Mons makes it a double and leads OOM

Mons took his second title of the year and a good lead in the OOM as the season approaches its climax. Ralph Jago maintained his good form with 2nd place and Mr Angry Denners was third....

Lee Denners was 4th beating Tony Davidson on Count back.

6th Was Al Mason with Neil Simps bringing up the rear.....




Whittlebury Invitational
1st Chris Monaghan 34 Points
2nd Ralph Jago 30 Points
3rd Chris Denoven 27 Points
4th Lee Denoven 25 Points
5th Tony Davidson 25 Points
6th Al Mason 24 points
7th Neil Simper 18 points

Jagster notches up first win at Tilsworth

Ralph Jago took the spoils at the new venue of tilsworth. With a couple of new player in the field Mark Waters and tony Davidson, Ralph stormed to 41 points on what was considered one of the most straight forward courses on the tour so far.

Chris Branton, Many people's favourite for the OOM title, just fell short in his search for a first season tour win with 40 points.

New Bandit takes the spoils at Abbey

Newbie Mark Tyerman showed up with Snatch, fended off the rain and won first time out.

The 26 handicap Dominic Littlewood lookalike - shot a solid 35 points to pip Monners.

Springy was 3rd, with Big Al, Jagster and Brants folowing on.Simper pipped Blatch who snuck Fergie out on Count Back....

Sarrau Soars to Breadsall Masters Cown

At the biggest annual event of the TNGS, Pierre Sarrau carried off the title with 2 days of great golf. The amiable Frenchman shattered the Moorland Course with a blistering 46 points as calm conditions helped the 19 strong field to shoot low. 5 players ended with more than 40 points and the pre drinking golf was of the highest order.

The honorary Northern Monkeys Simon Bedford and Lee Parkinson showed up fantastically well with 2nd and 3rd with Neil I'm not Ralph's brother Simper coming in 4th - Chris Branton was 5th with 41 points!

Day 2 the TNGS moved on to the tougher Priory course - and with scores lower Richard Johnson backed up his partner in crime Pierre to come through with 36 points.

The two days results provided interesting reading and were added to the OOM.

Monners sneaks ahead in the OOM with Branton playing catch up and the Northern Monkeys needing to to visit the Southerners to challenge for the title.

All in all another awesome weekend away for the TNGS boys...

Super Mon flies to 3 Locks Win

The 3rd event of the TNGS Order of Merit saw Chris "Tourettes is my friend" Monaghan win at a sunny 3 Locks Golf Course. Mons shot a decent 34 points to win by 6 points from Al Gwilliam (Big Al Junior). Jason Fergusson came in 3rd beating the Jagster on count back. Neil Simper was 5th with Big Al Mason 6th and Ken in 7th.

Monaghan - 34pts - 7OOM points
A Gwilliam - 28 pts - 6 OOM Points
Fergsusson - 27 pts CB - 5 OOM Points
Jago- 27pts - 4 OOM Points
Simper - 22 pts - 3 OOM Points
Mason 18 pts - 2 OOM Points
Ken 9 pts - 1 OOM Point

Table
Monaghan 16
Ferguson 9
Branton 9
Mason 8
Groves 7
Jago 7
Malone 6
Gwilliam 6
Simper 3
Ken 1

Big Al romps to New Year win

Big Al Mason won the first TNGS event of 2011 in Icy conditions of hardcore players.

Mason put his room sharing worries with Ferguson behind him, to shoot a creditable 35 points in tough conditions at Abbey Hill.

Chris "I dont think Richard Keys is a bad bloke" Malone came in Second with Branton knocked back to 3rd and Monners 4th. Jason "I'm really looking forward to our trip Mons" Ferguson held up the field in 5th.

Mason - 35 pts - 5OOM points
Malone - 33 pts cb - 4 OOM Points
Branton - 33 pts - 3 OOM Points
Monaghan - 29 pts - 2 OOM Points
Ferguson - 23 pts - 1 OOM Points

Table
Branton 9
Monaghan 7
Groves 7
Mason 6
Malone 6
Ferguson 4
Jago 3

Handicap changes:

Mason 23.1
Monaghan 16.1
Ferguson 24.7

Next event

February 26th Saturday

Rest of the 2010 -2011 Calendar

2011
February 26th Saturday
March 26th Saturday
April 11th 12th Sunday Monday Away Trip – Breadsall Priory - Derbyshire
May 29th Sunday
June 25th Saturday
July 31st Sunday
August 27th Saturday
September 25th Saturday (Society Championship Type Thing – Decent Course - followed by beers)
October 30th Sunday

Society Handicap Rules

Points better than 36 points -0.3 per point
Points worse than 30 points +0.1 per point
Winning an event -1.0 (not applied to the Abbey event but will be going forward).

