Irish Open moves to Co Louth

County Louth Golf Club in Baltray, one of Ireland’s great links courses, will host the Nissan Irish Open for the first time next year.

The tournament will once again take place the week after the Open championship on July 22-25.

Portmarnock staged the event this summer and the policy of venue rotation to promote Ireland’s major tourist attractions and golf courses means that the 2004 edition moves 30 miles further north on the east coast.

The Tom Simpson-designed course, frequently described as one of the country’s “hidden gems”, is rated in Golf Digest magazine as one of the top 25 courses in Great Britain and Ireland and in the top six in Ireland.

Ken Schofield, executive director of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to visit another outstanding example of a great Irish links, with the wonderful course at County Louth following on from this years successful return to Portmarnock.”

Gerard O’Toole, executive chairman of Nissan Ireland, commented: “Moving the Nissan Irish Open to another top-class links location like Baltray is a very exciting step and continues the high tradition of staging the Irish Open at outstanding venues.”

New Zealander Michael Campbell won the title this year after a play-off with Thomas Bjorn and Peter Hedblom.