Ireland's PGA professionals will compete for more than €500,000 on the Pro-Am circuit in 2018.

And there will be €16,000 up for grabs at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links on July 16 when the stunning north Dublin resort hosts the richest single day pro-am on the schedule — the "mac-group Portmarnock Links Pro-Am".

The event is expected to attract 50 pro-am teams for morning and afternoon shotgun starts, and the club is confident that all of the top Irish PGA professionals will tee it up as many already have strong links with the course thanks to its popular Tuesday Winter Series.  

"This past winter we have added 80 new members and we are currently creating some exciting new facilities in-house for all our golfers," said Portmarnock Resort Director, Barry O'Connor.

Paul McKenna, founder and CEO of the sponsor "mac-group", is delighted to be involved with a venue that has made no secret of its ambition to host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

"As a member of Portmarnock Links, I have watched closely the on-going programme of works that is transforming the course into one of the finest links courses in Ireland," Mr McKenna said. 

"Portmarnock represents quality, commitment and skill —the tenacity to overcome challenges —these are the same attributes the mac brand conveys.  It’s appropriate for 'mac group' to be associated with a course of such heritage.”

Michael McCumiskey, Regional Secretary of the PGA in Ireland, said that the sponsorship deal was an endorsement of the importance of the role of the PGA professionals in golf in Ireland today. 

The "mac-group" specialises in the construction, restoration and re-purposing of commercial buildings. 

It’s a 100% privately-owned Irish company and has grown steadily since its inception in 2002 with  CEO Paul McKenna attributes this growth to the careful nurturing of relationships.  

“It’s not rocket science," he said.  "We do a good job, and the clients keep coming back to us.” 

The company — www.mac-group.com — has four offices across Ireland and the UK and employs 130 full-time staff.  

As for the “mac-group Portmarnock Links Pro-Am”, entry costs €550 for a team of three amateurs.

For details and bookings, contact resident club professional Conor Russell — email crussell@portmarnock.com or telephone (01) 866 6547.