THE EUROPEAN CLUB SET TO HOST AIG IRISH CLOSE IN 2018

Galway Golf Club

As news filters through that The European Club will host next year's AIG Close Championship, from 4 - 8 August, the GUI have also confirmed the host venues for the four years after that with the date change set to benefit players.

All this while the 2017 Championship plays on in a wet and windy Galway Golf Club.

The other four courses are Ballybunion, Rosapenna, Malone and Headfort. 

 

A new date for the blue riband event in Irish domestic golf means the championship is more accessible than ever before for Ireland’s leading amateurs.

Headfort (New) - one of the best parklands in Ireland

Scheduled to commence on the Saturday of the Republic of Ireland’s August Bank Holiday for the foreseeable future, the date change will see the Close take place after the South of Ireland and before the Home Internationals which are scheduled to move into September.

 

Ballybunion (2019), Rosapenna (Sandy Hills - 2020), Malone (2021) and Headfort (New – 2022) are the host venues for the coming years.

Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) is a stern links test.

Mark Wehrly, GUI Championships Manager said: “We are delighted to confirm these wonderful venues for the AIG Irish Close Championship over the coming years – and we’re very grateful to the clubs for offering their facilities for the championship.”

Malone is Northern Ireland's most vibrant parkland.

“We’re hopeful that the new date will help our leading amateur players, many of whom are career amateurs with jobs and young families, to continue supporting what is our leading domestic championship.

 

“We also hope the change in the date of the Home Internationals will further enhance the attraction of the Close to our best players.”

 

The date change required the GUI to liaise with Mullingar Golf Club in relation to their Scratch Trophy which has occupied the bank holiday weekend for the past number of years.

The European Club's 16th hole

“We very much value the engagement and positive response from Mullingar in relation to the date change of the Close” Wehrly said. “The club have recognised the significance of this change for the Irish Close and have been more than accommodating in agreeing to move their Scratch Trophy dates”.

The last time The European Club staged the Close in 2006, Rory McIlroy won the second of his back to back Close titles.

Ballybunion (Cashen)

Speaking after his victory in 2006 McIlroy said: "This is probably the best links course I have ever played. It’s just the definition to it with the sleepers in the bunkers. It is totally unbelievable. I love courses where you really have to think your way around. It gets me focused much more."

Regularly ranked as one of the world’s leading links courses, the County Wicklow links was established in 1987.

 

AIG Irish Close Championship –  Future Venue and Dates

 

4 – 8 August 2018 at The European Club, Wicklow

3 – 7 August 2019 at Ballybunion (Old Course), Kerry

1 – 5 August 2020 at Rosapenna (Sandy Hills), Donegal

31 July – 4 August 2021 at Malone, Belfast

30 July – 3 August 2022 at Headfort (New), Meath

Lahinch Golf Club 125 Years

Chipping in to the 6th green.

The club was founded on April 15th 1892, in Sharry’s Hotel on the main street of Lahinch (where the post office is today). Members of the Black Watch Regiment met and signed a lease with Daniel Thynne, and the first game took place on that very day, with holes marked out by feathers and sticks.

In 1894, Old Tom Morris arrived to lend his design expertise and it says a lot that over a century later two of his greatest holes (Klondyke and The Dell)

Ireland's Western Golfing Wonders

Connemara Links

There are always going to be great golf packages put together for golfers, whether they are coming to Ireland... or living here. 'Western Wonders' from Fairways & Fundays doesn't discriminate!

If you want to play three exceptional coastline courses - including my all-time favourite - and stay for four nights in four star accommodation on Ireland's stunning Wild Atlantic Way, then this is a package that's as good as it gets.

I know some people gripe about the cost of green fees over here - something I think is overdone when you consider prices elsewhere (Portugal, US, UK) - but you can't even

Big Irish Golf Giveaways

There are a couple of big giveaways by Irish golf companies at the moment... just in case anyone is interested.

