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Irish Open

135

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭Dbu


    14handicap wrote: »
    At the end of the day the course that pays the most gets the event.
    With the Chinese connection it can only be good for golf tourism in Ireland.
    The best courses never get the event mostly because they don't want it.
    Waterville, Ballybunnion, The European club, Lahinch would be the prefect location for such an event and I guarantee you would get some of the top US golfers playing but it will never happen as the courses themselves don't want the event.

    Can you imagine the PR that hosting the Irish open at Old Head would get but not much room for spectators or parking, etc.

    Just my thoughts.

    Patrick Sjoland won the Irish Open in BallyBunion in 2000 the year before Fota's first one


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭RikkFlair


    Ballybunion was kind of a one-off in terms of hosting it, there was a lot of concern at the time about the crowd volumes damaging the sand dunes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    RikkFlair wrote: »
    Ballybunion was kind of a one-off in terms of hosting it, there was a lot of concern at the time about the crowd volumes damaging the sand dunes.

    Ya, there are plenty of reasons why the Open isn't on in Ballybunion, I'd doubt very much they just don't want it.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 83 ✭✭14handicap


    PARlance wrote: »
    Why do you think such clubs don't want to host it?
    What's their reasons for not wanting it?

    I think the romantic day of the best US golfers coming over to play a great links course on the Emerald Isle is long gone.
    Money talks and the Irish Open isn't even a whisper.
    Even the premier European Tour events struggle to get much interest from the PGA players.
    They also have they Scottish Open if they want to get some link practice in advance of The Open.

    Because the spectators damage the course and with links that would include dunes, etc. Also parking around such venues would be a problem.
    Carton house and Fota are a long way from being close to the top Irish courses.

    Also if you had the Irish open (on a links), then Scotland then the Open championship we would get the big boys.

    There is nothing of any high profile on the US PGA tour the two weeks before the Open championship in the US.

    If I wanted to win a Major (the Open) then I would be in Ireland playing championship links golf instead of the The Greenbrier Classic in the US. None of the top 20-30 in the World rankings need the money and would all swap it for a serious shot at a MAJOR.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,613 ✭✭✭BigChap1759


    14handicap wrote: »
    Because the spectators damage the course and with links that would include dunes, etc. Also parking around such venues would be a problem.
    Carton house and Fota are a long way from being close to the top Irish courses.

    Also if you had the Irish open (on a links), then Scotland then the Open championship we would get the big boys.

    There is nothing of any high profile on the US PGA tour the two weeks before the Open championship in the US.

    If I wanted to win a Major (the Open) then I would be in Ireland playing championship links golf instead of the The Greenbrier Classic in the US. None of the top 20-30 in the World rankings need the money and would all swap it for a serious shot at a MAJOR.

    The problem is having the required infrastructure to support a modern tournament of this size - most of the old links just don't have this.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 892 ✭✭✭Ben1977


    I seem to remember very few Americans at portrush. The tournament is down the pecking order with the PGA and European tours. The only way to get the big names in is a big purse from a sponsor.

    The dunes would stand up to the crowds. I think the storm over the last couple of weeks proves that.

    Don't think Lahinch, Waterville are any harder to get to then portrush. Portrush was any example to all other courses. Even with a couple of bad days weather, they managed a great tournament that was talked about for a long time after it finished


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    14handicap wrote: »
    Because the spectators damage the course and with links that would include dunes, etc. Also parking around such venues would be a problem.
    Carton house and Fota are a long way from being close to the top Irish courses.

    Also if you had the Irish open (on a links), then Scotland then the Open championship we would get the big boys.

    Then it's not just the case of Links courses not wanting it.

    14handicap wrote: »
    If I wanted to win a Major (the Open) then I would be in Ireland playing championship links golf instead of the The Greenbrier Classic in the US. None of the top 20-30 in the World rankings need the money and would all swap it for a serious shot at a MAJOR.

    I didn't see too many of the Worlds top 20-30 golfers in Royal Portrush in 2012.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,026 ✭✭✭spacecoyote


    The difference with this year though is that it is a qulaifying event for the open isn't it, or did I hear info incorrectly?

    That in itself would surely be an incentive for a few names looking for a late chance to play in the open?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    The difference with this year though is that it is a qulaifying event for the open isn't it, or did I hear info incorrectly?

    That in itself would surely be an incentive for a few names looking for a late chance to play in the open?

    Yip, 3 spots available which is great for the Irish Open, but in terms of bringing the elite to Ireland that won't have much of an influence....they will have their spot booked.
    It should lead to a stronger field, which is only a good thing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭Dbu


    Players choose their schedule on 3 factors

    1. Their sponsors..If they have any links with particular course, region ie sponsors head office there etc etc. In other words if you pay the big dough you call the tune

    2. The purse..money means points

    3. Courses they actually like and play well on. options 1 and 2 far outweigh this one


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭penfold83


    I wonder are the European Tour aware that Fota have three weddings booked into the clubhouse over the four days of the Irish Open....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭Dbu


    penfold83 wrote: »
    I wonder are the European Tour aware that Fota have three weddings booked into the clubhouse over the four days of the Irish Open....

    All the top guys last time stayed in Hayfield Manor, others rented properties in Cobh and surrounding areas


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭penfold83


    It wouldn't be the accommodation I'd be worried about. It's the clubhouse itself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭Dbu


    penfold83 wrote: »
    It wouldn't be the accommodation I'd be worried about. It's the clubhouse itself.

    How do you mean Penfold? looks alright to me when i was there last:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,305 ✭✭✭slingerz


    Weddings are in the hotel, a separate building altogether from the clubhouse.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭penfold83


    Logistically, it's gonna be awkward isn't it? If you have 150 wedding guests or however many it is, hanging around in the clubhouse bar all day.

