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Lough Erne loses the Irish Open 2017

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  • Registered Users Posts: 341 ✭✭Dr Devious


    He obviously enjoys playing on the links in Co Kildare instead.:rolleyes::eek:


  • Registered Users Posts: 722 ✭✭✭Hoof Hearted2


    Lets be honest they never really "had it" to lose it, it's abit of a non story there Kev with a suitably negative attention grabbing headline.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,675 ✭✭✭ronnie3585


    I think it's only right that the Irish Open is played on links courses. It will showcase the best we have to offer. Tour players can play a fine parkland course whenever they want, but our links courses offer something a lot more unique and special.


  • Registered Users Posts: 249 ✭✭dwd


    Interesting development alright, I can't imagine the owners of Lough Erne being too happy. I would agree with the sentiment of keeping the event to links courses both North and South, courses like the K Club and Fota Island are lesser cousins of the big resorts in the US, we should be show casing our links courses. I would love to see the Irish Open held at the European Club, now that would be a test, I know it probably never going to happen with it's location and I would think they would have to restrict the number of spectators also.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭dan_ep82


    Lets be honest they never really "had it" to lose it, it's abit of a non story there Kev with a suitably negative attention grabbing headline.

    It said it was announced as the venue 2 years ago by the first minister something or other. All articles are meant to be attention grabbing. Some posts are also negatively attention grabbing.

    I agree the links is what most people talk about on the worldwide forums when Ireland comes up, I just don't think our best parklands can facilitate the crowds so it does make sense.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 722 ✭✭✭Hoof Hearted2


    dan_ep82 wrote: »
    It said it was announced as the venue 2 years ago by the first minister something or other. All articles are meant to be attention grabbing. Some posts are also negatively attention grabbing.

    I agree the links is what most people talk about on the worldwide forums when Ireland comes up, I just don't think our best parklands can facilitate the crowds so it does make sense.

    Very insightful dan_ep82, are you an avid reader of the red tops?, most articles in reputable media sources are not attention grabbing and negatively phrased, but sometimes the the headlines are!.
    This headline could have been phrased differently, but then the people who love a good non story wouldn't have been attracted to it.
    Horses for course I guess!!!.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,895 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    dan_ep82 wrote: »
    It said it was announced as the venue 2 years ago by the first minister something or other. All articles are meant to be attention grabbing. Some posts are also negatively attention grabbing.

    I agree the links is what most people talk about on the worldwide forums when Ireland comes up, I just don't think our best parklands can facilitate the crowds so it does make sense.

    I think you have that arse about tit. Parkland courses like k club, fota, carton are all excellent venues from a crowd point of view. Contrast that with RCD last year and it was brutal from a spectator point of view, Baltray was a bit better, but not a lot


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,119 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    Lets be honest they never really "had it" to lose it, it's abit of a non story there Kev with a suitably negative attention grabbing headline.

    What do you mean by saying they never really "had it "?
    It was publicly announced that they were to host the 2017 Irish Open.

    I can't see how it's a non-story. The article is poorly written though in the fact that it's a little sensationalist without giving any facts to back it up.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,119 ✭✭✭✭PARlance




  • Registered Users Posts: 1,917 ✭✭✭RoadRunner


    is portmarnock no longer suitable for modern opens?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 532 ✭✭✭Telecaster58


    That's a bit of a shame for Lough Erne.
    That said, Portstewart is a superb golf course. Played it about 20 years ago in the Causeway Coast challenge and scored 36 points!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,578 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    RoadRunner wrote: »
    is portmarnock no longer suitable for modern opens?

    Male only policy in Portmarnock doesnt do them any favours re: hosting a national event. Are they trying to rescind that did I hear?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    A couple of things struck me about this announcement, firstly Lough Erne is a fantastic course but some of the walks between greens and tees would put the pros off, especially (I think) the 7th tee where there is a very long walk up a steep hill. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the end of Rory's time as the touring pro there was not exactly amicable. Lastly, it's a bit rich to say it should be links while at the same time hosting/taking the cash in the K Club, don't tell me the competition is there based on the course alone.

    I hope this decision was made for golfing reasons and not McIllroy flexing his muscles.


  • Registered Users Posts: 20,830 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    That's a bit of a shame for Lough Erne.
    That said, Portstewart is a superb golf course. Played it about 20 years ago in the Causeway Coast challenge and scored 36 points!

    Brilliant course and venue.

    K club was a silly pick - in fact Lough Erne should be on it, and K club should never have been picked.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,695 ✭✭✭ForeRight


    davo10 wrote: »
    A couple of things struck me about this announcement, firstly Lough Erne is a fantastic course but some of the walks between greens and tees would put the pros off, especially (I think) the 7th tee where there is a very long walk up a steep hill. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the end of Rory's time as the touring pro there was not exactly amicable. Lastly, it's a bit rich to say it should be links while at the same time hosting/taking the cash in the K Club, don't tell me the competition is there based on the course alone.

    I hope this decision was made for golfing reasons and not McIllroy flexing his muscles.



    That's why he hits the gym so hard. When he flexes those big arms nobody is gonna mess with the big dog.


  • Registered Users Posts: 25,394 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    davo10 wrote: »
    Also, if I'm not mistaken, the end of Rory's time as the touring pro there was not exactly amicable.

    But the place went bust during the crash and there's new owners there now, Rory is hardly holding a grudge against the course itself :confused:


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,895 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    Brilliant course and venue.

    K club was a silly pick - in fact Lough Erne should be on it, and K club should never have been picked.

