Estonian Golf Association and Infortar Bring a Professional Golf Tour to Estonia

Next summer, the Estonian Golf Association will host a stage of the European professional golf series – the HotelPlanner Tour – titled the Infortar Estonian Challenge at the Estonian Golf & Country Club in Jõelähtme. The prize fund of the tournament will reach a record-breaking €300,000, the largest for any sporting event in Estonia, with the winner receiving a €48,000 cheque.

According to Ain Hanschmidt, President of the Estonian Golf Association, bringing a professional golf tournament to Estonia marks a significant milestone in the development of the sport. “For Estonian national team golfers, this represents an open door to the professional world; for golf fans, it’s a chance to experience top-level golf up close; and for Estonian sports, it adds a new high-profile international event alongside WRC Delfi Rally Estonia, the Swedbank Tallinn Marathon, and Ironman – all of which help raise our country’s and players’ visibility,” said Hanschmidt.

“Estonia will become the 52nd country in the history of the tour to host a HotelPlanner Tour stage and the first new host nation since 2020. We expect 156 top players from around the world, including both rising stars and golfers who have already earned millions during their careers,” said Sam Townend, Chairman of the HotelPlanner Tour.

The Estonian Golf Association has signed a three-year agreement with the European Tour Group to host the event. The total cost of organizing the three stages will exceed €1.5 million. The tournament’s main sponsor is Infortar, one of the region’s largest companies. In addition, support comes from the Estonian national golf team’s sponsor club, which includes 30 companies and private supporters. The first Infortar Estonian Challenge will take place from July 30 to August 2, 2026, on the Sea Course of the Estonian Golf & Country Club (EGCC), one of the most acclaimed golf courses in the Baltics.

According to Hanno Kross, CEO of the Estonian Golf & Country Club, it is no coincidence that the professional tournament will be played in Jõelähtme over the next two years. “Since our founding twenty years ago, we have worked closely with the European Tour to bring world-class know-how to Estonia, both in developing the sport and managing golf courses. Hosting top-tier tournaments has always been central to our strategy – we’ve already hosted seven different European Championships on the Sea Course. It is a great honor that the European Tour and the Estonian Golf Association have chosen us from among all Estonian courses to offer professionals a venue that is both beautiful and challenging,” said Kross.

Hosting the stage grants the Estonian Golf Association 50 entry cards, which can be exchanged with other tournament organizers. This gives Estonian national players the opportunity to begin their professional careers from the second tier of European professional golf.

The HotelPlanner Tour, formerly known as the Challenge Tour, is the second-tier European professional golf circuit, held since 1989. It has served as a springboard for golfers aspiring to reach the world’s elite – the top 20 players of each season advance to the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour). To date, 231 former HotelPlanner Tour players have gone on to win 618 tournaments on the DP World Tour.

The 2026 HotelPlanner Tour season will begin in January in South Africa and conclude with the final event in Mallorca. The upcoming season will feature up to 30 tournaments in at least 20 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Over the years, the HotelPlanner Tour has been a launchpad for many of the world’s top golfers. Among its alumni are eight major champions – Michael Campbell, Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka, and Matt Fitzpatrick. In 2011, Martin Kaymer became the first graduate of the tour to reach World No. 1. Additionally, 35 former HotelPlanner Tour players have represented teams in the Ryder Cup. The most recent European team to win the Cup included six players who began their rise to the top of professional golf through the HotelPlanner Tour.

The Estonian Golf Association (EGA) is the umbrella organization for Estonian golf, uniting the country’s golf clubs and courses. Its mission is to promote and coordinate the development of golf in Estonia, represent its members’ interests in public and in relations with other Estonian and international sports organizations.

Infortar operates in seven countries, with main business areas in marine transport, energy, and real estate. The company holds a 68.5% stake in AS Tallink Grupp, 100% ownership of AS Elenger Grupp, and manages a diverse and modern real estate portfolio of approximately 141,000 m². In addition to its core business areas, Infortar is also active in construction and mining, agriculture, printing, and other sectors. In total, the Infortar Group includes 110 companies and employs 6,866 people, excluding affiliated enterprises.