Mons

The inaugural Thursday Night Golf Society Event saw a stellar (or should that be Stella) field grace the magnificent Abbey Hill Golf Club.
In near perfect weather, TNGS saw its best scoring with no-one falling under 29 points.

DMan Groves took the honours with a “cuttable” 44 points, with Chris “I didn’t realise anyone else was allowed to win” Branton coming in 2nd with 39 (which had a couple of handicap protecting blobs). Chris “my tourettes is improving” Monaghan was 3rd with 35.

Abbey Result:

OOM as at Oct 2010

Going forward We’ll add a £3 Kitty fee (£2 to the event and £1 to go towards an OOM Prize at the end of the year)

Next event

February 26th Saturday

Rest of the 2010 -2011 Calendar

2011
February 26th Saturday
March 26th Saturday
April 11th 12th Sunday Monday Away Trip – Breadsall Priory - Derbyshire
May 29th Sunday
June 25th Saturday
July 31st Sunday
August 27th Saturday
September 25th Saturday (Society Championship Type Thing – Decent Course - followed by beers)
October 30th Sunday

Society Handicap Rules

Points better than 36 points -0.3 per point
Points worse than 30 points +0.1 per point
Winning an event -1.0 (not applied to the Abbey event but will be going forward).

Mons

150th Open Golf Championship - Tips and Picks

The Open returns to St Andrews this year with as many people interested in interviewing Tiger as watching golf.

Here are my tips for the week:

the Favourites :

Tiger Woods - 7-1 - the Longest odds for him in a major for a long time.  His putting has been causing him trouble (in fact Nike has bullied him into changing it) and he's not got a great track record in bad weather - however he has won here twice and could eat the course up.

Justin Rose - 20-1 - In great form - has won the last 2 times out on PGA Tour.  Seems more relaxed than ever.  However, he has the poor habit of one bad round a major, time for him to step up.

Padraig Harrington- 25-1 - Not in great form but apparently swinging the club the best ever and has won the open twice.  Wont mind the predicted bad weather.

Ian Poulter - 25-1 Good record in the Open - having a good year, but is in a slight lull.  Has been gearing himself up for the Open

Luke Donald - 40-1 - Getting back to his best, very steady and has played well in bad conditions before.

Outsiders

Bo Van Pelt - 140-1 - An "unknown" american always tends to do well and Van Pelt is having a steady year and putts well.

Paul Lawrie - 250-1 - Former Open Champion - loves crap weather and links courses - could go well.

Franscesco Molinari - 66-1 - His brother won last week, but this guy has a fantastic touch and is having a very good year.

Waterville Golf Links voted in to top 100 courses

Golf Magazine (U.K.), the most prestigious of the European Union Golf Magazines, has published the rankings of the top 100 courses in Britain and Ireland for almost 40 years.  Waterville first hit the 1988 list in the humble position of 49, and over the years, with patience and substantial investment, rose to their current position of 13^th in Britain and Ireland.

This year, using their time tested formula and the worldwide experience of their raters, they have produced their first ranking of the “Top 100 Courses in the World”.  Waterville is honoured to be part of this prestigious fraternity.  The course is a must on your travels to South West Ireland, and whilst not as well known as Ballybunion or Tralee, Waterville links is my personal favourite.  A hearty BRAVO should be given to Noel Cronin and his staff, Mike Murphy and his ground crew, and of course, Tom Fazio and the staff of Fazio Design.

This is the year to plan your return to Waterville – the dollar is strong, airfares are cheap, the Guinness is smooth and Waterville Links is at its best.  Oh Yes! The very respected Irish Farmers Almanac (consultant to NASA) is predicting a dry summer and Lough Currane produced two trophy fish recently – 11lb 2oz Sea trout and 19lb Salmon

Sweden withdraw from race to host The 2018 Ryder Cup

Sweden withdraw from race to host The 2018 Ryder Cup

 

The Swedish Golf Federation and Scandinavian Golf Event Management (SGEM), the company behind the country’s bid to host The Ryder Cup, have decided to withdraw their candidature for the 2018 contest and switch their focus to the 2022 event.

