The Irish Challenge takes place at Portmarnock Links in Dublin, Ireland, from May 27-30 and here is what you need to know before play begins on Thursday…
Good looking links
The Irish Challenge will be played on a links course for the very first time this week at Portmarnock Links. The stunning coastal hotel and golf course is built upon the grounds of the old Jameson Estate of St. Marnocks and was opened for play in 1995. The Links has been the host to several professional events including the Ladies Irish Open in 2008 and 2009. There has been a wealth of investment put into the resort including course upgrades, state of the art gym, creation of a short game area and traditional links pot bunkers. Golf World magazine described the Portmarnock Links as “Everything a links course should be.”
Bernhard’s brilliance
Bernhard Langer is very familiar with the local area, having won the Irish Open three times at the neighbouring Portmarnock Golf Club and Royal Dublin Golf Club, as well as Mount Juliet. The two-time Masters Champion then chose to design the Portmarnock Links as his first links course design. The course has been excellently designed with elevated tees, blind approaches and undulating fairways leading to sizable pacey greens.
Amateur Champions
There is plenty of links experience in the field with six Amateur Champions teeing it up in Dublin this week. James Sugrue, Harry Ellis, Scott Gregory, Bradley Neil, Matteo Manaserro and Michael Hoey all showcased their talent on links ground by winning the prestigious amateur title. Irishman Sugrue won the event at Portmarnock in 2019 by overcoming Scotland’s Euan Walker, who is also in the field this week.
Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy
The highest finishing Irishman this week will take home the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy. The four-time European Tour winner is one of Ireland’s most beloved golfers and sadly passed away in 2016, when the Memorial Trophy was founded in his honour. Past winners of the trophy include Dermot McElroy, Ruaidhri McGee, Connor O’Rourke and Cormac Sharvin.
