New deal for Scottish Hydro Challenge

The Scottish Hydro Challenge is to be hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts for the next three years.

The new agreement will see Scottish Hydro remain the title sponsor of the tournament, with the hotel group playing host to the €220,000 event until at least 2014, the year The Ryder Cup returns to Scotland.

Supported by Scottish Government agency EventScotland as part of that successful 2014 Ryder Cup bid, the Scottish Hydro Challenge is currently the third richest event on the Challenge Tour Schedule.

Since its inception in 2006, the tournament become one of the most significant dates on the calendar, with four of its five former champions winning a European Tour card on the back of taking home the title.

Ruaridh Macdonald, Sales and Marketing Director for Macdonald Hotels, said: “Since we moved the Scottish Hydro Challenge to our Spey Valley Golf Course in Aviemore the tournament has gone from strength to strength. The feedback we receive from the Challenge Tour professionals regarding the quality of the golf course is very positive.

“The Spey Valley Course, designed by Dave Thomas, is a magnificent piece of golf course design and we are very proud to see many of Europe’s most exciting young players make their way to the Highlands to experience a first class venue and, of course, Scotland’s world-class hospitality.”

Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “This is great news for a tournament that is already one of the most important on the Challenge Tour. The support of Scottish Hydro will enable the Scottish Hydro Challenge to maintain, and hopefully improve, its status as one of the richest, and therefore most significant, events on our schedule while the Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Course is a magnificent stage for our players to show their talents.”

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