Portmarnock Links has just completed its single most successful Winter Series attracting almost all of Ireland’s up and coming young professionals and many of the country’s top amateurs. The Series, which was first played in 2003 has become a real feature of winter golf offering as it does a 7,000 yard Championship links golf course with some of the truest and fastest greens in Ireland. The Series which was played over 23 weeks had an average field of 86 players each week. The involvement of Taylormade Golf as sponsors for the second year in succession undoubtably enhanced the attraction of the event.
Leading tour professionals Paul Dunne, Gavin Moynihan, Robin Dawson, Cormac Sharvin, Paul McBride, Conor O’Rourke, Jonathan Yates, Brian Casey, and Stuart Grehan all featured in the prizes, Casey, Grehan, Yates and Sharvin were all multiple winners as was Michael McDermott from Grange Golf who won the highly lucrative Mac Group Pro-Am over the same course last summer. Robin Dawson signed as the Portmarnock Links Tour Pro during the series.
Leading amateurs were Caolan Rafferty, Conor Purcell, Gary Cullen, Peter O’Keefe and Hugh Foley. Conor Purcell played in the Series prior to winning this year’s Australian Amateur title. The Series also played a key role in helping our top amateurs prepare for last week’s West of Ireland Championship.
Speaking about the Series John Caulfield, head of Taylormade Golf in Ireland said; “We were delighted with the sponsorship of the series. Once again gave us a terrific opportunity to introduce our products to the leading amateur and professional golfers from across the country. We like to associate our brand with the serious golfer and Portmarnock Links plays home to these players for the competitive winter season.”
Portmarnock Links Professional, Conor Russell, emphasised the attraction of there being no winter rules at the Links. “At a time of the year when many Irish courses introduce mats or placing this has never happened at the Links. This is undoubtedly a major attraction as it gives serious players the opportunity to hone their games under proper playing conditions on a Championship class course.
“We pride ourselves on the quality of the course and the speed of our greens during the winter months. This year our Greens Superintendent Fintan Brennan regularly recorded Stimp speeds of 10.4 on our greens. Every year the Winter Series attracts terrific fields.
“Over the years those playing have included many players who have gone on to play at the highest levels of both amateur and professional golf not alone in Ireland but internationally. This year was undoubtedly the best ever.”
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