The Ladies European Tour is delighted to announce that the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters will be played at the prestigious Golf Club Hubbelrath on 8-11 September 2016.
The 2015 Solheim Cup emphasised the enormous appetite for women’s professional golf in Germany and Ladies European Tour Chief Executive Ivan Khodabakshsh is thrilled to be taking the LET’s showcase tournament to the most important sports market in Europe.
“Following the tremendous success of The 2015 Solheim Cup, which emphasised the passion and enthusiasm that the German people have for women’s golf, this is a fantastic opportunity to carry that momentum forward as we continue to build the event following golf’s return to the Olympic Games in August,” he said.
“The ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters has become the highlight of our calendar and with the support of our title sponsor ISPS HANDA, our TV production partner U.COM, who are based in Düsseldorf and Golf Club Hubbelrath’s commitment to growing the game, we have strong partners who share our vision for the development of golf.”
On behalf of the title sponsor, ISPS HANDA, Executive Director of International Affairs Midori Miyazaki commented: “We are extremely delighted that the Ladies European Tour’s showcase tournament, the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters, is moving to Golf Club Hubbelrath in Düsseldorf. With ISPS HANDA’s heritage in supporting blind and disabled golf and the location of the venue, so close to the International Paralympic Committee Headquarters, the tournament will provide the perfect platform to promote our wider mission for golf to become a Paralympic sport.”
U.COM Event GmbH will be the Event Promoter and Managing Director Dirk Glittenberg said: “As a long term partner of the Ladies European Tour, we have always held the ambition of bringing an event to Düsseldorf and we saw a great opportunity with the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters. We look forward to welcoming the world’s best women golfers to a sensational club in our home city.”
Golf Club Hubbelrath is well equipped to stage an event of considerable magnitude having held eight German Opens from 1973-1994 and three consecutive Ladies European Tour tournaments from 1988-1990, when Sweden’s Liselotte Neumann won the 1988 BMW Ladies Open, before Marie-Laure de Lorenzi and Diane Barnard captured the BMW Ladies’ Classic in 1989 and 1990 respectively.
On behalf of the club, Christian Sommer, Executive Board Member for Sports, Golf Club Hubbelrath, commented: “Golf Club Hubbelrath is committed to competitive golf both on the amateur as well as on the professional side of the game and has been for several decades. This has been demonstrated with the hosting of several German Open and Ladies German Open championships. The ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters is a wonderful opportunity to continue with this tradition and to present our challenging championship course to an international audience.”
The club has a proud history of developing elite female talent, including Ladies European Tour members Caroline Masson and Sandra Gal, who both represented Europe in The 2015 Solheim Cup in Germany. Both Masson and Gal intend to play in the tournament at their home club following an appearance in the Rio Olympic Games.
Jörg Schlockermann, Executive Board Member, Communications and Golf Development, Deutscher Golf Verband, said: “I am delighted that once again there will be a Ladies European Tour event in Germany: The ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters. Right now, with golf back in the Olympic family, it is particularly important to use the momentum to show golf in Germany on a broad scale. Women’s golf is in an upswing situation and we expect that, beyond Caro Masson and Sandra Gal, in the near future more German ladies will rise into the absolute European and world lead. Ladies’ golf is very popular in Germany, with women and girls representing 35 per cent of golfers, which is as high as in any other European country. The ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters will be a great opportunity, especially for the next generation to show their talents. Besides ISPS HANDA, we have some very strong partners, such as the Allianz group, who will be supporting the event. I am convinced that with this tournament again, a German tournament will be inherent on the calendar of the LET.”
Manfred Boschatzke, Head of Advertisement & Sponsoring, Allianz Deutschland AG, commented: “The 2015 Solheim Cup at the St. Leon-Rot Golf Club had more than 60,000 visitors and reached several more thousand golf fans via digital and offline channels. Each and every one of them were delighted with this wonderful event. We are very happy to say that this success story will continue in 2016 at GC Hubbelrath and that we will be a part of this tournament.”
The 500,000 euro ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters is the best event for fans to connect with the Ladies European Tour players and be inspired by their exceptional skills and talents in an event designed for all the family. Following the last three editions of the tournament in London, there will be an even more exciting on-site entertainment programme along with live television coverage in more than 300 million households worldwide.
About ISPS HANDA:
ISPS is a ‘General Incorporated Association’ based in Tokyo. ISPS was founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa in 2006 to support charitable causes throughout the sporting world. ISPS’s support for golf is founded in its belief in the “power of sport” and it has fostered partnerships with golf governing bodies worldwide to help develop the game at every level and promote blind and disabled golf. ISPS’s heritage in supporting blind and disabled golf and Dr Handa’s interest and philanthropic contribution in golf has formed the foundation of its wider mission for golf to become a Paralympic sport.
Outside of golf, ISPS’s support extends to other sports including rowing, football, polo, bowling and the convening of discussion platforms for young leaders in sports. More information: ispsgolf.com Twitter: @ISPSGolf
About the Ladies European Tour:
With 315 world-class players from 42 different countries who inspire fans at more than 20 golf tournaments on five continents, the Ladies European Tour is truly global and showcases each country it visits to a global audience, driving inbound tourism with increased television coverage and live broadcasts. At each event, it’s not just about the swing – it’s about a day that goes with a swing. A big day out with fun entertainment and a festival atmosphere set in beautiful scenery. We aim to captivate and excite, but we don’t just appear and leave – we aim to create a legacy. We are ‘more than just a Golf Tour.” With the Olympic Games on the horizon, the Tour has taken on special significance for players from a multitude of countries who aim to qualify when golf returns to the programme this summer after a 112-year absence. More information: ladieseuropeantour.com Twitter: @LETgolf
About Golf Club Hubbelrath:
Golf Club Hubbelrath was founded in 1961 and is renowned as one Germany’s finest courses. The European Tour’s German Open was hosted by the club on eight occasions from 1973-1994 while the venue also hosted the Ladies European Tour for three consecutive years from 1988-1990. The picturesque course is full of character and the hilly terrain will provide players with a challenging test. The majority of holes offer risk-reward strategies that will ensure a thrilling tournament.
About U.COM Media GmbH:
U.COM Media is a German PR- and TV Agency based in the city of Düsseldorf. With more than eighteen years of experience in the sports and media industry, U.COM Media can offer a service that will create an added edge to any event.
The U.COM network and experience is ranging from strategy consulting, TV rights management to full TV live productions, news distribution, branded content production and new media solutions. In 2015 U.COM Media did events in 23 countries and on 750 production days to deliver live, highlight, news and social media content and produced more than 500 news services for global sports tours, brands and clients with a global distribution and a household reach with more than one billion households.
About U.COM Event GmbH:
U.COM Event is a full-service agency. Since 2001, U.COM Event has established client services starting with conception and development, distribution of invitations, running and documenting the project. U.COM’s primary goal is to help clients develop promotions, implement incentive programs and events.
