The world-renowned Les Bordes estate in France has been confirmed as the venue for the prestigious end-of-season Ivobank PGA Europro Tour Championship in October.
The top 60 golfers on the Ivobank PGA Europro Tour Order of Merit will visit the acclaimed resort to bring the curtain down on their season and compete for a coveted place on the Challenge Tour.
It will be an historic event as it will be the first time Les Bordes has opened its doors to any tour event and will be covered by Sky Sports - another first as TV cameras have never before been allowed on to the course.
The 54-hole tournament will also be played from the infamous back tees on the main Les Bordes course, where only 74 golfers (professionals and amateurs) have managed to break 80 since 2002.
Any golfer who does break 80 on the 7062 yard course gets their name engraved in the hall of fame in the clubhouse.
The championship will take place from 18-22 October, including a two-day Pro-Am and will see the top five golfers on the Order of Merit qualify for a place on next year's Challenge Tour.
Barry Hearn, chairman of the Ivobank PGA Europro Tour, said: "It is a great coup to be the first professional tour to be invited to stage an event at Les Bordes and I have no doubt the players will enjoy playing at such a prestigious venue.
"It shows how highly the Europro Tour is regarded that our flagship event is welcome at one of the world's best courses.
"The signs are already looking good for another hugely competitive season and come October, the golfers who manage to come out on top will have earned a card on the Challenge Tour and will have proven themselves more than capable of competing at that level."
Mark Vickery, managing director of Les Bordes, said: "We are delighted to be welcoming the Ivobank PGA Europro Tour to Les Bordes for the first time.
"It is the first time any tour has visited Les Bordes and the first time the course will have been televised.
"It will be a really tough test of golf and some of the players will have experienced nothing like Les Bordes under tournament conditions in their careers to date.
"The tour is all about allowing up-and-coming players the opportunity to begin their careers in a competitive environment and we very much see Les Bordes as a future venue for other major international tournaments.
"Hosting the championship at Les Bordes will be a fitting end to the Ivobank PGA Europro Tour season and we look forward to welcoming the golfers and seeing them battle it out not only against each other, but the course as well, perhaps that one under par course record will be in danger"
The Les Bordes estate in France, which is widely accredited as one of the world's best golf courses and was named joint best course in Europe by the Peugeot Golf Guide 2008/09, has recently been bought by a group of international businessmen.
The group has commissioned original architect Robert von Hagge to further enhance what is already considered a world-class venue. The course will close in November, shortly after the Europro Tour championship, for further refurbishments to be made.
Les Bordes was designed by von Hagge for Baron Marcel Bich, founder of the Bic pen empire, and his Japanese trading partner, Mr Yoshiaki Sakurai. The course opened in 1986.
10 July, 2008