PGA EuroPro Tour and Macdonald Hotels announce exclusive 2019 partnership

The PGA EuroPro Tour and Macdonald Hotels have partnered for the 2019 season in a move which will see the Tour visit four Macdonald Golf courses this year.

The partnership will also see PGA EuroPro Tour golfers compete in a mini-series known as the Macdonald Series.

The winner of which is determined by who has won the most money across all four Macdonald events combined. They will win a seven-night stay for up to four people in a two-bed self-catering apartment at a Macdonald Resort in Spain (Dona Lola, Villacanna, Leila Playa or La Ermita).

First up on the schedule is the Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club, marking the sixth event in the calendar and will run from July 3-5.

Set in the picturesque countryside of Northumbria and designed by course architect Jonathan Gaunt, the 6846-yard Championship course features four challenging par 3’s, with water coming into play for nine holes in total. The course offers panoramic views of the Cheviots, Coquet Island and the Northumberland coastline.

The Tour then moves to Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa (July 10-12). The Championship Course at Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa, opened in 1990, was named ‘Golf Course of the Year’ in 1995, and is the star of Portal’s golfing complex.

Designer Donald Steel has created a challenge that is characterised by unique and distinctive holes; expansive water hazards and cascading waterfalls are among the tests. The signature is typical of Steel’s magnificent 7,037-yard layout – the long third tips the scales at 607 yards, with a green guarded by a beautiful lake.

A week later (July 17-19) the Tour heads north to the former Challenge Tour venue of the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, home of the award winning Spey Valley Championship Course.

Recently voted one of the best courses in Scotland, Spey Valley is home to one of the longest holes in the country, the 635-yard 5th. The 6846-yard par 72 was home to the Challenge Tour for almost a decade, and now some of the world’s brightest emerging talents have a chance to test their mettle at one of the most stunning yet challenging courses on the EuroPro Tour schedule in 2019.

Capping off the Macdonald Series from August 21-23 is none other than Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa. Designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas the Emerald Championship Course is the shortest of the three at 6714-yards but a tough par 73 test. The combination of natural water hazards and strategically placed bunkers will provide a real challenge to all taking part as they bid to win promotion onto the Challenge Tour in 2020.

PGA EuroPro Tour Chief Executive Officer Dan Godding said: “I am absolutely delighted to announce the wonderful relationship we now have with Macdonald Hotels.

“There is a fabulous synergy between the brands both offering a first-class product and now working together we are able to promote four amazing Macdonald Resorts on our schedule for 2019.”

Keith Pickard, Group Director of Leisure & Golf at Macdonald Hotels said: “We can’t wait to welcome some of the best up and coming Tour stars of the future this summer.

“We are incredibly proud of our range of golf courses, and are excited to play a key role in what will be a fantastic summer of sport.

“The courses at Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club, Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa and Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa each provide different challenges and settings, but share the same exceptional standards.”

A two-hour highlights package from each event is broadcast on Sky Sports Golf, and on 98 networks around the world reaching 400 million homes. In addition, every event is available to watch on demand in high definition on YouTube.