Gleneagles to host inaugural golf event

• Golf added to 2018 European Sports Championships line-up
• Men and women to compete together for the first time
• Glasgow chosen as host city – Gleneagles Hotel will host golf

Scotland will play host to the world’s first joint men’s and ladies golf competition following the announcement that the inaugural European Golf Team Championships will be played at The Gleneagles Hotel in 2018.

The historic event, which will incorporate both a team and an individual format, forms part of the inaugural multi-event European Sports Championships to be held across Glasgow and Berlin in a unique partnership with some of Europe’s top sports.

Backed by both the European Tour and the Ladies European Tour, the European Golf Team Championships will see men and women compete for their countries on the same course at the same time in top-level competition for the first time in the history of the sport.

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The announcement was made following a meeting by the European Sports Championships 2018 Board where it was agreed gymnastics and golf would join the already impressive line-up of sports.

The European Sports Championships are being funded by The Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council, with the EventScotland team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate leading on preparations for the golf event on behalf of Scotland.

“This is an historic day for golf” – Paul Bush

Paul Bush, director of events with VisitScotland, said: “This is an historic day for golf, with the announcement that both men and women will play for their countries as part of the same competition for the first time.

“When the idea of a combined European Sports Championships was first mooted for Glasgow and Scotland, we were adamant that it should include a golf event for both men and ladies given our proud history and association with the sport and our reputation for equality. I am delighted that we were able to work with the European Tour, Ladies European Tour and the European Sports Championships to make this happen.

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The event will be staged over five days between 1-12 August 2018 and include a men’s team, women’s team and a mixed team competition in a matchplay format. Two male and female athletes per nation will participate, with the top 16 European nations included.

Gleneagles was chosen as the venue for the European Golf team championships thanks to its rich history of holding top-class events as well as its strong transport links to Glasgow as part of the wider European Sports Championships.

“It is with great delight that we will be the host venue” – Bernard Murphy

Bernard Murphy, managing director of The Gleneagles Hotel, said: “At Gleneagles we have a proud tradition of innovation within the game of golf, including hosting the very first match between British and American professionals back in 1921, sowing the first seeds of the event that went on to become The Ryder Cup.

“It is with great delight that we will be the host venue for yet another world-first in the European Golf Team Championships and we look forward to welcoming the teams and spectators in 2018.”

To be staged in the summer of 2018 in front of a total television audience of approximately 850 million, around 2,900 athletes will come to Scotland for the European Sports Championships as part of a total delegation of around 8,200 including officials, media and others, with cycling, swimming, rowing and triathlon also being held in the country.

Gleneagles Hotel :: European Golf Team Championships

What do you make of men and women competing for their countries on the same course at the same time for the first time in the history of the sports at top-level competition? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.