Ireland to host back to back Challenge Tour events; Irish government changes self-isolation requirement to "restrict movement"

Michael Hoey competing at Galgorm Castle (Photo: PressEye)

The island of Ireland will host back-to-back Challenge Tour events in September.

The European Tour confirmed today that the €200,000 Northern Ireland Open, supported by The R&A, will be held from September 3-6 and followed from September 10-13 by the Irish Challenge at a venue to be confirmed.

This follows the overall Challenge Tour strategy for the reshaped 2020 season of playing events in regional clusters where possible.

There is no confirmation yet on whether the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will go ahead — at Mount Juliet or an alternative venue — though the last week of September or the third week of October are free dates on the schedule right now.

Government policy, which until recently required visitors from abroad to self-isolate for 14 days, now states that visitors must merely restrict their movements for 14 days, leaving the way clear for tournament golf with social distancing measures in place.

The Northern Ireland Open supported by The R&A will be subject to stringent safety and medical protocols set out in the Challenge Tour’s comprehensive Health Strategy and will proceed subject to Government and health guidelines at the time of the event.

12th Hole at Galgorm Castle. Photo: Kevin Markham

Jamie Hodges, Head of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are delighted to be able to add the Northern Ireland Open supported by The R&A to the 2020 schedule as we continue to reshape the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The R&A is dedicated to supporting golf and its additional support this year has been crucial in helping us to stage this event.

“Our thanks also go to Galgorm Castle, a venue that our members know well and always enjoy playing, and to Tourism Northern Ireland and Mid & East Antrim Borough Council for their valued support.

“While there will be no formal graduation to the European Tour this year, adding events like this to the Road to Mallorca will provide playing opportunities and experience for the stars of the future, and is hugely important for our members in the current circumstances.”

Kevin Barker, Director of Golf Development at The R&A, said: “We are pleased to be able to support the Challenge Tour in running this event and to help to provide the players with another opportunity to compete in what has been such a difficult period for them. Through The R&A Support Fund we are trying to provide assistance at all levels of the game from grassroots through elite amateur golf and on to emerging professionals.

“Following the huge success of The Open at Royal Portrush last year we are also excited to see this important championship being played at Galgorm Castle, another of Northern Ireland’s outstanding venues.”

Galgorm Castle’s parkland Championship Course nestles in the heart of the 220-acre Galgorm Castle Estate. It is an established venue on the Challenge Tour, having hosted events every season since 2013, most recently the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women presented by Modest! Golf Management in 2019.

Gary Henry, Managing Director Galgorm Castle, said: “We are operating within stringent government guidelines for an event that will help kickstart the tourism economy and generate significant bed nights and spend by bringing players, staff and media to the local area.

"TV coverage of the event will enhance the message that Mid & East Antrim and Northern Ireland is open for business.”

Leanne Rice, Tourism NI’s Marketing Manager, commented: “Our golf clubs and wider sector have been significantly affected by the pandemic and we are delighted that participants will get to enjoy our fantastic golf product, with the appropriate health and safety guidelines in place.”