Taylormade Golf has confirmed it will sponsor the hugely popular Portmarnock Links Winter Series for the third year in succession. This year’s series, which will commence on Tuesday 1st October, will take in a total of 26 Tuesdays through to the final event on 31st March 2020.
The series, which has become a real feature of winter golf in Ireland, has attracted almost all the leading names in Irish golf since it started in 2003. Taylormade first became involved in 2017 and their involvement has undoubtedly played a major role in ensuring that last year’s series was one the most successful in the history of the event.
The 2018/2019 Series featured leading tour professionals Paul Dunne, Gavin Moynihan, Robin Dawson, Cormac Sharvin, Paul McBride, Conor O’Rourke, Jonathan Yates, Brian Casey and Stuart Grehan who all featured in the prizes. Casey, Grehan, Yates and Sharvin were all multiple winners as was Michael McDermott from Grange Golf who had previously won the highly lucrative Mac Group Pro-Am over the same course in 2018. Robin Dawson signed as the Portmarnock Links Tour Pro during the series.
Speaking on the decision to continue their sponsorship, John Caulfield, Head of Taylormade Golf in Ireland said; “We have been delighted with the sponsorship of the series. It 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.
“This year we will once again have a number of exciting new products which we will certainly be featuring at Portmarnock.”
The format of the Winter Series is singles strokes with three gross and three net prizes every week. It is open to both male and female professionals and amateurs (handicap limit 9). For the amateurs, all competitions are counting competitions for handicap.
Last year was the second year for the Series to incorporate an Order of Merit – The M5 Sprint – for both the professionals and amateurs. This is a feature that will continue for the new Series. The Order of Merit prizes will be in addition to the weekly prizes. Based on previous years, it is expected that an average of 80 – 90 players will participate each week.
Speaking of the Series, Portmarnock Links Head Professional, Conor Russell emphasised the fact that there are 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 7,000 yard Championship class course.
“We pride ourselves on the quality of the course and the speed of our greens during the winter months. 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 only in Ireland but internationally as well.”
Entries can be made by directly contacting the Pro Shop at the Links on 01 866 6592
For further information, email Conor Russell at crussell@portmarnock.com
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