was also responsible for offering Tony Jacklin the European captaincy in 1983, from which point the Europeans never looked back.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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