 

The organisers cited a weakened economy and insurmountable challenges in terms of sourcing the necessary finances – including lack of Government funding - as the reasons for their decision to pull out of the race.

 

France, Germany, Holland, Portugal and the city of Madrid are the other parties involved in the bid to stage the biennial match in 2018.

 

Jacob Wallenberg, Chairman of SGEM, said: “The Ryder Cup is a fantastic event and it is regrettable that it was not possible to resolve the funding for 2018. However, Sweden needs major events and one of these may be The Ryder Cup. We will work to ensure we can make a new application for 2022.”

 

Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director, said: “We fully respect Sweden’s decision to withdraw from the bidding process for The 2018 Ryder Cup. These are challenging times and we appreciate the complexities of preparing a submission which meets all the necessary criteria.

 

 “Swedish golfers have played a leading role in Europe’s recent Ryder Cup successes and we hope that Sweden will be in a position to make a vigorous bid to stage the event when it returns to Europe in 2022.

 

“Meanwhile we look forward to receiving the official bid documents from the five parties still involved in the 2018 process, namely France, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Madrid.”

So, with Portugal still in the hunt (and would be very popular with the British and Irish vote), which of the courses would be considered.  Well from a course quality point of view and logistics, its difficult to see any of the Lisbon courses to be considered.  Despite the quality of Troia and Oitavos Dunes, I think they are both far too short and certainly do not have the logistical or financially structures.  So that leaves us the Algarve courses.

Of these, I would suggest there are 5 main contenders:

Quinta Do Lago - with 3 courses on site its a golfing hotbed and lots of quality.  It has decent infrastructure and is pretty close to the airport, so its a contender.

Oceanico Victoria - Probably the favourite.  Hosts the Portugal Masters and Oceanico is the largest Golf Business on the Iberian Peninsula.  Add to this their partnership with Troon Golf, it's easy to see the event taking place there.

San Lorenzo - Probably too short to host the event, but we can dream!

Vale Do Lobo - Similar to Quinta Do Lago, with two very good courses and decent infrastructure and extremely popular with British and Irish golfers alike.

Monte Rei - The Nicklaus course is modern and well respected, but probably too far off the "beaten track" to compete.

Its difficult to predict who is the favourite for the event.  Spain has Madrid, and is a very strong contender, but has had the event before - which may count against them.

Germany probably fancy their chances.  The Langer effect should not be underestimated, a Ryder Cup hero (as captain and player).  But golf is not growing as quickly as the Germans would like and with only one real chance of a player (Martin Kaymer) it may go against them.

France and Holland bring up the rear.  The French have plenty of decent courses to boast and have enjoyed a growing reputation in their playing base, whilst the Dutch seem to be making up the numbers in the bid.

For me, Portugal would be a great venue both for the courses and the weather.  But my money would be on France being awarded the Competition.  One thing is for sure, whoever is hosting, they will need to welcome British and Irish fans with open arms.

Poulter on top of the World

Ian Poulter crowned a memorable week for English Golf by capturing the World Golf Championship Matchplay event in Tuscon Arizona.

The Woburn based player defeated his compatriot Paul Casey  4 and 2 in the 36 Hole Final.  Poulter, who has been knocking on the door of a big win, was suitable delighted.

Woburn is one of the best golf complexes in the UK.  It boasts 3 championship courses, all of which are fantastically well kept and have hosted event such as the European Tour's British Master, the English Seniors Open and the Ladies English Open.

The 3 courses are the Marquess, the Dukes, and the Duchess.

The Marquess is the most recent addition to the stable and is considered by most to be the strongest course of the three.  Personally, my favourite is the Dukes.

It boasts such a variety of golf holes, with unique terrain and challenges along the way.  Take the 3rd for example.  Its a short downhill par 3 measuring just 134 yards, framed by rhododendron bushes, has recently been voted into the 'World's Top 500 Holes' by Golf Magazine.

the Par 5 5th is also a great test, lind of the tee is a huge swale to the left of the fairway, waiting to gobble up any ball not long or straight enough - a hit and hope shot then awaits the victim.

Its this use of the natural land which makes the Dukes so appealing.  the little known Charles Lawrie.

Get yourself to Woburn and dont be picky which course to play, you'll love all three of them.

Tiger Woods - Who do you think you are?

