The European Tour is to reprise the GolfSixes event held at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire in 2017, with the short-format tournament to be staged once again at the Hemel Hempstead-based venue from May-5-6.
Last year’s event saw two-man teams representing 16 different countries take part over two days of greensomes match play competition, with each nation being represented by its leading ranked European Tour member, and joined by a compatriot of his choosing from the European Tour. Teams were split into four groups of four, before the top two teams from each group progressed to the knockout stages. Each match was played over six holes, with teams picking up three points for a win and one point for a draw.
In order to place an emphasis on fast play, players were allowed just 40 seconds to take a shot, with a large portable shot clock following the players around the course to remind them of the need for speed.
Although last year’s event was unsponsored, there was a prize fund of €1 million up for grabs, with the Danish pairing of Thorbjorn Olesen and Lucas Bjerregaard taking the inaugural title after beating Australia’s Scott Hend and Sam Brazel 3-1 in the final. Around 10,000 fans attended the event, which is to be widened out this year to include a new junior tournament.
Nathan Homer, commercial and marketing officer of the European Tour, said: “GolfSixes combines the camaraderie and intrigue of team golf with the drama and intensity of a shorter format. The players love it, and the fans enjoy the different, more entertaining atmosphere. Last year we tested the concept and this year we will dial up the fan engagement still further.
“Golf needs a route for younger fans, groups of adults and families to get involved. We know that GolfSixes appeals to those audiences while still offering something to our die-hard fans. We have to keep innovating in order to grow our appeal and the statistics suggest GolfSixes can have a powerful presence in the golfing calendar.”
The GolfSixes Festival will see the return of the hugely successful shot clock and a fan zone in the middle of the tournament course, as well as a junior event and will also offer the opportunity for amateurs to compete alongside the professionals over the weekend.
Homer concluded: “GolfSixes is still in the early stages of its development, but the combination of player feedback and tournament data suggests it is here to stay. Innovation is vital for golf to continue to grow its fan base and we look forward to seeing how the next iteration of GolfSixes will support that goal.”
Scott Evans, Centurion Club’s managing director, said: “We’re hugely excited to be part of this innovation in the game, helping to influence and shape the future of golf. As the venue last year we received terrific feedback from spectators and players alike, so building on this success is incredibly important to us. From our golf course to the facilities on offer, we’re committed to being the perfect stage for this revolutionary golf concept.”
Tickets to see the action will be available to purchase at www.golfsixes.com/tickets, although they are currently not yet on sale. Both days’ play will be shown live on Sky Sports.