Alternative Challenge Tour season review
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As the year draws to a close, we look back at the 2016 Road to Oman through some of the best behind-the-scenes pictures and videos.
<strong>Barclays Kenya Open</strong>
This year at our season-opening tournament in Nairobi we were treated to an appearance from a special guest…
<strong>Red Sea Egyptian Challenge presented by Hassan Allam Properties</strong>
A month later in Egypt three of our players had fun in the Red Sea.
<strong>Challenge de Madrid </strong>
When arriving at Real Club de Golf la Herreria our players were met by one of the smallest bunkers on Tour.
<strong>Turkish Airlines Challenge </strong>
In preparation for this summer’s Olympic Games three of the Challenge Tour’s finest athletes took part in a range of events in Turkey.
<strong>Montecchia Open by Lyoness</strong>
With The Ryder Cup heading to Rome in 2022, everyone at Golf della Montecchia seemed to be getting very excited about hosting golf’s biggest team event.
<strong>D + D REAL Czech Challenge</strong>
Damien Perrier played phenomenally to win in the Czech Republic, but he had a little help from his girlfriend, and caddie, Marina Rinaldi.
<strong>Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf</strong>
Alexander Knappe didn’t just win his maiden Challenge Tour title on a wet Sunday afternoon in Switzerland, he also lifted one of the most interesting trophies on Tour.
<strong>KPMG Trophy </strong>
It’s not every day that you play in the grounds of a Belgian castle…<strong> </strong>
<strong>Najeti Open</strong>
You would have been forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu when José-Filipe Lima triumphed in France this year.
<strong>SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts</strong>
FootGolf proved to be a popular past time on Europe’s top developmental tour this season, and who better to help guide our boys than Scotland manager Gordon Strachan.
<strong>Made in Denmark Challenge – Presented by Ejner Hessel </strong>
Bernd Ritthammer began his fast track to the European Tour with a win in Denmark in July, but it was all about the speed of the golf buggies at Aalborg GK.
<strong>D + D REAL Slovakia Challenge</strong>
One of the main talking points on the Challenge Tour this year was the par six 15<sup>th</sup>at Penati Golf Resort. Here’s the 783-yard hole in under 30 seconds.
<strong>Fred Olsen Challenge</strong><strong> </strong><strong>de España</strong>
One of the highlights of the season was Nicolo Ravano’s record-breaking score at Tecina Golf. Here’s the scorecard that made history.
<strong>Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge </strong>
Away from the course at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil Francesco Laporta was putting his lob shot skills to the test…
<strong>Tayto Northern Ireland Open in partnership with Ulster Bank</strong>
Wednesdays will never be the same after Niall Horan’s appearance on Pro-Am day at Galgorm Castle.
<strong>Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson</strong>
Jeff Karlsson, who led after three rounds at Kartineholms GK, made quite the impression with his unorthodox swing…
<strong>Vierumaki Finnish Challenge</strong>
Competitors in Finland were given the offer of a lifetime…
<strong>Rolex Trophy</strong>
Although Dylan Frittelli triumphed in Geneva, Damien Perrier was crowned the longest player on the Challenge Tour.
<strong>Bridgestone Challenge</strong>
Spending time relaxing after his round at Heythrop Park Resort, Frittelli showed off his guitar skills.
<strong>Cordon Golf Open</strong>
Jordan Smith showed exactly why he finished the season as Road to Oman Number One with this shot on the French coast.
<strong>Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort</strong>
After the passing of one of Irish golf’s most legendary players earlier this year, Dermot McElroy was awarded the inaugural Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy in Carlow.
<strong>Kazakhstan Open </strong>
Another of golf’s great names, Arnold Palmer, sadly passed away in September. Days after his death we arrived in Almaty at the Arnold Palmer-designed Zhailjau Golf Resort, showing just how much ‘The King’ impacted the game globally.
<strong>Terre dei Consoli Open</strong>
Johan Edfors won his fourth Challenge Tour title in Italy in October – something the Swede seemed fairly happy about<strong>… </strong>
<strong>Hainan Open</strong>
As we arrived in China for a fortnight in the Far East we were met by the sound of wedding bells….
<strong>Foshan Open </strong>
With alumni including Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose we are used to unearthing world-class talent on the Challenge Tour. It appears we may have done so again at this year’s Junior Pro-Am in Foshan.
<strong>Ras Al Khaimah 2016 Golf Challenge</strong>
Joel Sjöholm, Jurrian van der Vaart and Sandro Piaget all met for high tee in Ras Al Khaimah.
<strong>NBO Golf Classic Grand Final</strong>
And finally, we were honoured to have His Excellency, Ahmed bin Nasser bin Hamed Al Mahrizi, Oman’s Minster of Tourism, start this year’s Grand Final.
