The organisers of the Spanish Open golf tournament, to be held from 14 to 17 May at the Real Club de Golf El Prat, estimate that the event will generate an economic impact of €54 million, a figure comparable to the business done in Jerez last weekend during the fourth round of the Moto GP championship. Federico Montllonch, president of RCG El Prat, notes that “golf is a source of quality tourism for Catalonia and Spain, and has ceased to be seasonal.”
At the presentation of the tournament, which was held at the College of Economists of Catalonia, Albert Duran, president of the Catalan Golf Federation, revealed that “more than 500 hotel rooms have already been booked in Barcelona and in Terrassa, where the course is.” The Golf El Prat will allocate a budget of €3.5 million for the tournament, mostly generated from sponsors, contributions from public administrations and tickets sales, with prices ranging from €12 for a day pass to €40 for a weekly pass. There will be €1.5 million in prize money, which will come from the coffers of the Spanish Golf Federation.
The tournament organisers yesterday launched the promotional video ‘Match Golf in Barcelona’ which stars golfer Sergio Garcia, Rafael Nadal and Johan Cruyff. In the video, which was shot in Barcelona, Sergio Garcia challenges his two friends to hit balls around some of the most emblematic streets and buildings of the city, creating a game full of mutual understanding.
