The Estonian Golf & Country Club To Host Estonian Amateur Open 2009

[Newsroom]

The Estonian Golf & Country Club has once again been chosen to host the largest international golf tournament in the Baltic States: the Estonian Amateur Open 2009 by KPMG.

The event, held on July 24-26, is going to be largest yet, with 144 contestants from more than 20 different countries competing.
The Estonian Amateur Open 2009 by KPMG, is the only golf tournament in Estonia which belongs to the European Golf Association competition calendar, and the list of World Amateur Golf Ranking wagr.randa.org tournaments, where contestants can gain points towards world rankings.

Invitation to the tournament is extended through the European Golf Association to more than four million golfers. Registration for the tournament commences on April 21, and ends June 30, 2009.
For the third consecutive year, the competition will take place at the Estonian Golf and Country Club (EGCG), Eastern Europe’s only European PGA Tour course.

As a highly-regarded tournament with a reputation for outstanding organisation, this year’s major sponsor is global financial-giants KPMG, whose support will ensure the continuation of the tournament’s success.
Mait Schmidt, president of the EGCC, said: “Golf is the biggest sporting attraction for tourists to Estonia, and brings more people into the country than any other sport. Last year 6,500 foreigners travelled to the Estonian Golf & Country club alone.

“Golf tourists generally stay in Estonia for three to four days, in which time they spend nearly six times more money than the average tourist. This is why the Estonian Amateur Open 2009 by KPMG has such a remarkable influence on Estonian tourism.”

Andris Jegers, chairman of the board of KPMG Baltics, said: “More than 100 million people in the world play golf, and it is a great pleasure to contribute to the development of Estonian golf by organising an international tournament.

“KPMG has conducted research into the international golf market and golf businesses for many years through Golf Benchmark golfbenchmark.com , which supports one of the world’s best players, Phil Mickelson, and organises a worldwide golf business conference, the Golf Business Forum golfbusinessforum.com

“Sponsorship of the Baltic countries’ biggest golf tournament fits well with the KPMG policy to promote golf all over the world.”

In 2008, 116 contestants from 18 countries competed in the fifth Estonian Amateur Open by Floorin. The men’s tournament was won by Claas-Eric Borges, from Germany. Mark Suursalu and Paul Põhi were the best ranked Estonians, sharing fourth place.

The women’s tournament was won by Satu Harju from Finland. Annika Meos was the best of the Estonians, finishing in sixth place.