Tiger Eldrick Woods, never has one man had such an influence on the sport he has played. Woods' meteoric rise to fame is global. His fan base is huge, his talent unrivalled.

Woods has been number one in the World Golf Rankings since 2005 and has collated 14 major championship wins in a fantastic career.

Golf fans adore him and, when news broke of the marital problems, most of us shrugged our shoulders. He's human, we all make mistakes. We want to see Tiger back and playing.


Yet, his announcement to run a "media circus" during one of the largest competitions his fellow professionals play, has left me fuming. Tiger doesn't think he is bigger than the game, it appears he thinks he is the game.

Ernie Els reacted first calling it "selfish" and that he felt sorry for the sponsor.

The sponsor, Accenture, was a previous main sponsor for Tiger. Accenture pulled the sponsorship following his "marital problems"....., now Tiger has exacted revenge by overshadowing their flagship event.

Woods is probably the greatest golfer we have ever seen, but he has lost me as an admirer and a fan.....

Terrific Troia

Lisbon is a developing golfing destination, with its great climate and fantastic history, it's become a great alternative to the golfing mecca that is the Algarve.  I love Lisbon, its a historic city, yet small and modern enough to tour easily; but the main reason why I love Lisbon is I think its the best golfing destination in Europe.

It may not have the depth of great courses that the Algarve or Costa Del Sol has, but it certainly has the breadth.

Take Troia as an example.  Where? I hear you ask.  Troia.

It may sound like something out of Athenian legend, but its one of the best kept golfing secrets in Europe.  True, it is tucked out of the way from the other main Lisbon golf courses (actually I enjoyed the trip and the ferry ride taking in the Dolphins).  But its worth the trek.

Firstly you pass the historic city of Setubal.  Including the 16th Century Fortress of St Filipe.

Troia Golf Course is a links style course, much in the same vane as Oitavos Dunes ( north of Lisbon).  It's designed by the famous American golf architect Robert Trent Jones Senior, and is a spectacular links, and one of the most fascinating golf challenges in Portugal. The magazine Golf World elected in 2003, as the 25th best European Golf Course. 

As mentioned, the usual approach to the Troia Golf Championship Course is straight over the Estuary of the Sado River - a pleasant short ferry ride from Setubal to the Peninsula of Troia, a region of great natural beauty near the Atlantic Ocean. 

The greens are small with naturally shaped defensive bunkers and hummocks, while the fairways are narrow and hemmed in by sandy dunes and pine trees, providing a genuine test of skill for the lowers handicap golfers together with enjoyment for the more modest players.

The best accolade I can give this great golf course, is the fact that it ate my up and spat me out.  But upon holing out on the 18th (after losing money to a Scot) all I could think about was how I would play it next time.  I just hope I wont have to wait too long.

Harrington Giving back after difficult year

Harrington Wishes Happy Christmas to the Poor of the Third World
Padraig Harrington is giving that winning feeling to those less fortunate
Posted Dec 08, 2009 - 5:19 PM by Dermot Gilleece

After three major championship wins in 14 months from July 2007, it was perhaps fanciful to think that Padraig Harrington could continue with that level of success through 2009. As it happens, he didn't have a win of any description this year on either side of the Atlantic, other than the Irish PGA Championship against a local, limited field at The European Club last July.

He has succeeded, however, in giving the winning feeling to those less fortunate than himself. Like the poor of the Third World who, through the Irish charity GOAL, were the beneficiaries of E50,000 from Harrington last Saturday (December 19th). The money was raised in a local, Dublin shopping centre where the player, helped by his caddie, Ronan Flood, disposed of a number of "old" sets of Wilson clubs, along with sweaters, shirts and various other memorabilia at knockdown prices.

Harrington also found time to sign countless autographs, but only in return for a contribution to the charity. It was his way of wishing "Happy Christmas" in a truly meaningful sense.

Meanwhile, this is the first time in the Noughties that he has ended a season without a tour win. The last time he drew a blank was in 1999 when he was going through his "runner-up" phase, with five seconds in Europe alone. His last outing was in the Chevron World Challenge at Thousand Oaks, California, where he was tied third with Lee Westwood behind the winner, Jim Furyk. That was when another Irishman, Graeme McDowell, took splendid advantage of a late call-up as a replacement for the tournament host, Tiger Woods, by finishing runner-up and securing sufficient world-ranking points to claim a place in the US Masters at Augusta National next April.

Is this latest blank a cause for concern? "Not really," replied the Dubliner, who reasons that while it could be termed a disappointing season for him where tournament results were concerned, there is a decidedly upbeat aspect to 2009. "I haven't been aware of being under any real scrutiny because of my failure to win," he said. "I believe I made significant progress this year in terms of developing by golf swing. It means I can now look forward to an eight-week break in which to fine-tune the various changes I've made."

As a guest at Thousand Oaks, he had his 76-year-old coach, Bob Torrance, who was experiencing California for the first time. Prior to this, Torrance was content to limit his travels across America to no further west than Fort Worth, Texas. where he gained a much-prized audience with his golfing idol, Ben Hogan.

Just press the appropriate button and Bob will talk passionately about that visit to the great man in which they discussed aspects of mutual fascination, related to the golf swing. And from a layman's perspective, he believes deeply in the Hogan dictum that the answer to all swing problems is to be found in the dirt. In other words, through dint of hours of patient work on the practice ground.

Much as he admired Hogan, however, Torrance had the good sense not to attempt to teach his famous power fade to the player who would become his star pupil. Rather did he settle on changing Harrington's low cut to a high draw which became solid enough to deliver his major championship triumphs. From Thousand Oaks, Torrance and Harrington set off for the Titleist research headquarters outside San Diego. Not that Torrance would place much store in high-tech elements of the modern game. For instance, he got Harrington into the right mood for a most productive autumn schedule, simply through lengthy sessions on the practice ground at Turnberry prior to the Open Championship last July. While it didn't achieve the desired dividend that week, the fruits of their labours became evident at Firestone and then in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National.

A week later, Harrington was back at his home in south Dublin from where he has been doing the rounds of awards ceremonies. "I came away from the Chevron with a much clearer picture of what I need to work on during my winter break. I am looking forward simply to being at home; not having any deadlines, not having any schedule."

Harrington has never been a prolific winner in the sense that Westwood is. His 13 victories in Europe, three in the US and another in Japan, have come over a period of 15 years, starting with a breakthrough in the Spanish Open in Madrid in 1996.

But he has always given the impression of being there for the long haul, certainly until after 2016 when he hopes to celebrate golf's return to the Olympic Games. His total wins could be up to 25 by then. And if they happen to include further major successes, the chances are that this can be attributed to the work he has done with Torrance, specifically over the last 15 months.

Fota Island

You know me......well actually you don't, but let's not dwell on that.

From my travels across many golf resorts, I have left my email address on more marketing lists than I care to mention.   So I, like you all, get spammed to buggery.  But in amongst some of the useless emails extolling the virtues of some 2nd rate golf course, there are a few gems that I like to be reminded of.  I received one today......

Fota Island is nestled some 20 minutes from Cork City in Ireland.  Ok, so my Irish bias may be prevailing but hear me out.

The resort, like a number in the Emerald Isle, has stunning scenery and with Cobh and Kinsale within reach its a perfect short break destination.  But the golf course is a real gem.  Home to the Irish Open for 2 years in the 90's, it benefits from 27 holes played across 3 different combinations.

The Deerpark is the layout they utilised for the Irish Open and its one I would recommend as a must if you are in the Cork area.  The loop around 5-9 is awesome as you reach down my the river.  The course has used the terrain, river and replanting really well.  Good strong Par 5's and some intricate par 4's really allow you to enjoy the experience with opportunities to score well on most holes from the standard tees.  The 18th is a breathtaking hole and has to be played to do it justice.

The hotel is superb, but for a great option hire one of the lodges, between 6 of you it can be really cost effective and is an awesome base for taking in other courses in the area.

If you're heading to the Cork area, I plead you to go to Fota........ you'll love it.

Oitavos Dunes makes 88th in Best Courses in the World

Golf Travel bug has long been extolling the virtues of Oitavos Dunes.  The links course of Lisbon is one of my top 5 favourite golf courses.  Its a fantastic layout with awesome greens..... well now someone agrees with me.

Oitavos Dunes has recently been ranked as the 88^th best Course in the World by GOLF Magazine. In celebration Oitavos has created a TOP 100 package starting the 15^th of November and running until the 30^th of June 2010 which provides great value for serous golfers.

 

Click on www.oitavosdunes.pt/TOP100 and have a look at the GOLF Magazine article as well as the full TOP 100 list.

 

For more detailed information click on http://www.golf.com/golf

enjoy....

LISBOA GOLF COAST

Hotel Quinta da Marinha Resort receives travel agents

The main aim of the Fam Trip - Lisboa Golf Coast was to get to know and explore the tourist potential of the Lisbon coast and the golf courses on offer. The event, which was based at the Hotel Quinta da Marinha Resort, brought together travel agents from Germany, Croatia, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, UK, the Netherlands and France. Over five days in September, the participants had the opportunity to visit Cascais, Tróia, Óbidos and Lisbon, as part of an exciting program that included games on the Hotel Quinta da Marinha Resort course as well as at Troia Golf Course and Oitavos Dunes e Bom Sucesso Golf Course.

3 announces Killarney as venue for 3 Irish Open in 2010

 

New 3 Irish Open date to bring tourism boost to Kerry

 

Dublin 20^th October 2009

 

3, Ireland’s fastest growing mobile network, is pleased to announce that the 3 Irish Open will take place next year at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club from the 29^th July to 1^st August 2010. 

 

This will be the third time that Killarney has hosted the Irish Open following consecutive events in 1991 and ’92.  The event’s new prime slot on the European Tour is a major boost for title sponsors 3 and elevates the 3 Irish Open to the position of one of the most prestigious tournaments in European golf.  The prize fund for the 2010 3 Irish Open will be over €3 million.

 

The staging of the 3 Irish Open over the August Bank Holiday weekend on the magnificent Killeen course, just weeks before the European Ryder Cup team is announced, is expected to attract golf’s marquee names to the Co Kerry venue.  Many will still be in the chase to secure a place on the European team for the showdown with the USA at Celtic Manor in September 2010.

 

Robert Finnegan, Chief Executive of the title sponsor 3, said:

 

“Last year we were very proud to come to the rescue of the Irish Open, Baltray provided a wonderful spectacle in spite of bad weather and produced a fantastic finale with Shane Lowry winning after the third play-off hole.

 

As part of the National Broadband Scheme, we’re bringing much needed internet connectivity to rural Ireland and we’re delighted to announce today that we are bringing a real tourism boost to Co Kerry with the 3 Irish Open 2010. Killarney’s Killeen is a magnificent course in an idyllic setting and we expect many of the world’s top golfers to take part in what will be a magical weekend in one of the world’s great beauty spots.

 

After robust negotiations with The European Tour, we are delighted to have a new, improved date and our move to Killarney reflects the importance the 3 Irish Open will play in the weeks leading to the selection of the Ryder Cup team to take on the United States in Celtic Manor. It should also prove a big draw for golf fans to holiday in Kerry around the tournament and to enjoy the wonderful festival atmosphere we’ll bring to the Bank Holiday weekend.”

 

This year’s 3 Irish Open was the highlight of the sporting calendar, with amateur Shane Lowry delighting home fans during a fairytale play-off victory over England’s Robert Rock in Baltray.

 

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen TD said:  

 

"I welcome the announcement of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club as the venue for the 2010 3 Irish Open, in its new late July slot in the golfing calendar.  This famous and prestigious venue, set amidst the magnificent scenery of the Lakes of Killarney, is an ideal location to show Ireland as a golfing destination to millions of television viewers and prospective visitors worldwide.  I wish to congratulate Killarney Golf and Fishing Club who successfully hosted the event in 1991 and 1992.  I also welcome the continuing title sponsorship provided by mobile communications company 3. It is enabling the 3 Irish Open to grow into one of the most important events on the European Tour."

The Minister also said:  "The 3 Irish Open also receives significant Government support through Fáilte Ireland.  The worldwide media coverage of the event is an important element in our overall strategy to promote Ireland as a golfing and holiday destination.”

 

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said:

 

“We are delighted to see The 3 Irish Open returning to Killarney. The Killeen Course at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club is a truly world class lay-out and befitting of such a prestigious tournament. There were many outstanding candidates to host next year’s Irish Open, but the commercial benefits attached to the new date and venue made Killarney an irresistible choice for 3.”

Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington has played the Killeen course. He said:

 

“The 3 Irish Open going to Killarney on this new date will make it a tremendous event. I believe the golf course is superb but I am 100 percent sure that the venue would be very popular on the tour with the players. That is very important - The Irish Open has to give a little bit more than other events: it has to give the whole package with people enjoying the whole week around the golf. That’s what The Irish Open did in the past and that’s what future Irish Opens have to do. We have to go forward and give a little bit more than everybody else. The guys will have a great time and I will be telling all the players to bring their families that week to have a great time regardless of how the golf goes. We have to deliver a little bit more than all the events on Tour.”

