Portmarnock could take Irish Open into new golden era

PORTMARNOCK is to Irish golf what Croke Park is to the GAA, the Millennium Stadium to Welsh rugby, Lords to English cricket (if such a thing exists any more!), Aintree to horse racing.

You get the drift.

Over the years, the north Dublin links has earned the status as one of the best and fairest golf courses in the world. It may lack the splendour of Ballybunion and Lahinch and the eye catching beauty of Royal Co Down and Waterville, but for sheer honesty and fairness, there are few if any to touch the great link course on this remarkable spit of linksland looking out on Ireland’s Eye and the Irish Sea.