Golf’s winter wonderland
Popular Taylormade series returns for a new season at Portmarnock Links after last year’s event proves to be a massive success
WINNING isn’t quite everything but if you’re a serious golfer looking to keep your game razor sharp over the winter months, he’s some good news.
Taylormade Golf has decided to renew its sponsorship of the hugely popular Winter Series at Portmarnock Links, with the action set to begin again on October 2.
The series, which has become a real feature of winter golf in Ireland, has attracted almost all the leading names in Irish golf since it started in 2003.
Taylormade first became involved last year and their involvement undoubtedly played a significant role in ensuring that last year’s series was one of the best, with a number of the participants going on to win major tournaments and awards in 2018.
Naas’s Robert Brazill won the West of Ireland Championship at Easter, Balbriggan’s Robbie Cannon claimed the AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship at the European Club and Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty won the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.
With Limerick professional Tim Rice, another regular, winning on the PGA EuroPro Tour recently, it’s clear that this is an event that the top players rely on to keep their games ticking over.
Last year’s overall professional winner of the Winter Series was Headfort’s Brian Casey, while Stuart Grehan, who is also on the Europro Tour, was runner-up.
Both are now competing regularly on the Challenge Tour with the likes of Gavin Moynihan and Michael Hoey, who were also regular participants.
Speaking on the decision to continue their sponsorship, John Caulfield, Head of Taylormade Golf in Ireland, said he was delighted to continue backing the series.
“It gave us a terrific opportunity to introduce our products to the leading amateur and professional golfers from across the country,” he said. “We like to associate our brand with the serious golfer, and Portmarnock Links plays home to these players for the competitive winter season.
“Last year we used the series to successfully introduce our new TP 5 golf ball. This year we have a number of exciting new products which we will certainly be featuring at Portmarnock.”
The format of the Winter Series is singles strokes, with three gross and three nett prizes every week.
It is open to both male and female
At a time of the year when many Irish courses introduce mats or placing, this never happened at the Links
professionals and amateurs (handicap limit 9). For the amateurs, all competitions are counting competitions for handicap.
Last year saw the creation of Order of Merits for both the professionals and amateurs and those will continue for the new series, with both lists based on a player’s top six rounds.
The Order of Merit prizes will be in addition to the weekly prizes. Based on previous years it is expected that between 80 and 90 players will participate each week on average.
Portmarnock Links professional Conor Russell emphasised the fact that there are no winter rules at the Links.
“At a time of the year when many Irish courses introduce mats or placing, this has never happened at the Links,” he said.
“This is undoubtedly a major attraction as it gives serious players the opportunity to hone their games under proper playing conditions on a championship-class course.
“We pride ourselves on the quality of the course and the speed of our greens during the winter months.
“Every year the Winter Series attracts terrific fields, including many who have gone on to play at the highest levels of both amateur and professional golf, not alone in Ireland, but internationally.”
Entries can be made immediately by directly contacting the Pro Shop at the Links on 01 866 6592.
For further information, contact Conor Russell 01-8666592 or email crussell@portmarnock.com.