    Was anyone at the Irish Open in Fota the last time? What do they use the clubhouse bar for? Surely it's some sort of VIP area...?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    Dbu wrote: »
    How do you mean Penfold? looks alright to me when i was there last:D

    I think the angle is that it would be very unlikely that 3 weddings will be taking place while the Irish Open is going on.

    And the invitations will have been sent by now I'd say!!! :D

    Could lead to a little bit of compo for the 3 of them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭Dbu


    http://www.fotaisland.ie/Cork-Hotel

    Weddings are in Hotel, which is away from the clubhouse


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 493 ✭✭hades


    slingerz wrote: »
    Weddings are in the hotel, a separate building altogether from the clubhouse.


    They have weddings in both the hotel and club house. But they are treated as totally separate entities. Just like 2 different hotels next to each other.

    I'd imagine they won't have any weddings booked for those dates tho.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭penfold83


    Dbu wrote: »
    http://www.fotaisland.ie/Cork-Hotel

    Weddings are in Hotel, which is away from the clubhouse


    They definitely have weddings in the clubhouse also ... http://www.fotaisland.ie/Weddings-at-the-Golf-Club

    You never know, they might have double booked themselves due to the fact that the Irish Open wasn't on the cards at all until the Chinese took over in the summer.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 493 ✭✭hades


    The only thing i'm worried about is if i'll get access to the Academy, let the pro's use the East Cork GC Driving Range. I'm not paying €200 a year to slump it with Messrs McIlroy and Co. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    I can see it now, Hades, ssbob and all the cute Cork wh*res following Rory around the course in their best suits after blagging their way into the Open. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭penfold83


    PARlance wrote: »
    I think the angle is that it would be very unlikely that 3 weddings will be taking place while the Irish Open is going on.

    And the invitations will have been sent by now I'd say!!! :D

    Could lead to a little bit of compo for the 3 of them.


    I was chatting to somebody who works in Fota resort last night. They actually do have three weddings booked in the clubhouse over the Wednesday-Sunday of the Irish Open.

    Bit **** for the couples involved.... if they're not into golf.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,138 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    penfold83 wrote: »
    I was chatting to somebody who works in Fota resort last night. They actually do have three weddings booked in the clubhouse over the Wednesday-Sunday of the Irish Open.

    Bit **** for the couples involved.... if they're not into golf.

    I wasn't doubting that they have them booked (the brides probably have them booked since the Open was in Portrush :) ), but do they think the weddings will go ahead?
    With 20-30 thousand people around at the weekend, I can't see them being able to host a wedding, I'm sure the Tour would have something to say too.

    I would be guessing that the couples may have to be asked to move once it's confirmed.

    I'm may be corrected but I'm pretty sure Carton House (a big venue in itself) was pretty much taken over by the tour last year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭penfold83


    PARlance wrote: »
    I wasn't doubting that they have them booked (the brides probably have them booked since the Open was in Portrush :) ), but do they think the weddings will go ahead?
    With 20-30 thousand people around at the weekend, I can't see them being able to host a wedding, I'm sure the Tour would have something to say too.

    I would be guessing that the couples may have to be asked to move once it's confirmed.

    I'm may be corrected but I'm pretty sure Carton House (a big venue in itself) was pretty much taken over by the tour last year.

    Yep I'd say it would be fairly tricky to juggle all that over the same weekend.

    I can't imagine that having three weddings on during the Irish Open was included as part of Fota's tender document. If I was Carton House, who obviously lost out as a result, I don't think I'd be too pleased about it. And if I was the European Tour, I don't think I'd be too pleased about it either.

    Perhaps the couples will just be given a free wedding on another date, or something similar.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 511 ✭✭✭D Hayes


    I heard it mentioned on the radio today that they may do some work to the course before the Irish Open. Extending holes by moving tee-boxes, in particular.

    Also, for anyone familiar with the course, the recent storms have uprooted the massive tree on the first hole, which used to stop you cutting the corner from the tee. Will be interesting to see how that's dealt with.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    I heard it mentioned on the radio today that they may do some work to the course before the Irish Open. Extending holes by moving tee-boxes, in particular.

    Also, for anyone familiar with the course, the recent storms have uprooted the massive tree on the first hole, which used to stop you cutting the corner from the tee. Will be interesting to see how that's dealt with.

    That tree used to be a magnet for my tee shots for a while!! Only thing is, I don't think it would be in play much for the pros, even from the back tees. Even with it gone I don't think it's a line they would use. It's a hole that will look a bit bare without it there though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 511 ✭✭✭D Hayes


    Here's a rough estimate of the distance. I'd love to see the big hitters have a pop off the green. Although there's OB on the right, and it's uphill, so I doubt it. Probably a wood/iron for position.

    ps419xN.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 249 ✭✭pinseeker


    Here's a rough estimate of the distance. I'd love to see the big hitters have a pop off the green. Although there's OB on the right, and it's uphill, so I doubt it. Probably a wood/iron for position.

    ps419xN.png

    Straight out over the tree is the only way to go :) , not an issue at all from whites and off blues the line isn't over the tree. For me its big loss tho as takes a big visual element from the hole and if they put in bunkers they might not be in play for pros from tee.

    They are adding new tees and 9 bunkers so will be interested to see over coming months where the new tees will be. i have been told of few that might be added. 18th is one obviously


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 218 ✭✭burnhardlanger


    I'd like to volunteer/marshal during the event.
    Would the team be selected from the clubs membership or are there any pre-requisites for applying?


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