    So you won't be looking for a ticket then :D :P


  • Registered Users Posts: 20,830 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    Seve OB wrote: »
    So you won't be looking for a ticket then :D :P

    Not a fan of the great Irish tax exile that resides.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,113 ✭✭✭galwaylad14


    I know it's been mentioned here before but is there any hope of getting this event on close to the British Open? I know the Scottish Open is always the week before and they play it on a links and as a result get some of the top international players coming over. But could they not play the Irish Open on a links the week before this again? And have three weeks of links golf in a row? A lot of top players might play the 3 weeks together in order to be really into the swing of the links golf and well used to it in time for the Open.

    Would agree with others who say we are giving up our unique selling point when we don't play it on a links course. There's dozens of top class links courses around, is it just a case that most of them are lacking in the infrastructure to host such an event?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    coylemj wrote: »
    But the place went bust during the crash and there's new owners there now, Rory is hardly holding a grudge against the course itself :confused:

    If I remember rightly, he signed a sponsorship with Jumeriah not long after turning pro and they did not want Lough Erne on his collar, but Lough Erne refused to release him from his agreement and there was a bit of acrimony.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,695 ✭✭✭ForeRight


    If only it was possible to see them all play off the backs in The European Club.
    I'd love to see how they get on bring so familiar with the place myself


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,802 Mod ✭✭✭✭Keano


    ForeRight wrote: »
    That's why he hits the gym so hard. When he flexes those big arms nobody is gonna mess with the big dog.
    Not funny and adding nothing to the debate.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,695 ✭✭✭ForeRight


    Keano wrote: »
    Not funny and adding nothing to the debate.



    Ok sorry boss.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,119 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    davo10 wrote: »
    A couple of things struck me about this announcement, firstly Lough Erne is a fantastic course but some of the walks between greens and tees would put the pros off, especially (I think) the 7th tee where there is a very long walk up a steep hill. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the end of Rory's time as the touring pro there was not exactly amicable. Lastly, it's a bit rich to say it should be links while at the same time hosting/taking the cash in the K Club, don't tell me the competition is there based on the course alone.

    I hope this decision was made for golfing reasons and not McIllroy flexing his muscles.

    They were more than likely going to reroute the course as the 18th is a poor finishing hole in terms of accommodating a grandstand, big crowds etc.

    7 was being considered as the starting hole. That would still leave a Par 3 finish but there's much more room surrounding 6. That would obviously eliminate the walk but I don't think the Pros would make much of it in any case. Carts could have easily been provided too.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,378 ✭✭✭HighLine


    Could you imagine the conversation between Ruddy and The European Tour about having an event down here in Wicklow... "It will cost you 5 million Pat." - "Ehh sorry lads, more like it will cost you 5 million to play it here"

    It's always said about how The Irish Open should be played on links courses because they are such an asset for us.... Fact is, the majority of links tournament courses look poxy from a TV point of view. The Irish Open returning to Druids Glen, when it's in full bloom in late May, shown on modern HD screens. Now that is something I would like to see and would attract foreign visitors.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,917 ✭✭✭RoadRunner


    Male only policy in Portmarnock doesnt do them any favours re: hosting a national event. Are they trying to rescind that did I hear?

    Good call. Found this from last year:
    http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/portmarnock-golf-club-to-consult-members-about-admitting-female-members-1.2205591


  • Registered Users Posts: 25,394 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    RoadRunner wrote: »

    Sounds like a classic 'softening up' process.

    Now lads, we're not going to do anything in haste, we just want ye to think about it..... Meaning that nobody can say 'no' because they're not being asked to make a decision, then they will become so attuned to the proposal that it will go through on the nod in a couple of years time.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,873 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Irish Opens should be on links, that's what visitors want to see and it's a great opportunity for Ireland to shine across the world.
    Personally, I was very surprised to hear it was going there in the first place, how the crowds could be handled given its mad layout and transitions is beyond me.

    My stuff for sale on Adverts inc. outdoor furniture, roof box and EDDI

    Public Profile active ads for slave1 (adverts.ie)



  • Registered Users Posts: 856 ✭✭✭thewobbler


    It's an awful shame for Lough Erne and for that part of the island.

    Some of the comments about the walks between holes are lunacy. If a man can't walk 70 yards uphill (from 5 to 6) then he's not going to last 4 days of a pro tournament. There is no other climb of note on the course.

    My take on Lough Erne is that it would have looked utterly magnificent on TV, much better than any links course. Those lakes, islands, vacant countrysides, as well as the impeccable conditioning and multiple approach shots over water, would give it a truly Loch Lomond air from a 42" screen.

    But I don't know if it was ever a suitable course for the event. I've always said that Faldo mucked up badly by finishing on a (very average) par 3, buys it's become very clear that by ring fencing the club house / hotel with 2 par 3s, he actually didn't consider tournament golf at all. The current layout would have no natural start or endpoint for a tournament.

    I would be surprised if the hotel takes it upon themselves to rebuild 17 as a par 3, making 18 into a drivable par 4 (if you've got big stones). This move would solve the problem for future.

    But the other problem would always have been access. There would have been - for upwards on 80% of visitors - just single bridge to funnel traffic across the Erne, which is already the root at the bottom of Enniakillen's existing bottleneck. It truly would have been appalling, and made worse by almost everyone having 2+ hour journeys when they finally cleared it.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,499 ✭✭✭CMOTDibbler


    thewobbler wrote: »
    But the other problem would always have been access. There would have been - for upwards on 80% of visitors - just single bridge to funnel traffic across the Erne, which is already the root at the bottom of Enniakillen's existing bottleneck. It truly would have been appalling, and made worse by almost everyone having 2+ hour journeys when they finally cleared it.
    I suspect that's the reason. For these events to be a success, you need crowds and if it's inaccessible, you just won't get them.


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