Irish Golfer Magazine, €30,000, Closing date 29th September. Enter HERE

My Golf Opens, €25,000, Closing date 31st August. Enter HERE

That's it. Knock yourselves out! Oh... prizes are:

Irish Golfer Magazine

Northern Ireland NIOpen... half way there

2nd green at Galgorm Castle

Two tied for halfway NI Open lead.

Ross Kellett and Tom Murray share the halfway lead of the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open, presented by Modest! Golf after both tackling very different conditions in Ballymena.

Out in the morning, Scotland’s Kellett played in rain reminiscent of his native highlands, his birdie-birdie finish taking him to eight-under-par after an impressive five-under second round 66.

Murray’s round, by contrast, was mostly in sunshine, though a stiffer breeze had picked up in the afternoon, but the Englishman’s second successive 67 took him into a share of the lead at Galgorm Castle.

 

3rd green and sunrise.

Kellett finished in the top 20 on his last outing in Sweden two weeks ago and he acknowledged that,

The Northern Irish Open 2017, Galgorm Castle

The wall fronting the 7th green at Galgorm Castle

The NIOpen starts in earnest tomorrow and Galgorm Castle Golf Club is in fine, fine shape. The club/management have been working hard to keep things 'fresh' on the course and there is now a lot more rough hugging bunkers, with the fescue adding hugely to the colour (and dangers) of the holes.

A new wall has been added to the front of the par 7th green - see photo above - which has given it a far sterner and classier appearance.

Entry to the NIOpen is free of charge and there will be a bigger buzz than usual - not

Galway Bay Inaugural Scratch Cup and Open Week

The 3rd hole at Galway Bay

On Sunday, 30th July, top Senior and Junior golfers battled it out in testing conditions on the superb Galway Bay championship golf course. The Senior Scratch Cup was played over 36 holes and, after Round 1, local favourite Eddie McCormack and Galway’s Joe Lyons couldn’t be separated with an opening round of 70.

Playing off the Blue Championship tees (7,300 yards) in the afternoon, some great golf saw Joe Lyons pip Eddie McCormack and Ronan Mullarney  to take the inaugural Galway Bay Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by Pat Power.

Joe Lyons, a big fan of Galway Bay, said:

“The Course is in Fantastic Condition, both the greens and the fairways were perfect. Galway Bay is a true championship test off the Blue Tees. It was exceptionally challenging but I could find no fault with the course and the club, and it will be a perfect host for the Connacht Finals. It was also an added bonus to get one over on Eddie for a change. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it’s nice!”

Joe Lyons (centre) receives the trophy from sponsor
Pat Power, with Head Pro Dara Ford alongside.

In the Junior Scratch Cup played over 18 holes, Portumna’s Eamon Dervan secured the Cup with a 76, followed by John Bodkin with a 77 and local Marcus Brennan in 3rd with a 77.

Approach to the 12th hole.

The course is in great condition and was a good practice opportunity for the county’s top golfers to test themselves at Galway Bay before the Connacht Finals, which will be held on the course mid-August. This week is Open Week (see below), which will no doubt see added traffic during Galway’s busiest week of the year.

Mount Wolseley Back Tees Event - Sat 5th Aug

3rd hole, green to fairway 

Another of Ireland's big golfing parklands is hosting a back tees event, and this one's on this coming Saturday, 5th August. Apologies for the late notice. Mount Wolseley, in Tullow, Co. Carlow, will be hosting the competition which will play over its full par 72 of 7,134 yards. The price of entry is a mere €25.

This is a Christy O'Connor Junior course and it is big... with a fast, furious and tough start. Get through the opening three holes (Indices 5, 3 and 1, respectively) and you have a chance, but don't be surprised to find a double bogey sneaking onto your card before reaching the water-laden 4th.

Tel: 059 9180161
Book Online, Here

Mount Wolseley 2nd green

The par four 4th at Mount Wolseley.

Approach to the 420 yard par four 8th.