Statement by TUV Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Timothy Gaston:
“It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome the Northern Ireland Open, which is once again due to tee-off in Ballymena.
“As this European Challenge Tour returns to Galgorm Castle Golf Club it is a wonderful opportunity to show, yet again, that Northern Ireland has the best golf courses in the world. With 35,000 spectators expected to hit the fairways, there is great potential for local business and tourism to get a boost.
“Mid and East Antrim Borough has a great tourism offering, and as Deputy Mayor I am glad that the NI Open is yet another major driver for crowds to flock to our Borough
“The golf tournament itself will showcase many professional golfers, but also give us the chance to catch a glimpse of some stars of the future. Book your ticket and come along.
“In addition to the top quality golf, I’m pleased to see the popular food village and children’s activities return. This helps make the entire event one of the highlights of the local sporting Calendar, and shows once again that Mid and East Antrim is on a par to deliver top quality entertainment for all the family.”