All-Ireland Fourball Trophy launched
Shane Corr, Mannan Castle
| Daily Mail
06 Dec 2008
LEADING Irish golf clubs have given an enthusiastic welcome to the new Irish Mail All-Ireland Fourball Trophy which is officially launched today.
With the final to be played at the spectacular Macreddin course, designed by Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, this championship is a great addition to the Irish club golf scene.
Building on the history of two successful tournaments, the Daily Mail Foursomes and The Mail on Sunday Classic, the most popular and exciting form of golf has been chosen for this brand new event – fourball betterball.
There will be a separate men’s and women’s competition, and every golf club in Ireland is invited to select two men and two women to compete for these prestigious titles. Clubs should go to www.mailgolf.ie to enter.
After a series of qualifying rounds through the spring and summer, the competition will culminate in a lavish finals weekend in September at Macreddin Village in Co.Wicklow, with its stunning championship golf course and award-winning hotel and resort facilities.
Top Irish golfers have already given the competition their support. Milltown's Jody Fanagan, the man who famously beat Tiger Woods in the 1995 Walker Cup, said: ‘I have no doubt that the new competition will prove hugely popular. The fourball format is always exciting and allows every standard of golfer to play a part in the team.
‘My club Milltown has enjoyed much success over the years in Mail golf competitions, albeit without quite winning the ultimate prize, but we have enjoyed ourselves very much along the way. The hospitality was always generous and we made many friends. I look forward to Milltown playing a big part in the final stages of the new competition!’
Irish international Helen Jones, who plays for City of Derry, said: ‘We have loved playing in Mail golf competitions over the years, and we will be doing out best to win this one, though I suspect there will be a lot competition within the club for who should be in the team. We can’t wait.’
And Shane Corr, one of the stars of the Mannan Castle team, which won The 2008 Mail on Sunday Classic just ten days ago, said: ‘We’re already looking forward to it. It will be great to go into the new Irish Mail Trophy as Mail on Sunday Classic champions. And it would be a unique achievement to win back-to-back titles.’
Macreddin Village is the first golf course designed by Paul McGinley, and the Ryder Cup star has produced a modern day classic. This is truly a championship course unlike any other in Ireland and one destined to become one of the leading golf destinations in the word.
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. The par 72 course, boasting panoramic views and measuring 7,173 yards from the back tees, has a delightful variety of holes, some framed by mature tree-lined fairways, others featuring well protected greens and elevated landing areas and tees. The free-flowing brook which weaves its way around the course will add to the drama of the finals.
Paul McGinley says of Macreddin: ‘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 is championship length, but it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be risk-reward.’
The risk and reward holes at Macreddin are ideal for a fourball competition, where tactics play such an important part. In this form of golf, the players will be taking on the course, which will keep the excitement going right up to the last shot on the last green.
At Macreddin, the players reaching the finals weekend will also be able to enjoy the award-winning facilities and celebrated hospitality of the superb BrookLodge Hotel, with its excellent cuisine, and the Wells Spa’s relaxation facilities. It all helps to provide a fitting location for the finale of such an important competition.
HOW IT WORKS
• All bona fide golf clubs in Ireland – Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland – are eligible to enter one men’s team and one women’s team in separate competitions. Juniors are eligible.
• Each competitor must possess a handicap recognised by the Council of National Golf Unions. There are no handicap restrictions.
• Matches will be fourball betterball matchplay. The lowest handicapper is to give shots to the other three players based on three-quarters difference between full playing handicaps.
• If the match is tied after 18 holes, there is sudden death.
• Teams play in knockout qualifying rounds from February to August.
• The semi-finals and finals will be played at Macreddin Village on Sep 6/7.
• There is no entry fee. Home clubs must extend courtesy of the course to visiting players for the match.
• Entries close on January 26. |
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