The release of the2016 Challenge Tour schedulethis week has already got us all very excited for the season opener, the Barclays Kenya Open, in March.
Rather than just counting the days until we touch down in Nairobi, we thought we’d offer up a little insight into some of the exciting new places we’ll be visiting in what looks sure to be another exciting season on the Challenge Tour.
Sokhna Golf Club, Sokhna – Red Sea Egyptian Challenge
A new event for the Challenge Tour, and our first visit to Egypt since 2010 – when you may remember a certain R. McIlroy teed it up.
In April we will be in Ain Sokhna, Suez, and at Sokhna Golf Club for the first time, though some Pro Golf Tour and Alps Tour graduates may remember it from their recent tournaments there.
The stunning course, on the north-west bank of the Red Sea, is only an hour from Cairo and, as the second tournament of the year, is sure to provide a compelling competition so early in the season.
Golf Club della Montecchia, Padova – Italian Challenge
Golf Club della Montecchia is not a quite brand new venue since it previously hosted a Challenge Tour event in 2013, but this trip to Padova is definitely a welcome return to a stunning part of Italy.
Three years ago Brooks Koepka took his first win of a breakthrough season, since when he has gone on to climb inside the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking – let’s hope similar heights await this year’s winner.
Cleydael Golf & Country Club, Aartselaar – KPMG Trophy
Like Padova, this is actually another familiar venue returning to the Challenge Tour schedule as our Belgian event will be held at Cleydael Golf & Country Club, host of the 2014 tournament.
The picturesque historic town of Aarteselaar, just south of Antwerp, will once again play host to what is sure to be an enjoyable week as the players seek to follow in the footsteps of William Harrold (pictured above), winner here two years ago.
Aalborg GK, Aalborg – Made in Denmark Challenge
A new venue awaits the second staging of this tournament, won by Max Orrin last year, and a trip to northern Denmark to Aalborg Golf Klub, which hosted a Challenge Tour event in 2001.
Aalborg is the second oldest golf club in Denmark at more than 100 years old and will provide an enjoyable challenge for players as June becomes July.
Katrineholms GK, Katrineholms – Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson
As was announced in December, the Challenge Tour is returning to Sweden in 2016 for the Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson, to be staged at Katrineholms GK about an hour outside Stockholm.
The venue has hosted a tournament on the Swedish Nordea Tour since 2011 – the last time the Challenge Tour visited Sweden – and with many Swedish success stories in the Challenge Tour’s history (most recently 2015 graduates Bjӧrn Åkesson and Jens Fahrbring) it feels appropriate to be returning there in August.
Sanya Haitang Bay Peninsula GC, Sanya – Hainan Open
This is another brand new event on the 2016 schedule, and a first visit to Sanya on Hainan Island for the start of an exciting fortnight in China as the season is drawing to a close and the race for a top 15 spot in the Road to Oman Rankings is heating up.
The picturesque island off China’s south coast will play host to the Hainan Open before we return to Foshan, and Sanya Haitain Bay Peninsula GC is sure to provide a stern challenge for the players in October.
Al Hamra GC, Ras Al Khaimah – Ras Al Khaimah
The penultimate event of the 2016 season is another exciting new tournament as the Challenge Tour will enjoy a week in the United Arab Emirates before making the short hop to Oman for the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
Players will be desperate to finish the week inside the top 45 in the Road to Oman Rankings and secure their place in Muscat, and the stunning Al Hamra course, weaving around four interconnected lagoons, should provide drama aplenty.
