Sports Desk 

Colin Montgomerie, Nick Dougherty, and Bernard Gallacher yesterday launched Golf in the City, an exciting new golf event in Canary Wharf, just 8 days before the Ryder Cup tees-off at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher went head-to-head with Nick Dougherty on the floating Par-3 Championship course on Canary Wharf’s South Dock. Dougherty, who is considered to be one of the most promising young players on the tour and a protégé of Nick Faldo, carded a score of 2 under for his round, with Gallacher pushing him all the way with a final score of 1 under.

In yesterday’s windy conditions, the tees and greens proved a great challenge for both Dougherty and Gallacher and needed their full concentration to set the standard for the rest of the week at the top of the leader board.  Golf in the City, Canary Wharf is the world’s first public floating golf course and will be open to members of the public in one of the world’s most prominent business and retail districts until Friday 12th September.

The event is split into two parts; a floating Par-3 Championship course and an official Tented Golf Village. The Championship course incorporates one land-based tee, two floating tees and a sensational PGA standard floating green, all linked together by floating walkways.

The Tented Golf Village in Montgomery Square, Canary Wharf is a great escape for all budding golfers and visitors alike to sample the delights of some of the sport’s most high profile brands. With simulators, putting greens and a bespoke club fitting service, Golf in the City, Canary Wharf is an exhilarating event capturing the imagination of all involved.

The course is open to the public until Friday 12th September. In addition to competing to win the Championship there are a number of other competitions on offer including a £100,000 cash prize or a brand new Aston Martin V8 Roadster awarded to the first player able to secure a hole-in-one at the 120-yard third hole, and daily prizes for the people who hit the longest drive and nearest the pin on the simulator in the tented golf village.

Golf in the City, Canary Wharf is being supported by Nokia and, as no golf course is complete without a clubhouse, the leading mobile communications brand will be providing a Floating Clubhouse.  

Players can relax at the Nokia Floating Clubhouse after a gruelling round on the water and enjoy refreshments whilst watching other golfers tee-off. The Nokia Floating Clubhouse is the official connecting point for the event where players register, meet their caddy and pick up their Nokia E71 – the official handset of, and scorecard for, the Par-3 championship.

Julian Hay, Chief Executive, Golf in the City commented:

“We were thrilled to have Colin Montgomerie, Nick Dougherty and Bernard Gallacher here yesterday to launch Golf in the City, Canary Wharf. Both Nick and Bernard showed that golf on water is not impossible and I’m sure the uniqueness of this event will show it to be a concept that will prove successful on a global scale.”

Colin Montgomerie commented:

“My stress relief is away from golf, but coming down from the offices that overlook this particular set-up will be really exciting for people. The course is a challenge but it's good at this time to have something to look forward to in your break rather than the doom and gloom we hear all about.”
 
For an opportunity to win the chance to play in Golf in the City, Canary Wharf on Friday 12th September, courtesy of Nokia, please go to www.nokia.co.uk/golfinthecity.
 
photo credit: Pitch PR