Culinary twist as NI Open makes welcome return to Galgorm

After record numbers attended last year’s event, this year promises to be a spectacular occasion for all the family with a designated food village in the grounds of the estate castle plus an interactive golf village behind the 18th.

Even better news is entry to the Challenge Tour event and all the activities is free. All you have to do is visit www.niopen.co.uk and register to receive your free tickets and be part of Northern Ireland’s very own professional golf tournament.

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said: “The return of this high profile tournament is yet another indicator that Northern Ireland’s reputation as a major golf destination is thriving.

“Together with the Irish Open in 2015 and 2017, this tournament will further cement our position as a ‘must play’ destination for golfers.

“Last year’s inaugural NI Open at Galgorm broke all European Challenge Tour attendance records, attracting over 22,000 spectators and I have no doubt that this year’s event will once again attract big crowds. The visitors that will pack the Galgorm fairways in August will see the golfing stars of the future and will enjoy a superbly well-run tournament in beautiful surroundings.”

“It is very important for the Challenge Tour to have an event in Northern Ireland and to tap into a region that has so many golf fans,” explained Alain de Soultrait, Director European Challenge Tour.

“We are excited to return to such a great venue again in August as the tournament continues to grow and in the future hopefully events like this can help to inspire a new generation of Irish golfers.

This year’s £140,000 (€170,000) showpiece promises another stellar line-up, not least with five-time European Tour winner and tournament ambassador Michael Hoey confirmed to play.

Organisers have introduced a ’Food Festival’ to the 2014 NI Open to ‘savour the culinary delights of the region’. The gourmet excellence theme will carry through to tournament week where suppliers, exhibitors and live demonstrations will showcase the very best of NI produce within the designated food village at the castle. Before the week-long festival of food and golf, the game’s elite amateurs will get another chance to tee it up with the professionals through the annual North of Ireland Strokeplay. The 36-hole event will take place over the championship parkland on Tuesday, 24th June.

Christopher Brooke, Director Galgorm Castle, expressed his thanks to all concerned for making the event possible.

“We enjoyed a wonderful event last year and will build on that as we look forward to staging the province’s standout professional tournament of the season again,” he added.