Members News

European Challenge Tour Moyvalley Golf Club June 11-14 2009

Challenge of Ireland moves to Moyvalley Golf

The stunning Champions Club at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort on the outskirts of Dublin will host the fifth edition of the Challenge of Ireland on the European Challenge Tour from June 11-14, 2009.

Since its inaugural event in 2005, won by Scotland’s Marc Warren, the tournament is yet to produce a home winner, but this year’s venue does at least carry the signature of one of Ireland’s most famous golfing sons, Ulsterman Darren Clarke.

Together with the club’s owners, the Jackson family, and European Golf Design, Clarke helped design the Champions Club course at Moyvalley, which he describes as “a labour of love”.

The 13-time European Tour champion said: “Moyvalley’s 550 acres of rolling countryside presented a fantastic challenge, and I hope you’ll agree the results are spectacular. I look forward to seeing the course develop into one which golfers across the world will want to play and enjoy.

“I’m especially delighted with the greens, which are among the best putting surfaces in the country. We created gentle slopes which will make players think about where to place their approach shots, especially when the greens are fast or in windy conditions. As a Champions Club member, it is our intention to roll out this club as one of the premium clubs in word golf.”

Moyvalley, situated on the breathtaking Balyna Estate in County Kildare, takes over the staging of the Challenge of Ireland following two successful years at Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club, which itself succeeded Killarney Golf and Fishing Club in 2007.

The 7,370 yards, par 72 course will present the Challenge Tour Members with a stern examination, according to the club’s owner Stuart Jackson.

He said: “We are honoured to be chosen to stage the Challenge of Ireland, which always attracts a quality field of some of the game’s brightest young talents. We are extremely proud of the course we have created in partnership with Darren Clarke, and hope it will provide a fitting venue for the Challenge Tour’s finest.”

Alain de Soultrait said: “The Challenge of Ireland is traditionally one of the most popular events on our Schedule, as we always receive a warm welcome in this most hospitable of countries. This year should be no different, as we move to beautiful Moyvalley. I am genuinely excited about the prospect of seeing our Members face a true test of golf next June.”

Since its inception, the Challenge of Ireland has played an integral role in the development of some of the host nation’s emerging talent.

In the 2007 Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson, Gareth Maybin played as a sponsors’ invitation and was the highest home finisher in 15^th position.

The young Ulsterman subsequently went on to record three top ten finishes en route to 49th place in the final Rankings, thereby securing full playing privileges on the Challenge Tour last season, when he finished fourth to graduate to The European Tour.

Maybin’s compatriot Gareth Shaw will hope to follow a similar path, having finished in a tie for fourth in the 2008 Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson – his first event as a professional – en route to securing category 11 status for the 2009 Challenge Tour Schedule.