Travelling Golfers
What an unbelievable summer it has been for Irish golf, with three massive events on either side of the border. Each has helped to raise the profile of its fabulous treasure trove of courses even more than the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club. Increased interest and demand is guaranteed to follow.
The Amateur Championship paved the way brilliantly in June as it highlighted two of the most wonderful courses in the Dublin area. The Island co-hosted the stroke play rounds, with Portmarnock then taking centre stage
for the match play. Just three miles apart, these superb links courses are remarkably different from one another. Not only that, but it produced a home winner in James Sugrue. There is immense strength in depth in Irish golf.
July saw both the wonderfully reinvigorated Irish Open at Lahinch and The Open Championship return to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951, with Shane Lowry running out the fairytale winner. Despite its relatively remote location, the crowds turned out in force at lovely Lahinch, while tickets for The Open sold out almost a year in advance. With so many dedicated TV channels and 24-7 internet coverage, these two courses have received global coverage that will increase tourism not only for them but also for other clubs all over the Emerald Isle.
To cap off a quite remarkable golfing year for Ireland, late July brought the news that Adare Manor is to host the 2026 Ryder Cup. Now even more than ever, Irish golf is very much on the up!