THE Manx Golf Classic has established itself as one of the biggest and most enduring
Pro-Ams in the British Isles since it was instigated over 20 years ago.

The first event was held in 1981 when it was sponsored by British Coal, The Isle of Man Tourist Board and The Palace Group.  This combination supported the event for 3 years.

The tournament didn’t take place in 1984 and 1985 but was resurrected in 1986 and has remained a fixture on the calendar ever since.  A combination of The IOM Tourist Board, Manx Airlines and The Palace Group were the sponsors in ’86 and the original three sponsors took over again in 1987 for two years.

In 1989 and 1990 British Coal were the sole sponsors and the event entered a new phase when Bradford & Bingley signed up in 1991 for 10 years.

Following the final Bradford & Bingley event in 2000 HSBC Bank plc stepped in and took title sponsorship for 3 years.   Unfortunately the event was held in abeyance in 2004 and 2005.
 
The combination of 50-plus four-man teams, headed by leading professionals from the PGA North Region and several European Tour players, an outstanding championship links course at Castletown and traditional Manx hospitality has ensured the event's continuing success.

Its popularity is such that there is invariably a waiting list of teams and the professionals also make it a must date in their diaries at the start of the golfing year.

Derrick Cooper, Richard Boxall, Gordon Brand, Denis Durnian and a host of other Tour players regularly feature in the event which is held in such esteem that reports and results are carried by national and regional newspapers, Teletext and are transmitted throughout the competition by local radio stations.