The great and the good were in attendance for the launch of the 2019 edition of Golfers Guide to Ireland this week where their annual awards were handed out alongside the Irish PGA Region awards.
Minister of State at the Dept. of Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle TD. was on hand at Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort to do the honours and after 28 uninterrupted years of annual publication, the Golfers Guide, and publisher Paddy McCarthy put on a fantastic evening.
Of course this was an evening to celebrate the publishing of the guide and to hand out the annual awards, of which there were plenty. IGM were in attendance with a particular interest on the Irish PGA Awards which went to:
Player of the Year: Simon Thornton
Coach of the Year: David Kearney
5 Star Professional: David Keating
Toby Sunderland Award: David Rock
Development Award: Gordon Smyth
Lifetime Achievement Award: Eamonn Darcy
We were absolutely delighted for all these winners but especially our good friends David Keating and Gordon Smyth. David has recently moved on from his long-time position at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club and is looking for new challenges while Gordon operates (along with Ciaran Cahill) the successful Irish Kids Golf Tour, of which IGM is a proud media partner and which encourages kids from 7-13 years of age to take up the game and get out and play in competition.
It was also great to see Simon Thornton win player of the year and get some reward for all his hard work throughout the year. He’ll have to make some room on the mantlepiece for the beautiful Tipperary Crystal vase now!
Of course, following his retirement from professional golf is was only fitting that Eamonn Darcy receive the lifetime achievement award and he gave a wonderful account of some his career highlights in a Q&A with RTE’s Greg Allen during the proceedings with the quote of the night being related to his swing with his comment being, “Every cripple has his own way of walking”.
The 2019 Golfers Guide features a comprehensive listing of Ireland’s parklands, links and resorts along with recommended golf hotels and specialist golf accommodations and publisher, Paddy McCarthy, said the Golfers Guide to Ireland had become an essential part of the travelling golfer’s kit when planning a trip to or within the island of Ireland. ‘Historically we have been involved in Ireland’s golf industry for over a quarter century and I am happy to say the industry continues to join with us in marketing their businesses home and overseas’, he said.
Congratulations to all the winners and we’ll have more on them in the coming days.
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