Tour operator plots Russia golf links

A Russian tour operator based in Cork hopes to develop a lucrative golf tourism link between Ireland and Russia.

Oleg Chereshnev, managing director of Silk Way Tours, has just hosted a familiarisation trip for four of Russia’s most influential golf tourism figures, who played some of the top courses in Cork and Kerry.

The delegation was also welcomed to City Hall where the council’s tourism unit said it would explore the potential for direct flight links between Russia and Cork Airport.

“Golf was once played only by wealthy Russian individuals, members of the upper classes,” said Mr Chereshnev.

“But it is a fast-developing game which is now being played by all levels of Russian society.”

Mr Chereshnev also hopes to target golf tourists in his native Kazakhstan, where president and keen golfer Nursultan Abishuly Naz-arbayev has helped to popularise the game.

For the last week, Mr Chereshnev and his daughter Arina hosted Alla Burova, the director of Russia’s leading golf tour operator Alerce; Sergey Rakivnenko, editor of Golf Mir; Natalia Belolipskaya, general director of Golf Style; and Victor Ostankov, a PGA professional and board member of youth professional sports association and golf in Russia.

They spent a week playing some of the region’s top courses, including the Old Head of Kinsale and Cork Golf Club, as well as Fota, Castlemartyr, and Monks-town Golf club.

“They returned to Russia hugely impressed by the golf courses and hotels in the South and South-West of Ireland, and are very anxious to let their readers know about the beauty and uniqueness of the links and parkland courses of Ireland,” said Mr Chereshnev.

The trip was supported by the Cork Convention Bureau.

It is hoped they will spread the word when they return home, and feature Ireland’s golf courses in some of Russia’s more influential sports magazines and newspapers.

Seamus Heaney, the chairman of the Cork Convention Bureau, said the county has a fantastic business tourism product on offer.

He said with interest in the Gathering initiative growing, the bureau is keen to engage with organisations and individuals that want to bring conferences, meetings or events to Cork.

The Cork Convention Bureau provides a full support service to anybody considering the county for a conference.

* www.silkwaytours.com