2009 Irish Open-Adare in doubt

brousuka · 06-10-2008 12:45pm #1

According to reports it looks like Adare manor is doubtful to host our national tournament next year unless there is an injection of cash from the PGA or a main sponsor found. Such a pity as the course and infrastructure is superb.

WaldenByThoreua · 06-10-2008 5:02pm

There goes my job for the week....shame, its a great place

irishtoffee · 06-10-2008 5:27pm

Beautiful course but i hope it comes back to the east coast.Road there from Wexford is a nightmare.

callaway92 · 06-10-2008 5:30pm

Would love Waterford Castle

Mister Sifter · 06-10-2008 5:41pm

To get the crowds it surely needs to move closer to the capital? It's a nice idea having it in Adare and all, but it's a long trek to go a watch a day's golf for the majority.

Then again, the success of the tournament isn't all about the fans i suppose. More to do with money to back it. Maybe having it nearer to Dublin will entice more cash?

Niall09 · 06-10-2008 6:01pm

They should play the Irish Open at the Cashen Course at Ballybunion tbh. Such a tough course, id like to see the pro's struggle there

curranjames · 06-10-2008 6:44pm

Yes I have heard it is not happening next year. Has to go down to cash.. They need to get the big players to play in it anyways..

PhilipMarlowe · 06-10-2008 6:54pm

Adare is a great venue for the course and also the town. Access is pretty decent and two years ago I stayed down there on the saturday night and it was hopping... couldn't do it this year but would love to plan a trip there for 2009.

Waterford Castle would be 'interesting' alright... some job for the ferry man!

Wherever it ends up being held, here's hoping for a decent tournament because it's badly needed especially since the european open is gone.

clg23 · 07-10-2008 9:19am

I think it should be played on a links course - The European Club, Portmarnock Donabate or Baltray would be close enough to Dublin to get crowds out.

Would be a shame to have no european tour event in Ireland. It will be tough in the current climate to attract large sponsors and I cant see semi state bodies (Bord Failte, Bord Bia etc) putting much money towards this as they are likely to have their budgets slashed in the upcoming budget.

f22 · 07-10-2008 9:37am

Bring it back to Portmarnock. The pro's love the place and if it's placed right in the calender they can easily slot it into their schedule.

Swinging Looney · 07-10-2008 10:24am

f22 wrote: »

Bring it back to Portmarnock. The pro's love the place and if it's placed right in the calender they can easily slot it into their schedule.

Plus it makes a nice warm up for the British Open. Plus it is ideally situated for travellers to reach. Plus it has loads of car parking. Plus it is a wonderful, natural spectators course. Plus, plus, plus.............

fredmie · 07-10-2008 12:38pm

On Yahoo Answers there are rumours of Mount Juliet doing the 2009 event.

I thought the event was up for renewal this year - is this correct?
It would be great to see it down in the South East - Adare was too far for me to travel last year.

Blunder · 07-10-2008 3:17pm

fredmie wrote: »

On Yahoo Answers there are rumours of Mount Juliet doing the 2009 event.

I thought the event was up for renewal this year - is this correct?
It would be great to see it down in the South East - Adare was too far for me to travel last year.

I dont think the european tour schedule is organised around you though all the same!:D

It was contracted to Adare for 1 more year but I think the European tour has allowed other alternatives to be looked at if Adare cannot hold the event. Sponsorship is the big problem here. Also the timing of the event doesnt allow for a Top Quality field. The prize money in the Event is maybe in the top 12 or 13 of all the events on tour but the Field doesnt reflect that. Its in on in a week where if I was a pro that had Played in the Biggest event outside the majors in the US the week before I'd want to Take that week off before I head to Wentworth for Europes biggest event.

Spectator numbers are not a problem. As far as I know The last two Irish opens have had more people attending than most of the Irish opens in the last 10 years. At the end of the Day where ever the Irish open is played there will be some people who will not be happy about where it is on as it is too far away, not accessible etc. I Actually think that Adare is pretty central for a tournament being only 2 and a half hours from dublin and less than 2 hours from waterford, cork, kerry, Galway, Midlands. Its only 3 and a half hours from most of the North west too so in terms of travel its not too bad.

The Kanes have done Great work on the event and I have spent the last 2 years at the full weeks event and I have to say that they have been two of the most enjoyable weeks of the year. It would be sad to see their effort come to nothing if its not staged in Adare for the final year of their contract.

A.Partridge · 07-10-2008 4:17pm

Swinging Looney wrote: »

Plus it makes a nice warm up for the British Open. Plus it is ideally situated for travellers to reach. Plus it has loads of car parking. Plus it is a wonderful, natural spectators course. Plus, plus, plus.............

Didn't think they would be even interested in golf?

Silver-Tiger · 07-10-2008 5:45pm

European club (my fav course) doesnt have enough viewing points and mount juliet will get butchered by the pro's again, super course but the really burn it up around there. nothing but target golf that course IMO

Sandwich · 07-10-2008 7:16pm

Swinging Looney wrote: »

Plus it makes a nice warm up for the British Open. Plus it is ideally situated for travellers to reach. Plus it has loads of car parking. Plus it is a wonderful, natural spectators course. Plus, plus, plus.............

Plus its in Dublin rather than out in the boondocks - crowds will actually attend.

callaway92 · 07-10-2008 8:51pm

PGA National no?

Sandwich · 07-10-2008 8:54pm

callaway92 wrote: »

PGA National no?

ᘪQue?

Mister Sifter · 07-10-2008 9:23pm

Blunder wrote: »

I dont think the european tour schedule is organised around you though all the same!:D

It was contracted to Adare for 1 more year but I think the European tour has allowed other alternatives to be looked at if Adare cannot hold the event. Sponsorship is the big problem here. Also the timing of the event doesnt allow for a Top Quality field. The prize money in the Event is maybe in the top 12 or 13 of all the events on tour but the Field doesnt reflect that. Its in on in a week where if I was a pro that had Played in the Biggest event outside the majors in the US the week before I'd want to Take that week off before I head to Wentworth for Europes biggest event.

Spectator numbers are not a problem. As far as I know The last two Irish opens have had more people attending than most of the Irish opens in the last 10 years. At the end of the Day where ever the Irish open is played there will be some people who will not be happy about where it is on as it is too far away, not accessible etc. I Actually think that Adare is pretty central for a tournament being only 2 and a half hours from dublin and less than 2 hours from waterford, cork, kerry, Galway, Midlands. Its only 3 and a half hours from most of the North west too so in terms of travel its not too bad.

The Kanes have done Great work on the event and I have spent the last 2 years at the full weeks event and I have to say that they have been two of the most enjoyable weeks of the year. It would be sad to see their effort come to nothing if its not staged in Adare for the final year of their contract.

That could be one thing in its favour next year... it's scheduled for a different week to the TPC.

2009 Irish Open-Adare in doubt

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