PLAYER'S ACCOMODATION

Galgorm Resort & Spa is located 2 miles from the golf club and they are offering some excellent rates for players.

Standard Rooms from £52.50 per person including B&B

Cottages from £45 per person

Log Cabins from £62.50 per person

For more information contact Beth Swindlehurst on (028) 25882562 or email: bswindlehurst@galgorm.com

Transport

Galgorm Castle Golf Club is located close to the airport.

To get you to & from the airport with no hassle @ very competitive rates contact our Recommended Transport Provider as follows:

Executive Car Hire NI Contact Oliver on 07880880923 or 028 90591384

www.executivecarhireni.com

Quality field comes into focus for Galgorm event

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

The Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open is little over a week away and the quality has come into focus with news that former British Amateur champion Gary Wolstenholme and the Saltman brothers, Lloyd, Elliot and Zack, are confirmed for the event at the Ballymena venue. Wolstenholme was one of the game’s leading amateurs for well over a decade before joining the paid ranks as a 48-year-old in September 2008. The English golfer won the British Amateur twice (1991 and 2003) and played in the Walker Cup on no less that five occasions. He remains the leading all-time points scorer for the Britain and Ireland side. The Surrey golfer famously defeated world number one Tiger Woods in the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl in Wales as Britain and Ireland won the biennial team event against the Americans. "That win certainly gave me a new status in the game," said Wolstenholme at the time. These days Wolstenholme is cutting his teeth on the EuroPro circuit with one eye on joining the European Seniors Tour when he turns 50. With countless wins worldwide as an amateur, he will be one to look out for during next week’s event at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

The field is further enhanced with news that the Saltman brothers will all tee it up at Galgorm. Regarded as Scotland’s great hope of the fairways, this golfing dynasty bring plenty of excitement to the Ballymena event. Lloyd came to prominence in these parts when playing in the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy before turning professional. Lloyd, along with his brothers, holds ambitions of joining the main European Tour and are currently learning their trade on the PGA EuroPro Tour. Also included in the field is Ian Keenan, who won the Irish Masters EuroPro event at Castle Dargan at the start of June.

Don’t forget about your chance to avail of your free weekly pass to the week’s event. Simply register online at www.galgormcastle.com and complimentary tickets will be sent out to you ahead of the event.

Win Pro-am place at Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Preparations for the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open have entered the final stages in what promises to be the highlight on the province’s golfing calendar this year. Organisers of the event have left a special card up their sleeve as there is still an opportunity to win a team place at this year’s George Best Invitational Pro-am which precedes the main EuroPro event on Tuesday, June 22nd. To be in with a chance of securing a free-of-charge three-person amateur team in the Pro-am, all you have to do is answer the following question and send the details to Galgorm Castle Golf Club. The George Best Invitational Pro-am at Galgorm Castle is in its third year and is an integral part of the schedule of events at this year’s high-profile PGA EuroPro showpiece. Winners of the prize will be treated to a full day’s golf, where they will play alongside a PGA professional in the pro-am team event, before attending the Gala Dinner and prize-giving at the renowned Galgorm Resort & Spa that evening.

No stone has been left unturned for this year’s Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open which will have the look and feel of regular European Tour event where spectators will see the stars of tomorrow compete for the top prize of £10,000 from a total prize purse of £40,000. To avail of your free weekly pass simply register online at www.galgormcastle.com. Fill out the brief form and tickets will be sent out to you ahead of the event. The week of the EuroPro event begins with official practice on Monday, June 21st before the George Best Invitational Pro-am on Tuesday. The 54-hole EuroPro event gets under way from Wednesday, June 23rd and concludes Friday, June 25th.

All around the championship venue, tournament leaderboards will be in operation to keep spectators up to date with the day’s action. There will also be on-site catering facilities, both on course and at the Galgorm Castle Pavilion clubhouse. A tented village will be housed adjacent to the clubhouse where prestige organisations such as BMW, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Galgorm Resort & Spa, George Best Foundation and Andrew Morris Golf (the newest golf retailer in Northern Ireland) will be present.

“A lot of hard work has gone into bringing the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open to Ballymena,” explains Gary Henry, General Manager Golf Club & Estates. “Preparations are now in the final stages in what promises to be the stand-out event on this year’s golfing calendar.”

