The International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), the premier global event for golf tourism suppliers, buyers and media, opened in Belek, Antalya, Turkey.

Antalya / NationalTurk – More than 1,200 delegates from 60 countries are attending the four-day event in Antalya, Turkey, one of the fastest growing and most successful emerging golf destinations in the world.

What is especially exciting about this year’s event is the ratio between destinations, resorts and tour operators,” said Peter Grimster, IGTM Exhibition Manager.

Turkey : Antalya Belek is getting a highly anticipated Golf destination

‘There is a high quality match that we believe will lead to a large volume of business being agreed, which is the specific objective of IGTM.’

MARRIOTT St Pierre Hotel & Country Club captain Alan Beach hopes jet-setting PGA professional Craig Dun’s experience will make all the difference at the final of The Lombard Challenge in Turkey. Beach and Dun will represent Wales at the PGA Pro-Captain Tournament after winning their qualifier on their home course in Chepstow last August.

They will face nine other clubs from across the UK in the £25,000 event being staged over 36-holes at the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club from November 25-26. Dun has been there before finishing joint second in the 2008 final staged in Bahrain and Beach hopes that experience will count in their favour.

Beach said: ‘Craig’s has been there and done it so to speak so I hope that will make a bit of a difference because that sort of experience could be invaluable. I don’t think we can make any predictions but I think the course might favour the amateur players with lower handicaps. I play off seven and I’m a tempo player, so I hope that will give us a chance of doing well.’

Beach and Dun going in search of some Turkish delight in Lombard final in Antalya

‘We’re feeling quite positive; Craig is playing more at the moment because he was out for a time after injuring himself when he fell off his road bike.’ he continued.

Beach admitted that the final comes at a busy time for Dun, who will be getting plenty of air travel under his belt.

‘The course doesn’t look that long but I think it’ll be challenging and a real test for us. It will be the amateur players who will decide the way it goes. You can always guess how well the professionals will do, but it’s more difficult to judge the captains in advance.’

For Lombard meanwhile, the PGA Pro-Captain event has been a welcome return to golf following their long association with the PGA National Pro-Am Championship.

Golf Pga Tour presents Lombard Challenge in Turkey

As managing director Alexander Baldock explained: “Having previously enjoyed a very successful relationship with the PGA in sponsoring the PGA National Pro-Am we were confident that partnering with the PGA to present The Lombard Challenge, a PGA Pro-Captain Tournament, would be an exciting initiative to be part of and one that we are very proud of too – and it has proved just that!

‘We have seen a great deal of golfing entertainment over the qualifiers and now we look forward to heading off to the finals in Antalya to watch the pros and captains from around the UK battle it out to become this year’s champions.’

IGTM 2011 opened with an address from Abdullah Arici, Vice President of Turkey’s Ministry of Tourism, as well as representatives of organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions and Peter Walton, President of IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators), IGTM’s show partner.

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