Linna Golf Club in Finland, a member of The PGA European Tour courses, is one of six new venues which will be rolled out in 2009, when the Challenge Tour continues its voyage across four continents and a minimum of 24 events in 18 different countries.
The course, which will also host the 2010 European Amateur Championships, cuts through birch and pine forest bordering a seven kilometre-long lake on the historic Vanajanlinna Hotel estate, situated 100km north of the Finnish capital Helsinki.
The Challenge Tour players will get the chance to test themselves over the 7,224 yard course between 6 – 9 August, when the SK Golf Challenge makes its second appearance on a schedule containing a blend of new and established venues.
In addition to the SK Golf Challenge’s move to Linna Golf Club, the Darren Clarke-designed Champions Club course at Moyvalley Hotel and Golf Resort in Co. Kildare, Ireland, will make its maiden appearance on the schedule when it hosts the Challenge of Ireland presented by Moyvalley from 11-14 June whilst Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club in Aviemore, Scotland, is the new venue for the fourth edition of the Scottish Challenge from 30th July to 2nd August.
Other new additions to the schedule include: Bà¥stad GK, which will host The Swedish Challenge from June 25-28; Holsterbo GK, which will stage the ECCO Tour Championship from October 1-4; and Le Querce, where the Italian Federation Cup will be played from October 22-25.
The seven-month season will comprise a minimum of 24 tournaments including the quartet of established Challenge Tour ‘Majors’, worth a combined prize fund of €1,915,000.
Alain de Soultrait, managing director of the Challenge Tour, said, “In the current climate we are delighted to be able to announce a strong Schedule, with some new courses which will provide our Members with a true test of their golfing skills. It is great to welcome some old favourites like Muthaiga Golf Club and Royal Waterloo Golf Club back onto our Schedule, and we are just as excited about visiting our new venues in Great Britain, Ireland, Italy and Scandanavia.
“Whilst we were understandably sorry to see some of our events postponed for a year, particularly in South America, we look forward to welcoming them back onto the Schedule in 2010. We are also hopeful of adding two or three more events during the course of the 2009 season, which promises to be just as enjoyable and competitive as the previous 20.”
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