The Bankia Madrid Masters will take place at El Encín Golf Hotel in Alcalá de Henares for the first time on October 6-9, under the title sponsorship of the Community of Madrid and Bankia, with the support of the Madrid Golf Federation.
For the fourth successive year, GFC Golf & Business, presided over by four-time European Tour winner Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, will be in charge of the organisation and promotion of the Bankia Madrid Masters.
The past winners of the prestigious event include 2011 Masters Tournament Champion Charl Schwartzel, who won at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in 2008, Englishman Ross McGowan at Centro Nacional de Golf in 2009 and World Number One Luke Donald at Real Sociedad Hípica Española Club de Campo in 2010.
Fernández-Castaño said he is hoping to attract an illustrious field to battle it out for the €1,000,000 prize fund.
He said: “As in previous editions, I will try to attract the best players to Madrid. I know I can count on my friends to support this tournament, and I will be happy to welcome top players such as Martin Kaymer, the Molinaris or Luke Donald… and all the Spaniards, of course!”
“The first four editions of the Bankia Madrid Masters have been a huge achievement – we are proud to have come such a long way.
“I wish to thank the Community of Madrid and Bankia for their longstanding commitment to golf, as well as the Madrid Federation, who have been ever so supportive.
“El Encín Golf Hotel, the venue of the Bankia Madrid Masters, is a typical Robert Von Hagge design with very good facilities. Everybody at the club is working hard for a successful tournament.
“I played the course a few days ago and found it in top condition. It’s a great course, featuring undulating greens and superb bunkering.”
Joaquín Molpeceres, President of El Encín Golf Hotel, said: “We are thrilled at the idea of hosting the Bankia Madrid Masters, which was one of our goals when we built this course. I am sure that the players will find the hotel very convenient, and we shall certainly do our best to make them feel at home.
“El Encín is a long championship course, but with six different sets of tees it caters to golfers at every level. I believe the club is doing a great job preparing the course, and I am fully confident that the players will like it.”
El Encín Golf Hotel, which opened just last March, is located in the outskirts of the historic village of Alcalá de Henares, 34k north east of Madrid, and is overlooked by the stunning mountains of the Santos del la Humosa region.
