Leahy: Fota ready for return of European Tour

FOTA ISLAND’S 27-hole golf complex is ready to host another Irish Open, says the Cork resort’s Director of Marketing Seamus Leahy.

Fota, which staged the 2001 and 2002 Irish Opens respectively, and the 2006 Irish Seniors Open, is set to host a professional event for the first time since a new nine holes, designed by Jeff Howes, were added to the original 18 of the Deerpark course.

Now with three different 18-hole layouts, the par-73, 7,632-yard Belvelly Course, comprising the original back nine and the newer nine, will stage the Audi Cork Irish Masters event on the PGA EuroPro Tour from July 6-8.