2015 saw the return of the European Challenge Tour to the Republic of

Ireland

The European Challenge Tour returned to the Republic of Ireland for the first time in six years last

year when the Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort took

place at the prestigious Carlow venue.

The return of the Challenge Tour to Ireland came at an opportune time for Irish golf, with young

Derryman Ruaidhri McGee continuing to impress on the Tour, while a host of promising young players

including Jack Hume, Gary Hurley, Gavin Moynihan and Cormac Sharvin are either rising through the

amateur ranks with great distinction or embarking on their first season as Professionals.

Building on the success of last year, the 2016 tournament promises to be even bigger and better.

Media Platforms TV Coverage – An hour long highlights programme will be broadcast on Tuesday 13th September on Sky Sports and other selected broadcasters with a total broadcast distribution to over 165 million homes.

The Volopa Irish Challenge will also feature in the Challenge Series, a 12 programme alternative magazine show focusing on ‘life on the Challenge Tour’ as well as event coverage. This will be broadcast on Tuesday 27th September.

Digital Media / www.europeantour.com - Daily Online Event News will be published on the European Challenge Tour website, each night after play a 2 – 3 minute video clip of the days highlights will be upl;oaded.

Each year the Challenge Tour section of the website alone receives 14.5 million visitors. Last year the Volopa Irish Challenge section of the website received 415,598 page views.

App – Live scoring, news, videos and much more is available through the European Tour web app (app.europeantour.com) and iOS app during the tournament week.

SOCIAL MEDIA- The tournament will be promoted across European Challenge Tour social media

channels. Currently the Challenge Tour has 18,300 Twitter followers, 6,853 Facebook likes and 4,492 Instagram followers.

- During the 2015 tournament Facebook posts reached over 211,791 accounts and generated 279,601 impressions.

- The Challenge Tour sent 58 tweets regarding and during the tournament, which received 216,299 impressions and were engaged with 15,513 times. The posts were retweeted 347 times

Global Media Value

Global QI Media Value for 2015 - £169,674

2016 Tournament OverviewField Size - 156 players Prize Fund - €180,000Dates: - 08 - 11 September 2016

Monday 5th - Players Practice Tuesday 6th - Players PracticeWednesday 7th - Championship Pro-AmThursday 8th - Round 1Friday 9th - Round 2 (Cut after Round 2)Saturday 10th - Round 3Sunday 11th - Final Round

Format of the week

Volopa Guest ProgrammeTuesday 6th - Transfers from Dublin Airport

- Mount Wolseley Welcome Dinner TBC- Guest Accommodation (Bed & Breakfast) at Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa & Golf Resort

Wednesday 7th - Afternoon Pro-Am (shotgun start) – golf with a leading Challenge Tour professional- Guest to receive tournament gift bag- Prize presentation and buffet dinner- Accommodation (Bed & Breakfast)

Thursday 8th - Guests free to watch the first round of the event- Transfers back to Dublin Airport

Marketing and Promotion- Irish Open

- Media Day

- Media Partnership