Gleneagles to host 2018 European Championships

Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course

Gleneagles has been unveiled as an Official Supporter of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, playing their part in history as the host of the first ever European Golf Team Championship.

The brand new multi-sport event coming in 2018 is set to be staged every four years, and will combine with the existing European Championships of Athletics, Aquatics, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon. Berlin and Glasgow will combine as the two host cities for the first Championships, with most sports being held in Glasgow between the 2^nd and 12^th of August while the Athletics will be take place between the 7^th and 12^th August in Berlin.

The European Golf Team Championships is the only new event being staged as part of Glasgow 2018 and will take place at the famous Jack Nicklaus-designed Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course – the site of Europe’s memorable Ryder Cup victory over the USA in 2014.

It marks yet another step in golf’s eagerness to bring in a larger audience by introducing new formats to the game. Teamed with two inaugural European Tour events already named this year on the men’s circuit these Championships promise another new venture as Europe’s elite men and women are set to compete together for the first time. It is backed by the European Tour and Ladies European Tour and will include a men’s and women’s event along with a ground-breaking mixed competition.

Aileen Campbell MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Sport, said: “Gleneagles has staged many prestigious golf tournaments through its history and was the home to what many regard as the best Ryder Cup ever in 2014. In 2018 Gleneagles will be the magnificent setting for European Championships and will see elite men and women golfers compete together for the first time.”

“In 2014 the Ryder Cup players spoke about the top-class facilities, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd and left with good memories and we know it will be the same for those taking part in the inaugural European Championships in 2018.”

Bernard Murphy, the Managing Director of Gleneagles, said he was proud to be associated with a ground-breaking moment for the sport of golf. He said: “We’re proud to be associated with what will be a ground-breaking moment in sporting history.”

“The event will build on Gleneagles’ long history of raising the bar in golf and breaking cultural boundaries in sport – including the first match between British and American professionals in 1921.”

“We look forward to continuing that tradition at the European Golf Team Championships, when Europe’s leading men and women compete together for the first time, in what will be a real historic moment for the sport.

The format

The golf will be played on the PGA Centenary Course and will include three separate categories: Men’s team, women’s team, and mixed team.

Both the men and women’s team competitions will consist of a match play event played over four days, while the mixed team will consist of two separate mixed pairings per country and will be a mixed foursome stroke play event held on the 11^th August, 2018.