Hunley GC to host Europro Tour
A golf club that has undergone a major transformation since being sold three years ago has been placed on the international stage after being invited to host a major competition during the PGA Europro Tour.
Hunley Hotel and Golf Club, in Saltburn, North Yorkshire, will host the penultimate stage of the prestigious tour in September after being recommended as a high quality course to the PGA and tour organisers Matchroomsport Limited.
It comes just three years after the club was taken over by Skelton Estates, and following major investment, which has seen the four courses, including championship-standard Morgans Course, upgraded and the hotel and restaurant refurbished.
Hunley Chief Executive Elliot Hamilton said it was a major coup for the club, which sits on the coastline and boasts some of the most spectacular views in the country.
"The reputation of this competition depends very much on the quality of the clubs involved, so obviously we were delighted to be invited to take part by the PGA, along with some of the most prestigious clubs in Britain and Ireland," said Elliot.
"It is an opportunity for us to show what a fabulous golf resort we have and show what a great part of the world it is around here. This is not just great for Hunley and our members, but the region."
Hunley was recommended to the PGA after it successfully hosted an international match between England and Ireland's Under 16s boys' teams in 2009, organised by the English Golf Union.
Elliot is hoping another successful event in September, which will be televised worldwide, will cement its reputation as a first-rate course.
Hunley will host the last stage of the tour over three days from September 14 before the final 60 competitors head to Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus for the final.
Danny Nickless, of the Europro Tour, said: "The tournament at Hunley will be a very important event in the Europro calendar because it will be the last chance for the professional golfers to make it into the last 50 and qualify for the championship.
"There will be golfers fighting for the top five positions, which will enable them to get onto the Challenge Tour, and then the top 50, so we should have a cracking event with a lot of entertaining and high quality golf."
And Hunley's golf professional, Andy Brooke, urged members of the community to lend their support to the free event by turning out to watch the three-day tournament.
He said: "The Europro Tour is becoming an established event in the golfing calendar, so our members are obviously delighted to have the opportunity to be involved. It is a big event for this area, so I hope the region really takes the opportunity to get behind it."
More than 150 professional competitors are expected to take part in the competition, along with professional Michael Skelton, who counts Hunley as his local club.
The prize fund for the Hunley event will be £40,000, with the winner scooping a £10,000 pay packet.
However, the event is not just about the professionals. On September 13, Hunley will host a Pro-Am event, which will see professionals team up with amateurs on the Morgans course, where they will be competing for their own prizes, before a gala dinner is held in the evening.
Teams consisting of three amateurs and one professional will compete.
Any locals or businesses interested in putting a team up for the Pro-Am, should get in touch with Hunley to obtain more details. A range of sponsorship packages are also being drawn up to enable businesses to lend their support to the event, which will attract regional, national and international coverage.
"It is promising to be a great event, whether you want to take part and play, just come along as a spectator, or provide sponsorship, so we hope the people of the region get behind it," said Elliot.
For more information about the event, call Hunley Hotel and Golf Club on 01287 676216 or email europro@hunleygolf.co.uk.