PressClub Global · Article.
BMW International Open 2019 on new greens at the Golfclub München Eichenried.
Tue Apr 10 11:20:00 CEST 2018 Press Release
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For the next four years, the BMW International Open will be back at the Golfclub München Eichenried. The renovation of the 18 greens on the Championship Course is closely linked to the decision on location made by tournament organiser BMW. This will make the course fit for the future. The golf stars will compete against one another on the new greens from June 2019. BMW and the European Tour are monitoring the restructuring process.
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From 2019 onwards, the BMW International Open will be held
at the Golfclub München Eichenried.
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Ideal conditions for the future of the iconic tournament:
Championship Course will be played on new greens next year.
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Germany’s most prestigious pro golf event all set for the future.
Munich. For the next four years, the BMW International Open will be back at the Golfclub München Eichenried. The renovation of the 18 greens on the Championship Course is closely linked to the decision on location made by tournament organiser BMW. This will make the course fit for the future. The golf stars will compete against one another on the new greens from June 2019. BMW and the European Tour are monitoring the restructuring process.
“The BMW International Open has operated at the highest standards in all areas for 30 years,” said Christian Masanz, Head of BMW Golfsport Marketing. “The renewal of the greens on the Championship Course ahead of next year’s tournament emphasises this once again. Together with the GC München Eichenried, we are providing the professionals and the European Tour with the ideal golf course. This ensures that the BMW International Open will continue to remain competitive and attractive when compared to new tournament locations.”
Wolfgang Michel, Managing Director of the Golfclub München Eichenried, adds: “We are delighted that Eichenried will be the venue for the most prestigious international golf tournament on German soil for the next four years. That is a great message for our club. Our connection to BMW has represented a very long, professional partnership since the BMW International Open took place in Eichenried for the first time in 1989. We are very grateful to BMW for all the support the company has provided over many years, allowing us to continually improve the course and the facilities.”
The next improvement is already in full swing, namely the renovation of all 30 greens on the course. “We are receiving fantastic support from BMW. We worked together with European Tour experts on the renovation concept. That is the main reason why the restruction of the 18 holes on the Championship Course is progressing more quickly than originally planned. This will be completed in spring 2019, ensuring ideal conditions for the BMW International Open,” said Michel.
The old turf-bearing layer barely allowed any water to permeate, so this is being replaced to meet the requirements for modern greens. Around half of the greens will get new drainage. This is not required everywhere, thanks to the permeable gravelly soil at the GC München Eichenried. From July onwards, specialist Marc van de Looy will sow the new grass mixture, “Creeping Bent Grass”, on holes one to nine on the Championship Course. The greens on holes ten to 18 will get new turf after the end of the 2018 season which has been growing on special subsoil in the turf centre at Eichenried since the summer of 2017.
Head Greenkeeper Andrew Kelly regularly meets Graeme MacNiven, Senior Green-keeping Consultant for the European Tour and involved in construction of the golf course back in 1988, to discuss the renovations. For the European Tour, it is particularly important that the undulations remain unchanged – this is what makes the greens fast and attractive. To allow play to continue while works are in progress on the front nine from July 2018, the GC München Eichenried has already laid greens around 30 metres in front of the those to be renovated. These are at almost the same distance from the championship tees as the standard tees. The German Golf Association has re-rated this temporary modification to ensure that the holes continue to be suitable for tournament play. Members and guests can carry on golfing without any loss of distance and course operations will not be affected by the reconstruction work. The remaining ten holes on the course will be renovated after the end of the 2019 season.