Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke will host the spectacular Costa Smeralda Invitational at Pevero Golf Club on Saturday June 25.
Clarke, who won four out of five consecutive Ryder Cups he played in, will headline a host of stars from the world of sports and entertainment who will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Invitational, staged for the first time last year when it was hosted by Justin Rose, will see 18 star names lead teams of VVIPs and business leaders. Clarke will present the celebrity champion with the coveted Blue Jacket, won last year by Kapil Dev.
Clarke will also offer a private clinic before the tournament starts and give the entire field the chance to ‘Beat the Pro’.
“I’m delighted to be hosting the Costa Smeralda Invitational,” said Clarke, who will be arriving from the US Open in Oakmont for the event, hoping to have seen another European win the second major of the year following Danny Willett’s success at the Masters.
“It’s a beautiful part of the world and I’ve heard some great things about last year’s event. I’m sure we can make this one every bit as successful and have a lot of fun,” he added.
The 47-year-old from Northern Ireland can look forward to taking a weekend off from deliberating over his team strategy and wild-card selections and relax in the stunning surroundings of the Porto Cervo region of Sardinia.
There will be a welcome dinner the day before the competition and a gala dinner following the tournament. During the competition there will be alternative fun and games on all the holes to entertain our guests. An exclusive partner’s programme, including spa treatments and winery tour, is also on offer.
The most important part of the weekend is raising money for charity. The event raised over £100,000 for the children’s charities Autism Rocks and UNICEF Road to Awareness last year. This year the Costa Smeralda Invitational is proud to partner with UNICEF again to support its domestic and international humanitarian work.
Pevero Golf Club Director Marco Berio said he is delighted Clarke, the winner of the 2011 Open, is headlining the event.
“We are thrilled that Darren has agreed to be this year’s host. To have such a brilliant headline talent for the Costa Smeralda Invitational only highlights how serious we are about this wonderful charity event,” he said.
“We are very proud of our course, designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Snr, and hope the Costa Smeralda Invitational continues to be an annual showcase of the club to the world as well as promoting the many other delights that the Porta Cervo region and Sardinia as a whole has to offer.”
Tournament Director Jamie Cunningham said: “With Italy having won the right to host the 2022 Ryder Cup, it is fitting to have a Ryder Cup great and this year’s European captain as our host.
“We are delighted to be back at Pevero Golf Club for the Costa Smeralda Invitational after the success of last year’s event, which showcased Sardinia’s excellence for both hospitality and golf.
“We are looking forward to raising a lot of money for UNICEF and ensuring all our VIP guests have an experience that they will remember forever.”
The 2016 hosting of the Costa Smeralda Invitational will be raising funds for UNICEF Road to Awareness.
Costa Smeralda Invitational www.costasmeraldainvitational.com