Galgorm Castle GC, Ballymena the venue

Northern Ireland stages its first EuroPr0 Tour event in June

By ANTHONY LEAVER
Galgorm Castle Golf Club is to host Northern Ireland’s first ever PGA EuroPro tour event - at the Ballymena venue from June 23-25.
Northern Ireland already boasts a rich golfing heritage with star names such as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke currently flying the flag around the world.
However there hasn’t been a high profile professional golf event staged in the province since the Senior British Open was last played at Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2004.
News that Northern Ireland’s inaugural PGA EuroPro Tour event will be played at Galgorm Castle within the next six months comes as welcome news and is a great chance for the general public to witness some of the game’s emerging stars first hand.
Galgorm Castle is already a proven venue and has hosted numerous professional events on the domestic Irish PGA circuit, while last year’s British Universities Championship was successfully staged over the championship course.
“We are absolutely delighted with the news,” said Gary Henry, General Manager, Galgorm Castle Golf Club. “Having already hosted domestic PGA tournaments and major celebrity events such as the George Best Golf Invitational, it is with great pleasure that we look forward to welcoming the leading European players from the PGA EuroPro Tour.”
“As a major international sporting occasion, the tournament will provide a great opportunity to showcase Galgorm Castle, Galgorm Resort & Spa and the general Ballymena area to a wider audience as Northern Ireland is once more placed in the global shop window.”
“I am delighted that the Tour is heading to Northern Ireland and Galgorm Castle Golf Club,” said Danny Nickless, Operations Manager of the PGA EuroPro Tour. “Northern Ireland is a passionate golfing country and Galgorm typifies the nation’s lust for the game – as challenging a course as the players will encounter this year and in a beautiful setting.”
The George Best Foundation will also be involved with the event - particularly the Pro-Am and gala dinner - to help raise funds for its many ongoing projects to help provide children with a better lifestyle through participation in sport.
The schedule for the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour continues to take shape, with further courses to be announced this week including an exciting Tour Championship course. Entry for the Q School is open at www.europrotour.com.