Enter the Great Irish Links Challenge
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Ballybunion, Doonbeg and Lahinch all featured highly in an array of recent golf course surveys. The three courses have now joined forces to offer golfers the opportunity to play three of the world’s top 100 courses over three remarkable days.
The event, ‘The Great Irish Links Challenge’ will take place from Sunday 22 May, 2011 to Wednesday, 25 May, 2011 with golfers alternating between the three courses on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The event opens on the Sunday at The Lodge at Doonbeg with a welcome reception and closes at the same venue with an awards dinner on the Wednesday evening.
Paul McGinley, one of this year’s Ryder Cup vice-captains, and a great advocate of Irish links golf believes that the ‘The Great Irish Links Challenge’ is a wonderful idea and one that should attract many entries from overseas. “Ireland is lucky to have so many great links courses. To have the opportunity to play three of the best in three days is fantastic. I believe it will be a fantastic event.”
Speaking about the event Doonbeg general manager, Joe Russell, said “We were all delighted to see nine Irish links courses featured in the recent golf course surveys. Obviously with the three of us being so close together there is an excellent opportunity to create an event such as this. I have no doubt it is going to be memorable.”
Vari McGreevy, Secretary Manager of Ballybunion, said that she believed the initiative would be a major success. “Irish links courses are still the Holy Grail for many overseas golfers. There is still a real desire to add the great Irish links courses to a players golfing CV. This initiative affords them the opportunity to play three of the best in actual competition. What better way to do it.”
The event is being sponsored by TaylorMade golf equipment in conjunction with Shannon Development. The intention is that there will be one overall winner, although there will also be daily prizes at each of the three courses. In all it is hoped to attract 600 golfers for the competition.
The entry fee for the ‘Great Irish Links Challenge’ is €545. The fee includes the welcome reception, golf on the three courses, daily transport to the three courses, prizes and the final dinner. It does not include flights or accommodation.
