As exclusively revealed over six weeks ago by newbury.net, more than 35,000 golf fans are expected to descend on Newbury between October 14-17 next year, providing a major opportunity to show off the town to visitors.

The Donnington venue was recently taken over by Hamstead Marshall's lord of the manor Timothy Gwyn-Jones, and a new pavilion is planned for the championships.

With 70,000 expected for the county show at Chieveley in September, and another 20,000 for the Hennessy Gold Cup in November, hotel bookings are expected to shoot through the roof.

Event promoter Tom Cowgill said: "You cannot fail to be impressed with the course and the beautiful surroundings in which it is set. The Donnington Grove Country Club is a fabulous venue for a tour event and with so much at stake at the end of the Challenge Tour season, the event is sure to produce some interesting results and memorable moments.

"We are delighted to be working with Donnington Grove to bring this important new tournament to the Challenge Tour."

The four day event will see big golfing names compete to get into the last 45 for the finals the following week. The top prize from the Donnington stretch of the tour is £12,000 from a total prize pot of £70,000.

A spokesman for Mr Gwyn-Jones said: "Our championship golf course is sure to provide a stern test for the Tour players and we are very much looking forward to extending a warm welcome to the Challenge Tour and its members in October."

Commenting on the Donnington Grove English Challenge Open, Tom Cowgill and former European Tour player Jeremy Robinson, Directors of SMI, were both firmly of the view that the Donnington Grove Country Club will be a big hit with the players and spectators alike.