The recent announcement of Kiawah Island
Golf Resort’s Ocean Course as the host for the 94th PGA Championship, adds
Kiawah Island to the prestigious list of courses represented by Preferred
Hotels & Resorts that host the world’s top professional events. The
announcement also underscores the quality and excellence represented by
Preferred’s masterfully designed golf courses from the games’ birthplace in
Scotland and classic courses in Ireland to stunning destinations in the United
States and throughout the world.Many of the golf courses under Preferred’s umbrella have hosted several
professional tournaments with more slated for the future.  The Kiawah Island
Ocean Course, for example, will be only the fourth course to host each of The
PGA of America’s major championships—the Ryder Cup (1991), the Senior PGA
Championship (2007), the PGA Championship (2012).
  Preferred’s Pebble Beach Resorts also recently announced that Pebble Beach
Golf Links will once again host the championship in 2010, marking the fifth
time in the course’s history.  With this course in combination with Spyglass
Hill Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay and Del Monte Golf Course, the
resort also annually hosts The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, The Calloway
Golf Pebble Beach Invitational, and the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble
Beach.
  The Kildare Hotel & Country Club—The K Club—in Straffan, Ireland
will play host to the 2006 international Ryder Cup match, where The European
Open, The Smurfit Irish Professional Championship and the PGA Cup have also
been held.  In nearby County Laois, Seve Ballesteros will host the Irish PGA’s
Heritage Challenge on the Heritage Course of his own design at The Heritage at
Killenard.
    Preferred’s championship courses extend beyond Europe and the U.S. In
2003, The President’s Cup was held in Africa and the venue was Preferred’s
Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate.  The President’s Cup matches the talent
of the top twelve U.S. golfers against the top twelve golfers from the rest of
the world, excluding Europe.
    Hosting these premier events not only means world champions playing the
course, but also designing them.  Such as Turtle Bay Resort’s course designed
by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, where the PGA’s Champion’s Tour holds the Turtle
Bay Championship and the LPGA holds the SBS Open.  The legendary architect
Pete Dye is behind the River Course at Kingsmill Resort & Spa which is
currently home to the LPGA Tour’s Michelob ULTRA Open.
——-