Wicklow course tops golfers guide to ireland awards
The results of the 2015 Golfers Guide to Ireland Awards were announced at a special event in Druids Glen Golf Club, Co Wicklow last week, which was attended by over 100 golf clubs and golf sector interests. The awards are the result of an all-Ireland poll undertaken from within the golf and golf related business community.
Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire Mary Mitchell O’Connor presented the awards, which recognise the top Irish Golf Clubs and associated golf interests in Ireland. She said those involved in the golf sector could look forward to rebuilding past years’ loss in club membership numbers, increasing operations’ revenue and overcoming difficulties presented in recent times.
Paddy McCarthy, Director, Golfer’s Guide to Ireland magazine said he was confident the successes achieved by the current crop of Irish professionals will continue to grab headlines for Ireland on the international stage. Adding ‘Royal County Down will be centre of world attention for the Irish Open in May, particularly with both Rory McIlroy and America’s Ricky Fowler attending. Add to this the prospect of a golf team in the forthcoming Olympics, under Team Leader and Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley raises hopes of even better days to come. With so many positives coming on stream at all levels it was a privilege to recognise individual achievement by those involved in the grass roots of our industry’.
The Paul McGinley designed Macreddin Golf Course in Wicklow scooped the Best Hidden Gem in Leinster Award. Aindriú Jackson, General Manager of Macreddin Golf Club, said 'we are honoured to receive this award and delighted that all the hard work that has gone into Macreddin in recent years has now been recognised'.
Overall winners
Parkland
Dun Laoghaire Golf Club
Links
Royal County Down Golf Club
Provincial
Parklands
Leinster winners - Headfort Ulster winners - Belvoir Park Connaught winners - Ballinrobe Munster winners - Cork
Links
Leinster winners - County LouthUlster winners - Royal PortrushConnaught winners - Enniscrone Munster winners - Waterville
Best resort
Overall winner - Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort
Provincial
Leinster winners - Carton HouseUlster winners - Hilton Templepatrick Golf ResortWest North West winners - Rosapenna Munster winners - Fota Island Hotel Resort
Hidden Gems
Overall winner - Mount Wolseley Hotel and Golf Resort
Provincial
Leinster - Macreddin Golf ClubUlster - Portsalon Golf ClubConnaught - Bearna Golf ClubMunster - Mallow Golf Club
Best Golf Club Secretary/Manager - Michael Moss, Portstewart Golf Club
Best Hotel - The Malton Hotel, Killarney
Best Hotel Manager - Michael Davern, The K Club
Best Boutique Hotel - Wineport Lodge, Glasson
Best Restaurant
Leinster - The Lady Helen, Mount JulietUlster - Percy French Inn, Slieve DonardMunster - Rozzers, Killeen HouseConnaught - Tra Ban, Co.Sligo
2015 Golfers Guide to Ireland launch
The 2015 edition of Golfers Guide to Ireland was launched in Druids Glen Golf Club, Wicklow last week (Monday January 19). The Guide has enjoyed 24 uninterrupted years of annual publication making it Ireland’s longest established golf guide. 30,000 copies of the 2015 guide have been printed and is available free of charge through every golf club in Ireland. On line versions have been distributed to golf clubs in Japan, Sweden, the UK and North America.
The 2015 Guide features a comprehensive listing of Ireland’s parklands, links and resorts along with recommended golf hotels and specialist golf accommodations. Readers can enjoy informative articles by RTE’s golf correspondent Greg Allen. Details of open Golf Classics, and open days feature in Kevin Markham’s recommendations, while John Roche, CEO, Confederation of Golf in Ireland outlines his plans for the future of Irish golf. A photograph of the 17th hole at Druids Glen features on the 2015 Guide’s front cover.