There's a new golf event coming to town...

This year will see a new addition to the European Senior Tour for 2017, the inaugural Farmfoods European Senior Masters. The three-day event looks certain to attract the biggest and best players from the tour to the scenic Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Birmingham.

Taking place between 20-22 October 2017, the event is
the penultimate of a gruelling 15 round season, and plays an important role in deciding who will feature in the season ending MCB Tour Championships in Mauritius. The course will test every experienced participant’s golfing credentials, rewarding the winner with an impressive €50,000 first prize.

The Farmfoods European Senior Masters will bring with it a fresh challenge, something that is sure to thrill both amateurs and professional alike. Former Ryder Cup Captains Paul McGinley and José María Olazábal, both now 50 years old are eligible to play, as is former Ryder Cup and 3-time European tour winner player Peter Baker who will be the official event host, playing in his first European Senior Tour event. Other professionals currently entered include Champions very

own British Senior Open Champion Paul Broadhurst, three time European Senior Tour winner Gary Wolstenholme MBE, European Tour winners David Gilford, Barry Lane, Costantino Rocca, Jarmo Sandelin, Order of Merit winner Paul Wesselingh and two time Senior Major champion Roger Chapman*.

2016 Order of Merit Champion and proud Midlander, Paul Broadhurst, will be looking to continue his fine form from last year with a win on home turf.

The Forest of Arden is a fitting stage to host such an illustrious event. With its two courses, the Arden (the Championship course) and the Aylesford, it has hosted the British Masters on five occassions, with past winners including Barry Lane, Colin Montgomerie and 2018 European Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn gracing the greens.

With a breath-taking backdrop of tall oak trees along the back nine, beauty hides the tough challenge of the lush, yet testing rough, before climaxing on the immaculately maintained putting greens. While it may not have hosted an event as significant as the Farmfoods European Senior Masters for a number of years, the world-renowned hotel and golf resort is more than ready to re-make its mark in professional tour golf.

Brand agency Champions (UK) plc are bringing its knowhow
to the organisation of the event, with the experience of successfully hosting the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall for the last 10 years. As title sponsor, national frozen food specialist Farmfoods brings its reputation of quality and class to the event, continuing a fruitful partnership with Champions in the world of professional golf.

Together, the pair have revitalised the British Par 3 Championship, seeing Sky Sports secured as a media partner, with coverage broadcast across their platforms as well as 10,000 spectators passing through the tournament gates. Stars such as Masters champion Danny Willett and the multiple European Tour winner Tommy Fleetwood appeared at the tournament, alongside established legends Costantino Rocca, former Open champion Paul Lawrie OBE and tournament host, the one and only Tony Jacklin CBE.

Thursday 19th October – Pro-Am

To kick off the Farmfoods European Senior Masters the event starts with a traditional Pro-Am. Here 24 teams made up of three amateurs and a European Senior Tour professional take to the Championship course for 18 holes of fun followed by a presentation, including dinner and entertainment in the evening to round the day off.

Friday 20th – Saturday 21st October – Alliance

On to the main event. In the Alliance one amateur partners one of the 54 professionals as they compete over two days and two rounds in a team competition. However this also ends the first two days of the Farmfoods European Senior Masters for the professionals who will be recording their own scores in pursuit of the inaugural championship title.

Sunday 22nd October – Professional shoot out

On the final day the 54 professionals play in three balls without amateurs with their score combined with their previous two rounds to eventually crown the Farmfoods European Senior Masters Champion.

David MacLaren, Head of the European Senior Tour, said: “We are delighted to add the Farmfoods European Senior Masters to the schedule. When we initially met with Champions we were highly impressed with what they have achieved at the Par 3 Championship and look forward to establishing a world class event with them long into the future.”

Players to watch at the 2017 Farmfoods European Senior Masters: