This article is from page 60 of the 2011-03-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 60 JPG
CLARE tourism is set to benefit on the double from a major golf competition to be staged in the county over a six-month period that will showcase what the county has to offer to golfers around the country.
The Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge is set to attract a big nationwide entry bringing in much sought after golf tourism, while proceeds of the event will also be used to finance a marketing campaign to be formulated for the county for the 2012 season.
In the only competition of its kind in Ireland golfers must play at least five of Clare’s ten golf courses between April and September, after which the top ranking teams will compete in a final to be held at the Greg Norman designed links course in Doonbeg on October 25.
Other participating courses include Lahinch, Dromoland, Ennis, Woodstock, Shannon, Spanish Point, Kilrush, Kilkee and East Clare.
Joe Russell, Chair of the Clare Tourism Forum and General Manager at Doonbeg Golf Club said, “The 2011 Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge offers golfers the unique opportunity to play all ten Clare golf courses, including two of the world’s top 100 ranked courses. This initiative will help secure the continuation of the successful and effective marketing and promotional activities carried out by the Clare Tourism Forum.”
Clare Tourism Forum marketing executive Maureen Cleary commented: “It was wonderful to have had so many golf clubs throughout Clare and surrounding counties represented in the inaugural event in 2010. The standard of golfing also was high and contributed to what has been a hugely successful first year for the Challenge. We hope that this year’s event will once again generate funds that will be injected into much needed marketing and promotional activities during 2012”.
“The Clare Tourism Forum is very grateful to the participating golf clubs, without whose support this event would not be possible,” she added.
The 2010 Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge winning team included team leader Des O’Brien (Kilrush GC), Sean McGuirk (Limerick GC), Bill Hanley (Charleville GC) and Brendan O’Keeffe (Ballykisteen GC), who won the final with a score of 88 points.
Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge entries may be made online at www. clare.ie/golf.