The story of the LET Access Series (LETAS) began when LET CEO Alexandra Armas felt there was an important need to provide greater competitive opportunities for women professional golfers and amateurs.
A growing number of players were attending the yearly LET Q School, and for those players who were unsuccessful at earning status on the LET, there were limited playing opportunities throughout the season until the qualifying school the following year.
In 2010, LETAS was launched with only three tournaments, which grew to five.
Just 13 years later, that same passion to improve women’s opportunities in the game has soared LETAS to new heights as a development tour.
As the only official development tour to the Ladies European tour, LETAS provides those who top the Order of Merit tables LET membership for the next season.
Whilst players in around seventh to 21st positions, if not otherwise exempt, grasp the opportunity to progress to the final stage of the LET Qualifying School.
As it is Women’s History Month, let’s take a look at how much the tour has grown..
- 54 of the LET winner’s since 2012 have played on LETAS.
- 55 players have earned LET cards since 2010.
- 23 members have grown to 117 members (and counting) in 2023
- From five tournaments to 20 tournaments (in 2022).
- Tournaments played in around 18 countries across Europe
Director of Operations at the LET, Diane Barnard, winner of the 1990 BMW Classic on the Ladies European Tour was previously the LETAS Tour Director from its inception until February 2020.
Barnard spoke proudly of how far the tour has come.
“I took on the role of Tour Director in 2010 with a remit to develop the tour and make it stronger.” she said.
“To see it grow to have events all across Europe that allow young players from all around the world a route onto the LET is great.
“A large majority of players on the LET now had some experience playing on LETAS, stars such as Manon du Roey, Olivia Cowan, Meghan Maclaren and Nicole Broch Estrup.
“The uniqueness of the tour is the amateur element, that amateur players have great opportunities to play alongside golf professionals.
“They can retain amateur status but understand how competitive they are, how ready they are to turn professional. LETAS is the place to help them progress.“
The tour is continuing to grow with a strong stable of upcoming talent.
With more girls and women entering the beautiful game, it’s an exciting time for LETAS but Barnard stressed a time where we won’t lose the original vision for the tour.
“The support of the federations is so important, without their support their would not be an LET Access Series.
“They share the vision of how important it is for elite amateurs to gain that experience.
“It is important that we build on the events that we run, it is about increasing the quality of events rather than the quantity, between 15-20 events is optimal for LETAS, being larger than that is not necessary.
“The more growth we see on the LET the more growth we will see on LETAS.
“It is an exciting time for women’s golf and women’s sport more generally, and we will see that on LETAS.”
Follow all the action of the LET Access Series on @letaccess on Instagram, TikTok and @LETAccess on Twitter and LET Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame
