The Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) today confirmed the host venues for next five years for the AIG Irish Close Championship with Headfort included in the quintet along with the European Club, Ballybunion, Rosapenna and Malone.

The AIG Irish Close Championship returns to The European Club from 4th - 8th August next year while the action will feature the top class Headfort course in 2022..

A new date for the blue riband event in Irish domestic golf means the championship is more accessible than ever before for Ireland’s leading amateurs.

Scheduled to commence on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday for the foreseeable future, the date change will see the Close take place after the South of Ireland and before the Home Internationals which are scheduled to move into September.

Ballybunion (2019), Rosapenna (Sandy Hills - 2020), Malone (2021) and Headfort (New – 2022) have been confirmed as the other host venues for the coming years.

Mark Wehrly, GUI Championships Manager said: “We are delighted to confirm these wonderful venues for the AIG Irish Close Championship over the coming years – and we’re very grateful to the clubs for offering their facilities for the championship.”

“We’re hopeful that the new date will help our leading amateur players, many of whom are career amateurs with jobs and young families, to continue supporting what is our leading domestic championship.

“We also hope the change in the date of the Home Internationals will further enhance the attraction of the Close to our best players.”

The date change required the GUI to liaise with Mullingar Golf Club in relation to their Scratch Trophy which has occupied the bank holiday weekend for the past number of years.

The last time The European Club staged the Close in 2006, Rory McIlroy won the second of his back-to-back Close titles.

AIG Irish Close Championship 

2018: 4th – 8th August The European Club, Wicklow

2019: 3rd – 7th August  Ballybunion (Old Course), Kerry

2020: 1st – 5th August  Rosapenna (Sandy Hills), Donegal

2021: 31st July – 4th August  Malone, Belfast

2022: 30th July – 3rd August Headfort (New), Meath