The Killeen course, which is the jewel in the crown of the three-course Killarney Golf Complex, was originally designed in 1972 by Eddie Hackett and Billy O’Sullivan.  The Killarney lakes and high mountain range provide a stunning backdrop to this Championship course.

 

Re-opened in June 2006 the course is slightly longer with faster greens that have been brought closer to the water hazards around the course. At 6564 metres it will challenge long hitters with accuracy being vital as there is water on many of its holes. It previously staged the Irish Open in 1991 and 1992 when Nick Faldo won back to back victories. It also played host to the Curtis Cup in 1996.

INTA Group ceases trading

The recession has taken another bite out of the golf travel industry.  Following on from the Liquidation of both Barwell Leisure and Rightclub, Inta Group ceased trading 23rd October 2009.

Inta Group comprised of 3D Golf, Bill Goff Golf Holidays, Longshot Golf Holidays & 4Golf.com, Teetimes Anywhere.com.  It was considered to be the 3rd largest golf tour operator in the UK.  This news follows the merger of the above brands in 2007.

The websites for Bill Goff, Longshot, 4golf.com and Teetimes Anywhere are all down.  however 3D Golf appear to have struck an introducer agreement with Your Golf Travel.

YGT is considered to be the 2nd largest UK Tour Operator in the UK and following the acquisition of Rightclub and the 3D Golf - they will have Golfbreaks.com in their sights.

All of this may be good news for YGT and Golf Breaks.com, however it leaves a near monopolistic environment for the UK Golf Travel market place, with only mid-sized players such as Premier Iberian and Golf Kings still breathing.

In particular, Golf break reliant courses across the UK, Spain and Portugal must have concerns as their UK footfall suppliers shrink amidst recession and a strong Euro.

WOODS AND MICKELSON HEADLINE STRONG AMERICAN CHALLENGE FOR WGC – HSBC CHAMPIONS

Tiger Woods will aim to continue his remarkable record in the World Golf Championships arena when he and World Number Two Phil Mickelson headline an impressive American challenge for the WGC – HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai from November 6-9.

 

The World Number One has enjoyed a decade of dominance in WGC events, claiming an astonishing 16 individual WGC titles in total. His first triumph came in the WGC – NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Ohio in August 1999, while his most recent success came a mere two months ago at the same venue in the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.

 

While next month sees the HSBC Champions elevated to a WGC event for the first time, it is a tournament Woods has not won in the past. Therefore, the chance to put that particular statistic right, while at the same time extending his own WGC record, is a challenge he admitted he will relish.

 

“I played in the HSBC Champions in 2005 and 2006 and I look forward to returning to Shanghai in November,” he said. “It is an event that symbolises the amazing progress of golf in Asia and its new WGC status underlines how firmly China has established its place on the global golf calendar.”

 

One man, however, who knows exactly what it takes to win the HSBC Champions is Phil Mickelson, who did just that in November 2007 when he emerged triumphant from a thrilling play-off at Sheshan against Englishmen Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood.

 

The left-hander finished in a tie for eighth place in the last HSBC Champions in November 2008 but has already experienced success in the WGC arena this year, bravely overcoming a spell of heat exhaustion and dehydration at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Florida in March, to hold off the challenge of fellow American Nick Watney on the final day to win the WGC – CA Championship.

 

“After The Open Championship, it is hard to think of a bigger and better tournament held outside America,” he said. “This tournament already had everything in place and deserves to be part of the WGC series. It has always attracted strong fields and so has a great reputation worldwide and I am really looking forward to trying to reclaim my title.”

 

Watney, along with fellow US PGA Tour winners in 2009 – Brian Gay, Jerry Kelly and Sean O’Hair – will make the trip to Shanghai as will Stewart Cink, who memorably pipped Tom Watson for The Open at Turnberry in July.

 

“I am really excited to be going to China for the first time,” said Cink, who already has a WGC title in his locker in the shape of the 2004 WGC – NEC (now Bridgestone) Invitational. “Anywhere the best players in the world are gathered together, you don’t want to miss out and I think it’s fantastic for world golf that China will be hosting the WGC – HSBC Champions.”

 

The WGC – HSBC Champions will feature an increased prize fund of US$7 million and will bring together tournament winners from all over the globe as well as the best players from the International Federation of PGA Tours.