“Players from all over the world and from the home nations will tee it up in this year’s event which will be covered on Sky Sports and broadcast around the world. This is a rare chance for Ireland’s golfing fans to get up close and watch the stars of tomorrow compete in person here at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.”

The week of the EuroPro event begins with official practice on Monday, June 21st before the George Best Invitational Pro-am on Tuesday. The 54-hole EuroPro event gets under way from Wednesday, June 23rd and concludes Friday, June 25th.

All around the championship venue, tournament leaderboards will be in operation to keep spectators up to date with the day’s action. There will also be on-site catering facilities, both on course and at the Galgorm Castle Pavilion clubhouse. A tented village will be housed adjacent to the clubhouse where prestige organisations such as BMW, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Galgorm Resort & Spa, George Best Foundation and Andrew Morris Golf (the newest golf retailer in Northern Ireland) will be present.

“A lot of hard work has gone into bringing the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open to Ballymena,” explains Gary Henry, General Manager Golf Club & Estates. “Preparations are now in the final stages in what promises to be the stand-out event on this year’s golfing calendar.”

“Players from all over the world and from the home nations will tee it up in this year’s event which will be covered on Sky Sports and broadcast around the world. This is a rare chance for Ireland’s golfing fans to get up close and watch the stars of tomorrow compete in person here at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.”

The week of the EuroPro event begins with official practice on Monday, June 21st before the George Best Invitational Pro-am on Tuesday. The 54-hole EuroPro event gets under way from Wednesday, June 23rd and concludes Friday, June 25th.

All around the championship venue, tournament leaderboards will be in operation to keep spectators up to date with the day’s action. There will also be on-site catering facilities, both on course and at the Galgorm Castle Pavilion clubhouse. A tented village will be housed adjacent to the clubhouse where prestige organisations such as BMW, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Galgorm Resort & Spa, George Best Foundation and Andrew Morris Golf (the newest golf retailer in Northern Ireland) will be present.

“A lot of hard work has gone into bringing the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open to Ballymena,” explains Gary Henry, General Manager Golf Club & Estates. “Preparations are now in the final stages in what promises to be the stand-out event on this year’s golfing calendar.”

“Players from all over the world and from the home nations will tee it up in this year’s event which will be covered on Sky Sports and broadcast around the world. This is a rare chance for Ireland’s golfing fans to get up close and watch the stars of tomorrow compete in person here at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.”

Question: Who is Northern Ireland’s highest ranked player in the latest World Rankings?

Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy or Gareth Maybin

Answers with your name, address and contact number should be sent directly to Galgorm Castle Golf Club either by email or post - Email: golf@galgormcastle.com

Address: Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena, N. Ireland, BT42 1HL Phone: +44 (0) 28 256 46161

Schedule of Events

Monday, June 21st Official EuroPro Practice Day Tee-times: 8am-4pm

Tuesday, June 22nd George Best Invitational Pro-Am Tee-times: 7.30am-2.20pm

Wednesday, June 23rd EuroPro First Round Tee-times: 7.30am-2.20pm

Thursday, June 24th EuroPro Second Round Tee-times: 7.30am-2.20pm

Friday, June 25th EuroPro Final Round Tee-times: 8.00am-12.30pm

Free entry to EuroPro Open plus World Clubmaker of Year to visit Galgorm

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Wednesday, April 20th, 2010

When the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open rolls into town in June, so too will the expertise of the “World Clubmaker of the Year 2010” as Derek Murray and his ForeGolf tour truck will be on site during the week to meet the demands of competing professionals and for the general public, who also have the opportunity to secure a free weekly pass to the prestigious event.

The leading manufacturers in the game drive dedicated tour trucks to all the European Tour events across the world to service their sponsored players with equipment and make sure they get the optimum performance from their clubs during tournament week. ForeGolf will provide the very same service for players and public at this year’s EuroPro event at Galgorm.

“ForeGolf, recent winners of the World Clubmaker of the Year award and Europe’s only independent tour truck, will be attending the PGA EuroPro Tour event at Galgorm Castle from June 22nd-24th, 2010,” explains Murray. “We will be on site to service any player who needs assistance with grips and shafts and, for the first time at an event, we will allow the public to come on board and be treated just like the tour players.”

The only high profile professional golf event to be staged in Northern Ireland this year allows spectators to get up close and see the stars of the future in action from all over Europe, South Africa and Australia. It also provides an added dimension with the internationally recognised services of ForeGolf on site.

