Aviemore venue to host PGA visit
THE PGA EuroPro Tour and Macdonald Hotels have partnered for the 2019 season in a move which will see the tour visit four Macdonald Golf courses – including Spey Valley in Aviemore – this year.
The deal will also see PGA EuroPro Tour golfers compete in a mini contest known as the Macdonald Series.
The winner will be the player winning the most money across all four Macdonald events combined.
They will bag a seven-night stay for up to four people in a two-bed self-catering apartment at a Macdonald Resort in Spain.
Grantown golf star Duncan Stewart previously played on the PGA EuroPro which is the third rung of the tour with players bidding to make it to the PGA Challenge Tour.
First up on the schedule is the Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club in Northumberland from July 3-5.
The tour then moves to Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa (July 10-12) at Taporley in Cheshire.
A week later (July 17-19) the contest heads north to the former Challenge Tour venue of the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, home of the award winning Spey Valley Championship Course.
Recently voted one of the best courses in Scotland, Spey Valley is home to one of the longest holes in the country, the 635-yard 5th.
The 6846-yard par 72 was home to the Challenge Tour for almost a decade.
Capping off the series from August 21-23 is Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa at Whitchurch in Shropshire.
PGA EuroPro Tour chief executive Dan Godding said: "I am absolutely delighted to announce the wonderful relationship we now have with Macdonald Hotels.
"There is a fabulous synergy between the brands."
Keith Pickard, group director of leisure and golf at Macdonald Hotels, said: "We can't wait to welcome some of the best up and coming tour stars of the future this summer."
A two-hour highlights package from each event will be broadcast on Sky Sports Golf, and on 98 networks around the world reaching 400 million homes. In addition, every event is available to watch on demand in high definition on YouTube.