There are less than sixty days left until the first ball is struck at the revived KPMG Women’s Irish Open taking place at Dromoland Castle from September 22nd to 26th.
It promises to be one of the most spectacular sporting events of the year here in Ireland and yesterday we were part of a Partners Day to see the work that has been going into the course and to get a glimpse of what it will be like for fans.
The event will have a prize fund of €400,000 putting it into the top five events on the Ladies European Tour and the ambition does not stop there.
A €2.3 million investment in the already very special golf course has been front-loaded from an original five-year plan to one that has been executed over 18 months and when pictures from the County Clare venue are broadcast around the world we can only imagine the tourism impact they will have.
KPMG were the brand to say yes to the Title sponsorship on a three-year deal and their long heritage with the sport of golf delivers immediate credibility to an event that has been off the schedule for ten years.
Yesterday we met with a number of other partners whose identities will be revealed and featured here over the coming weeks.
“All of us at Dromoland Castle are delighted to be able to host this event and to support Women’s golf while at the same time aiming to deliver the greenest and most sustainable tournament in Ireland,” said Managing Director Mark Nolan.
The short-term plan is to bring a total of up to 40,000 spectators to the course and it does promise to be an experience to remember.
There will be a spectator village with access around the course which wraps itself around the lake with uninhibited views of the Castle. As is the case with all well run golf tournaments there will be opportunities to engage with the crowds for all the partners on board.
The last time the Irish Open was held in Munster was at the Fota Island resort and record crowds came to that with a real sense of pride that it was a uniquely Munster event.
It is hoped that a similar vibe will attach to this, especially with the extra buzz that came to the region earlier this month with the hosting of the JP McManus pro-am at Adare Manor.
The enthusiasm of Director of Golf Eamonn O’Donnell and the team from Forefront Sports Management led by Cian Branagan was palpable yesterday and the connections being forged between the different partners will also have a long term benefit away from the golf course.
This really is a special event, deserving of attention and support and that is what Sport for Business will deliver for it and its partners over the next nine weeks.
