Irish Mail to launch new competition
Daily Mail
01 Dec 2008
WHEN Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley was asked to design his first ever golf course, he wanted it to be special. And by common consent, at Macreddin Village, he has produced a classic.
So much so that Macreddin has been selected to be the venue for the inaugural final of an exciting new competition which will captivate club golfers - the Irish Mail All-Ireland Fourball Trophy.
Starting in 2009, every golf club in Ireland - Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland - will be invited to select two men and two women to take part in this thrilling new event, in the format most favoured by club golfers. After a series of qualifying rounds, the competition will culminate in a lavish finals weekend at the celebrated Macreddin Village in Co.Wicklow.
The final four men's teams and four women's teams will enjoy a wonderful experience, playing an 18 hole practice round, enjoying the gala draw dinner, then playing the semi-finals and the final to decide which are the champion clubs in Ireland.
The stunning course, which opens to members this week, has already received plaudits for its breathtaking layout, superlative views and the quality of the golfing challenge it offers. This is a championship course, unlike any other in Ireland, and one destined to become one of the leading golf destinations in the world.
Course designer Paul McGinley, who sank the putt that won the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, drew on his years of experience to produce this masterpiece in the 160 acres of the Macreddin Valley.
He said: 'If, like me, you feel that dramatic scenery and a bond with the surrounding landscape and wildlife are integral to any truly great golf course, then Macreddin will thrill you. I've studied closely the elements that make the traditional classic courses great, and contemporised them to be able to deal with the challenges and technology and sheer power of 21st century golf.
'It's championship length, but it's going to be fun. It's in a fantastic setting and if I can get the golf course to match what's already been achieved down there, I will have done a very good job. It's going to be risk-reward - in particular I've used my experiences of Baltray, one of my favourite courses, and also Pinehurst No. 2, the venue for the 2005 US Open.'
Along with the course is its award-winning hotel. Teams who reach Macreddin will stay in the superb BrookLodge Hotel and can enjoy the Wells Spa and a host of relaxing facilities. It all helps to provide a fitting location for the finale of such an important competition.
Macreddin golf club owner Pat Galavan added: 'Paul has done an excellent job with the design. I'm very pleased. Everyone at Macreddin is delighted that we are able to stage the final of such a prestigious new competition so soon after it has opened. It will give Macreddin the stamp of approval.
'The way Paul has designed the course should be ideal for a fourball competition where tactics play such an important part. I expect to see golfers taking on the challenge and going for their shots and that means you are going to see drama right up to the last green.'
Sebastian Hamilton, Editor of The Irish Mail on Sunday, said: 'This will be a new exciting addition to Irish golf, in the most popular format for club golfers. This unique event will, we hope, become quite simply the foremost club contest on the island of Ireland.' |
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