Slaley Hall and Blairgowrie to host Glenmuir finals

Two of Great Britain's most testing courses have been selected to host the final of the pinnacle event of the PGA national tournament schedule - the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.

The Hunting Course at De Vere Slaley Hall will stage the 2013 finale of the PGA's leading lights with Blairgowrie's Lansdowne Course teed up for 2014.

Slaley Hall, which welcomes the PGA's blue riband event from June 11-14, will see the strongly assembled field battle it out for the six remaining places on the GB & I PGA Cup team, ahead of the September clash against the United States at the same venue.

The Northumberland venue will also stage the Glenmuir Women's PGA Professional Championship between June 13-14.

Daniel Hodson, director of golf at De Vere said: "The Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship kick-starts what is destined to be a memorable year of championship golf for De Vere.

"The event precedes the PGA Cup matches, also at Slaley Hall and it speaks volumes about the quality of our courses and the strong relationship we share with the PGA."

The tournament will then return to the home of golf as part of a magical year for Scottish sport, with both the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup on its shores.

Blairgowrie, located in Perthshire, will stage the tournament from August 5-8, just two days after the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The women's championship will be on August 7-8.

The Lansdowne course was designed by the Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, architects of the world-famous Brabazon at the Belfry.

Blairgowerie's PGA head professional Charles Dernie said: "The Lansdowne course is one of the most testing inland courses and the club is absolutely delighted to be hosting the flagship event of the PGA and the cream of the players on the golf course.

"It will be a very big year for golf in Scotland with the Ryder Cup, while it is also our 125th anniversary, which we will also mark by hosting the Junior Ryder Cup. To have two events of such high calibre on our course is an honour."

This year will be the 41st staging of the championship, the past 21 of those sponsored by Glenmuir, the leading golf apparel manufacturer based in Lanark.

Colin Mee, Glenmuir's managing director, said: "We are delighted with the high-quality courses chosen to stage the qualifiers and the final in 2013.

"The championship is a highlight in our calendar and we hope PGA professionals around Great Britain and Ireland continue to take part in such great numbers.

"With 2013 being a PGA Cup year and that event also being played on Slaley Hall's Hunting course, our final is a great opportunity for our home pros to acquaint themselves with the layout under competition conditions."

GLENMUIR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2013 DATES

Regional Qualifiers
Scottish - Blairgowrie, Monday April 29
Midland - Little Aston, Friday May 3
East - South Herts, Wednesday May 8
North (East) - Fulford, Monday May 13
Irish - Roganstown, Thursday May 16
WPGA (with One Day Series event), Little Aston, Monday May 20
South - Hindhead, Thursday May 23
West - Bowood, Tuesday May 28
North (West) - Delamere Forest, Friday May 31

Championship Final
De Vere Slaley Hall (Hunting), Tuesday June 11 - Friday June 14