West coast links to host major pro tournament

ONE of the great links on the west coast is set to be at the centre of a major professional tournament in 2007/’08.

The European Tour has been involved in co-sanctioned tournaments for several years with their counterparts in Asia, Japan, South Africa, Australia and more recently New Zealand. It has now emerged that they have convinced the USPGA that they should also become partners in similar fashion, and negotiations have advanced to such a stage that a tournament involving members of both circuits is likely to be held in the south-west of Ireland as soon as the 2006 Ryder Cup is out of the way.

My information is that Kerry is the most desirable location for prospective sponsors with Ballybunion, host to the 2000 Murphys Irish Open, and Waterville among the front runners, while Killarney is another obvious location. Discussions are at a preliminary but very positive stage, according to an informed source.

Meanwhile, Druids Glen has been presented with the European Golf Resort of the Year award at a ceremony in Estoril by successful 2001 Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance. The news comes at a time when fears are being expressed for the future of Ireland as one of the leading golf tourism destinations in the world. It is little wonder, then, all at Druids Glen should have been elated in Dublin yesterday at the honour considering that the opposition included resorts of the calibre of The K-Club in Co Kildare and Celtic Manor, Wales, the venues for the 2006 and 2010 Ryder Cups; the renowned Gleneagles and Turnberry in Scotland; Montecasillo near Jerez in the south of Spain and Penha Longa in Portugal.

“There could be no better Christmas present for Druids Glen than to have been honoured with this award,” said Sports Minister John O’Donoghue. “It is a great tribute not only to Druids Glen but also to Ireland. It has been awarded by people who are best qualified to judge such matters, the golfers themselves. To determine the winners, 165 members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators from 32 different countries asked their clients, the golfers, to answer a series of questions. It was from this intense competition that Druids Glen was chosen as the top golf resort in Europe.

Golf is becoming an integral part of tourism. 133,000 visitors are now coming here specifically to play golf.”