Portmarnock Links to host Irish Challenge
Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, the 8th green seen from the 16th tee. Picture: Larry Lambrecht
The Irish Challenge will take place over a links course for the first time when the next generation of golfing stars visits the prestigious Portmarnock Links from May 27-29.
Set in the grounds of the old Jameson Estate St Marnocks, with breath-taking views over the famous five-mile Velvet Strand, Portmarnock Links is a true test of golf which regularly features in lists of Ireland’s best golf courses.
The Championship course was designed by two-time Masters Champion and former World Number One Bernhard Langer and traverses the famous North Dublin dunes, a natural terrain to please the most ardent of links purists.
The visit to County Dublin forms part of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca International Schedule, which comprises 25 tournaments in 15 countries across the world. It begins with a three-week stretch in South Africa before returning to Europe for events in the Czech Republic and Spain, then the trip to Ireland for the Irish Challenge.
The top 20 players on the Road to Mallorca Rankings at the conclusion of the Challenge Tour Grand Final at T-Golf & Country Club, Mallorca, will earn full playing privileges on the European Tour in 2022. The last player from the island of Ireland to graduate from the Challenge Tour was Northern Irishman Cormac Sharvin, who resides in Dublin and who was rewarded for a consistent season with promotion in 2019.
Jamie Hodges, Head of Challenge Tour, said: “We are incredibly excited to be taking the Irish Challenge to Portmarnock Links in May. We have never hosted an Irish event on a true links course before and I know the players will relish the opportunity to compete on the Championship Course.
“I must extend our thanks to everyone at Portmarnock Links and the local authorities in County Dublin for helping us to make this happen.”
Conor Russell, Director of Golf at Portmarnock Links, said: “The team here at Portmarnock Links are delighted to welcome the Irish Challenge to our magnificent Links. The course will represent a wonderful challenge for the players and will give our own home-grown talent an opportunity to shine on the bigger stage.
“We have supported young Irish professionals through our Winter Series and Pro-Ams for many years and, who knows, this could be just the time to bring home an Irish winner.
“We are looking forward, once again, to working with the Tour and developing our relations for the future.”
Challenge Tour — 2021 Road to Mallorca International Schedule
April 22-25 Limpopo Championship Euphoria GC, Modimolle, South Africa
April 29-May 2 Cape Town Open, Royal Cape GC, Cape Town, South Africa
May 6-9 Dimension Data Pro-Am, Fancourt Golf Estate, George, South Africa
May 13-16 Czech Republic Event Confirmed TBC
May 20-23 Spain Event Confirmed TBC
May 27-30 Irish Challenge, Portmarnock Links, Co. Dublin, Ireland
June 3-6 Czech Republic Event Confirmed, TBC
June 10-13 Spain Event Confirmed TBC
June 17-20 Hauts de France - Pas de Calais Golf Open, Aa Saint Omer GC, Lumbres, France
June 24-27 Open de Bretagne, Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André, Pléneuf, France
July 1-4 Czech Republic Event Confirmed, TBC
July 8-11 Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, Le Vaudreuil, France
July 15-18 Euram Bank Open, GC Adamstal, Ramsau, Austria
July 22-25 Italian Challenge, Margara GC, Fubine, Piedmont, Italy
August 5-8 Vierumäki Finnish Challenge, Vierumäki Resort, Vierumäki, Finland
August 11-14 Made in Esbjerg Challenge – Presented by FREJA & Total, Esbjerg GC, Esbjerg, Denmark
August 18-21 Rolex Trophy, Golf Club de Genève, Genève, Switzerland
August 26-29 B-NL Challenge Trophy, The Dutch, Spijk, Netherlands
September 2-5 UK Event Confirmed, TBC
September 9-12 Germany Event Confirmed, TBC
September 23-26, Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos, Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort, Vau Óbidos, Portugal
September 30-October 3 Swiss Challenge, Golf Saint Apollinaire, Folgensbourg, France
October 14-17 Hainan Open, TBC, Hainan Island, China
October 21-24 Foshan Open, Foshan GC, Guangdong, China
November 4-7 Challenge Tour Grand Final, T-Golf & Country Club, Mallorca, Spain
