First-Class Golf at the Third "Credit Suisse Challenge"

The Challenge tournament is a key element in Credit Suisse’s endeavors to promote Swiss golf.

Zurich.-Credit Suisse has attached great importance to the sport of golf for a number of years. This is why the bank supports the Credit Suisse Challenge, which is being held for the third time at the Wylihof Golf Club from July 10 to July 13. The title sponsorship underscores Credit Suisse’s commitment to Switzerland’s golfers as they make the progression from amateur to professional status. As the only open Challenge Tour event in Switzerland, this tournament gives players an opportunity to gain important experience, and secure their entry ticket to the European Tour.

The third Credit Suisse Challenge will be hosted at the Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, Canton Solothurn from July 10 to 13, 2008. Offering prize money of 140,000 euros, the tournament allows Swiss pros to showcase their talent and gives the top six amateurs the opportunity to get a taste of international competition at a high level. The ambitious players benefit from this not just in the short term, but also over the long term. The Swiss Golf Association (ASG), and the Swiss PGA, the umbrella organization of Swiss golf professionals, which are joining forces as patrons and organizers for the first time, have more than 50 starting spots, 35 of which are exchanged with foreign organizers of Challenge Tour events. This gives top Swiss players the vital opportunity to gain entry into tournaments abroad.

Spotlight on Promoting Young Talent
In the golfing arena, as with Credit Suisse’s other sponsorship commitments, great value has been placed on fostering young talent for some years now. “Promoting the most gifted players is very important to us. This tournament, which we have supported as title sponsor since its inception, offers an ideal platform to both the top amateurs as well as promising professionals,” says Sandra Caviezel, Head of Sponsorship at Private Banking with Credit Suisse. For Caviezel, another plus point is the fact that the event is organized by both the ASG and the Swiss PGA. “I’m pleased that we can now host the Challenge together with two long-time partners.”

Credit Suisse Is Committed to Swiss Golf - From the Grassroots All the Way to the Top
To enable Swiss hopefuls to successfully launch careers as young professionals, Credit Suisse’s longstanding and comprehensive commitment provides ongoing support for the sport, from the grassroots right up to the golfing elite. That’s why, as main sponsor of the Swiss Golf Foundation, the bank has supported the national elite since 1992, and has promoted the sport at junior and grassroots levels as partner of the Swiss Golf Association since 1999. In addition, Credit Suisse is the main sponsor of the Swiss PGA, the umbrella association of Swiss golf professionals. The bank’s sponsorship portfolio also includes firm fixtures such as the Omega European Masters in Crans Montana and the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, in addition to various smaller and larger pro-am tournaments both in Switzerland and abroad.