The King Challenge

The King Challenge is the highlight of the King Tour and is held once or twice a year.  First held in 1997 on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, the King Challenge has grown in stature and fame. Often referred to as the ‘fifth major” the Challenge is played over three or four rounds on some of the best courses in Australia.

sIn the five years since its inception The King Challenge has grown from a one on one struggle between tour veterens Mike and Steve to a quality event hosting fields of up to eight players!!!!

The Purple Jacket is the highly sought after reward for the King Challenge victor. This garment of exceptional style and quality would not look out of place on the catwalks of Milan or Paris. Presented by the past winner, the jacket is worn by the King Challenge champion and kept in their possession until the next Challenge is played.

The King Challenge Trophy is also a prized trophy in golfing circles worldwide. A review of the past winners names on the trophy indicates the quality of King Challenge fields. Others have tried and failed, but there is always another Challenge!

Two other major trophies on the King Challenge are the Putting Trophy, a keenly contested award to the player with the least putts for the Challenge. The trophy was expertly carved by Master Woodworker Bondy, who promptly won the trophy in the first year! The other trophy also carved by Bondy is the one that creates fear in the hearts and minds of all Challenge players, The King Spoon - awarded to last place in a Challenge.

King Tour Details

The King Tour was established in 1990 by Mike Hauser and Steve Da Costa as an alternative to playing in any of the established golf tours throughout the world including the PGA in America and Europe.

An officially sanctioned King Tour event is any golf tournament that includes both Mike and Steve!  Any golfer can become a King Tour Player by playing in a King Tour Event.  Prize money is non existent, glory and golfing immortality is all that’s at stake!!

King Tour History

March 30 1990 – The inaugural event held on the King Tour was the Naseebs London Open held at suburban Stanmore Golf Course in North west London.   Steve and Mike were tied on 45 after the first nine holes.

    
May 25 1990 – Two months later , Steve and Mike ventured back to Stanmore to complete the back nine.  Mike parred the first three holes to take the lead and finished on 45, for a total of 90.  Steve had problems on the back nine and faded to finish twelve shots behind.  Mike took out the event receiving the Golden Pappadum in a presentation at  Naseebs Restaurant in Willesden Green.

August 26 1990 – Mike and Steve visit the home of golf – St Andrews Scotland.   In what now appears to be a fatal misjudgement , no King tour event was held over the hallowed fairways.  However a putting championship was held on the nearby putting greens.  While no official record exists, Steve is believed to have won a tight encounter.  The King tour will return one day to play the Old Course.
 

From its humble origins in suburban London, the tour has grown in stature with events held in Canada and throughout Australia.  The establishment of the King Challenge in 1997 has boosted the recognition of the tour to new heights  and the dawn of the new millenium tees off a new era for the King Tour.