PGA Golf de Catalunya has been selected to host the European Tour’s Reale Open de Espaà±a 2009, it has been confirmed. The resort, which previously hosted the event in 2000, will welcome Europe’s best golfers, from 30th April to 3rd May as part of the Race to Dubai.
“PGA Golf de Catalunya’s Stadium Course is widely regarded as one of the best golf courses in Europe and we are very excited to have been selected to host the Reale Open de Espaà±a,” said Juan del Rio, CEO of PGA Golf de Catalunya.
“There has been significant investment in the resort over the past year, including the opening of a new clubhouse and upgrades to our two courses, plus new roads to the hotel, making access to Barcelona and Girona Airport, which is now just five minutes’ drive away, even easier.”
PGA Golf de Catalunya also announced that it is renaming both of its courses. The acclaimed Green Course, designed by European Tour legend Neil Coles and leading Spanish tour professional Angel Gallardo, in association with David Williams and European Golf Design, will now be known as the Stadium Course.
When the course opened in 1999 it was ranked in Continental Europe’s Top 10 Courses by Golf World magazine and was this year awarded 18 out of 20 by the influential Peugeot Golf Guide, making it the joint second highest-ranking course in Spain.
The Red Course, which opened in 2005 and is also being used this week during the European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage, and is a popular tourist course, will be renamed the Tour Course.
An official announcement regarding sponsors will be made soon. Reale, Turespaà±a, Turisme de Catalunya, Patronat Turisme Costa Brava Girona, Melia, PGA Golf Catalunya, Real Federacià³n Espaà±ola de Golf, and the Federacià³ Catalana de Golf are all backing the event.
“The return of the Reale Open de Espaà±a is important news for PGA Golf de Catalunya, the city of Girona, the Costa Brava and the wider Catalunya region,” added Juan del Rio. “We look forward to welcoming Europe’s best golfers next spring.”
Keith Waters, director of international policy for The European Tour, said, “The European Tour is delighted to be returning to the outstanding PGA Golf de Catalunya for the 2009 Spanish Open. We had a hugely successful tournament there in 2000 and will return to a venue with outstanding facilities that will provide a true test of golf for our Members.”
PGA Golf de Catalunya www.pgacatalunya.com