“The ForeGolf Tour truck is different to the other trucks on Tour in that it has all nine leading brands and state-of-the-art custom-fit workshop on board,” added Murray, who is now taking bookings due to the anticipated high demand for a session with ForeGolf.

“Every golfer is different so we at ForeGolf make clubs that perform better for the individual and prove it works before you buy. Individual appointments for one hour costs £90 to check all your clubs or £45 for 30 minutes to check just the woods or irons.”

To secure your booking please contact Galgorm Castle’s head professional, Phil Collins, at the pro shop on 028 2564 6161. Secure your free weekly pass for the event by registering online at www.galgormcastle.com. To celebrate ForeGolf’s award a number of special offers and discounts will also be available during the week of the event. For further information visit www.foregolf.ie

Make sure to avail of your free weekly pass to come and watch the professionals in action at Galgorm and to take in the unique atmosphere of professional tournament golf. Aside from the Fore Golf Tour Truck, the tented village and merchandise area, junior golf coaching area plus full catering facilities are just some of the features that will be on offer during the event.

Galgorm Castle has offered the general public free entry to the event for the entire week and should order their complimentary ticket online at www.galgormcastle.com. Once registered, the e-ticket will be sent out to patrons in June.

The Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open plus preceding George Best Invitational Pro-Am takes place at Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena from Tuesday, June 22nd-25th, 2010.

GALGORM CASTLE NORTHERN IRELAND PGA EUROPRO OPEN OFFICIALLY UNVEILED

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Monday, March 15th, 2010

The Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open was officially launched at the Ballymena venue and will host the province’s only high profile professional golf event this year.

Galgorm Castle Golf Club, along with the PGA EuroPro Tour, also breaks new ground as it will become the first EuroPro event to be staged in Northern Ireland when it takes place from Tuesday, June 22nd and concludes with the final day action on Friday, June 25th, 2010.

The George Best Foundation is associated with the Pro-am and Gala Dinner at Galgorm Resort & Spa which takes place on Tuesday (22nd) to raise funds for its many ongoing projects to “help provide children with a better lifestyle through participation in sport”.

The Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open begins in earnest on Wednesday (23rd) and is a 54-hole strokeplay event where the professionals will contest the £40,000 prize purse with £10,000 going to the eventual winner.

With a truly international field in prospect, Galgorm Castle looks forward to welcoming players from all the home nations plus Europe, South Africa and Australia.

The Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland PGA EuroPro Open will reach a global audience through its international coverage from Sky Sports and will also feature on the Golf Channel in the United States.

“Galgorm Castle is honoured and very excited to be hosting such a prestigious event,” said Christopher Brooke from Galgorm Castle. “As part of our vision for the future of Galgorm Castle we intend to hold major international golf events annually, helping to promote the greater Ballymena area and the Northern Ireland golf product.”

James Currie, Mayor of Ballymena Borough Council, added: “Ballymena Borough Council is delighted to support the PGA EuroPro Open. We have planned an extensive programme of events in the borough throughout the summer and this is one of the most exciting which will attract golf fans from across Northern Ireland.”

There are 13 tournaments on the PGA Europro Tour this season with the Galgorm event occupying a key June date on the schedule, culminating in the season-ending Tour Championship at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus at the end of September.

“I am delighted that the PGA EuroPro Tour is heading to Northern Ireland and Galgorm Castle Golf Club,” said Danny Nickless, Operations Manager, PGA EuroPro Tour. “Northern Ireland is passionate about golf and Galgorm in Ballymena typifies the province’s desire for the game.

“Galgorm is arguably the most challenging course our tour players will encounter this season on the championship parkland that nestles in mature surrounds within the Galgorm Estate.”

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) recognises the importance of golf tourism when driving business into the local economy.

"We are pleased to welcome the PGA EuroPro golf event to Northern Ireland for the first time. Events like this help to strengthen Northern Ireland as a top class golf destination and showcase the huge range of things to see and do here,” said Alan Clarke, NITB chief executive.

“Golf tourism is very important, generating around £14 million for the local economy. To drive more growth it is essential that we provide unique and memorable experiences from the moment that golfers check in to their hotel, to the final meal at the clubhouse before they leave.

“With some of the best golf courses in the world, as well as a range of special offers, Northern Ireland certainly has plenty to offer golfers of all levels.”