Formby Hall Golf Resort to host PGA Tour

Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa has announced it will host the PGA EuroPro Tour from August 19 - 21 2009.

It will be the first time the world's leading developmental Tour takes place at a Merseyside golf venue.

The UK's only PGA national residential golf academy, Formby Hall opened in June 2008 after undergoing a £10million transformation.

Since opening in 1996, Formby Hall's 72 par Old Course has hosted the Challenge Tour and European Seniors Tour. The PGA EuroPro Tour is the first championship event to take place at the resort since its PGA affiliation and it will be the first exposure to television.

Tim Cowell, business development manager at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, said: "We are very pleased to be hosting this very exciting and important golf event in association with the PGA EuroPro Tour. It's set to be a thrilling three days of golf.

"The course will provide a testing but fair challenge to some of the top up and coming names in European golf. Ahead of the event players will be able to hone their skills at our PGA academy and practice on the nine-hole course which is one of the most difficult in the world. The Pro-Am takes place on Tuesday 18 August and provides a great opportunity for amateurs and professionals to play together."

Danny Nickless, operations manager for the PGA EuroPro Tour, echoed Cowell's comments: "Formby Hall is a fantastic addition to the 2009 schedule. We have nearly completed the list of events for the year and including Formby Hall in the line-up underlines the high quality of courses that the players will tackle this term."

Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa is located at the heart of England's golf coast just 30 minutes from Liverpool and 10 minutes from the famous Royal Birkdale. Its state-of-the-art facilities include a PGA academy with swing analysis lab, 26-bay driving range, short game practice area, 18-hole par 72 and nine-hole par three golf courses.

The PGA EuroPro Tour kicks-off on April 1 with the opening round of Qualifying School taking place at four courses in the UK. For further information on how to sign up to Q School, visit http://www.europrotour.com/.

For more information on Formby Hall, visit http://www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk/ or call 01704 875 699.