BMW International Open 2019 on new greens at the Golfclub München Eichenried.

  • Germany’s most prestigious pro golf event all set for the future.

    Munich. For the next four years, the BMW International Open
    will be back at the Golfclub München Eichenried. The renovation of
    the 18 greens on the Championship Course is closely linked to the
    decision on location made by tournament organiser BMW. This will
    make the course fit for the future. The golf stars will compete
    against one another on the new greens from June 2019. BMW and the
    European Tour are monitoring the restructuring process.

    “The BMW International Open has operated at the highest
    standards in all areas for 30 years,” said Christian Masanz, Head of
    BMW Golfsport Marketing. “The renewal of the greens on the
    Championship Course ahead of next year’s tournament emphasises this
    once again. Together with the GC München Eichenried, we are
    providing the professionals and the European Tour with the ideal
    golf course. This ensures that the BMW International Open will
    continue to remain competitive and attractive when compared to new
    tournament locations.”

    Wolfgang Michel, Managing Director of the Golfclub München
    Eichenried, adds: “We are delighted that Eichenried will be the
    venue for the most prestigious international golf tournament on
    German soil for the next four years. That is a great message for our
    club. Our connection to BMW has represented a very long,
    professional partnership since the BMW International Open took place
    in Eichenried for the first time in 1989. We are very grateful to
    BMW for all the support the company has provided over many years,
    allowing us to continually improve the course and the facilities.”

    The next improvement is already in full swing, namely the
    renovation of all 30 greens on the course. “We are receiving
    fantastic support from BMW. We worked together with European Tour
    experts on the renovation concept. That is the main reason why the
    restruction of the 18 holes on the Championship Course is
    progressing more quickly than originally planned. This will be
    completed in spring 2019, ensuring ideal conditions for the BMW
    International Open,” said Michel.

    The old turf-bearing layer barely allowed any water to
    permeate, so this is being replaced to meet the requirements for
    modern greens. Around half of the greens will get new drainage. This
    is not required everywhere, thanks to the permeable gravelly soil at
    the GC München Eichenried. From July onwards, specialist Marc van de
    Looy will sow the new grass mixture, “Creeping Bent Grass”, on holes
    one to nine on the Championship Course. The greens on holes ten to
    18 will get new turf after the end of the 2018 season which has been
    growing on special subsoil in the turf centre at Eichenried since
    the summer of 2017.

    Head Greenkeeper Andrew Kelly regularly meets Graeme MacNiven,
    Senior Green-keeping Consultant for the European Tour and involved
    in construction of the golf course back in 1988, to discuss the
    renovations. For the European Tour, it is particularly important
    that the undulations remain unchanged – this is what makes the
    greens fast and attractive. To allow play to continue while works
    are in progress on the front nine from July 2018, the GC München
    Eichenried has already laid greens around 30 metres in front of the
    those to be renovated. These are at almost the same distance from
    the championship tees as the standard tees. The German Golf
    Association has re-rated this temporary modification to ensure that
    the holes continue to be suitable for tournament play. Members and
    guests can carry on golfing without any loss of distance and course
    operations will not be affected by the reconstruction work. The
    remaining ten holes on the course will be renovated after the end of
    the 2019 season.