THE 13th Kent Messenger Sunshine Challenge, which gives golfers the opportunity to win an all-expenses paid holiday of a lifetime playing on the sun-soaked Algarve, will soon get underway.

The Sunshine Golf Challenge has become established as one of the most popular of its kind in the country.

The Kent Messenger champion will fly to Portugal for a seven-day trip from October 31 to November 7 and also compete for a suprerb golf break for two people at the five-star Marriott Druids Glen Hotel in Ireland.

All the regional newspaper champions will compete in their own separate tournament in Portugal, with the winner landing the trip to Ireland.

It’s a chance to win two great golfing holidays within a few months. But first, competitors have to battle through several rounds of nerve-racking matchplay locally.

Numerous previous winners, along with runners-up, have enjoyed an unforgettable experience among hundreds of golfers and non-golfers who have joined the Sunshine Challenge trip.

It is open to all golfers who hold a club handicap. Men play off a maximum handicap of 24 and ladies 36.

Thanks to the support of tournament sponsors Bill Goff Golf Tours, entry is just £10 and with confirmation of an entry, competitors will will receive a polo shirt embroidered with the Sunshine Challenge motif.

Competitors drawn at home will have a choice of venue, whether it be their own, their opponent’s or a neutral course. Green fees will be shared equally between the two players.

We will keep competitors up-to-date with results while shortgolfbreaks.com will supply information on the draw for each round. The last four survivors will compete for the title of Kent Messenger Sunshine Challenge champion 2004 at a course to be nominated by the organisers.

Home for the stay in Portugal will be the Tivoli Hotel Almansor in Cavoeiro. Also included in the winner’s package is a week’s free car hire, practice round and entry into a four-ball betterball competition.

The runner-up will collect a £250 golf holiday voucher which can be used towards the trip.

You can register online at

www.sunshinechallenge.co.uk