Tralee making strides but Irish Open not a short-term goal
TRALEE Golf Club remains one of Ireland’s great links attractions, and it will be an even greater test for members and visitors alike in 2021 as the club continues to enhance Arnold Palmer’s first links design.
“A few years ago we set out a masterplan for improving the course, and we continue to carry that out,” General Manager, Anthony Byrne said last week. “There was talk of ceasing because of Covid-19, but we took a brave decision to continue with the works with our architect Graeme Webster and a great team from Atlantic Golf Construction.”
The club has just started work on the sixth, seventh and eighth, all of which run along the Co Kerry coast.
The changes on the sixth are small, but the work on the seventh and eighth will make those holes even more spectacular as their green complexes are moved closer to the ocean.
“The seventh is a short par-three, but we are going to move the green right out onto the coast, and we will do something similar with the eighth, creating some new tee complexes rather than just one long tee, and then moving the green right out onto the coast,” Mr Byrne said.
“We have already started with the work and hope the construction team will be out before Christmas, please God.”
Following the renovation of the fourth, fifth and ninth holes last winter, the course will be well worth a visit next summer.
As for the prospect of Championship golf, it’s no secret that Paul McGinley visited the course several years ago, which means it will be on the European Tour’s radar as a potential Irish Open venue.
Right now, however, it’s not a goal for a venue that is keeping its fingers crossed for the return of overseas visitors in 2021.
Mr Byrne said of Irish Open chatter at the club: “There is always a chance of events coming here, but it is not the end goal for us. We are getting rave reviews from visitors and tourists, and that remains our primary concern.”