IGTOA discovers the delights of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands

First Prize Winners at the IGTOA and Irelands Hidden Heartlands Golf Competition at Glasson Lakehouse Hotel and Golf Club. (Left to right) Barry Keane (Irish Pro Golf Tour), Paul Mockler (Failte Ireland), Alex McEvoy (Ping), Jenny O’Reilly (Failte Ireland), Dessie Farrell (Failte Ireland’s Golf Tourism Advisory Forum).

The Ireland Golf Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) hosted its first in-person event in 18 months to highlight the golfing experiences available throughout Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

 The IGTOA and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Golf Challenge and Business Networking Dinner, in association with Fáilte Ireland, took place in the newly refurbished Glasson Lakehouse Hotel & Golf Resort in Westmeath.

 Irish accommodation providers, golf clubs, transportation companies, golf resorts and tour operators gathered on the banks of Lough Ree to exchange ideas and insights about the future of golf tourism in not just the heartlands but the entire island of Ireland.

 IGTOA Chairman, Denis Kane, said: “On behalf of the Ireland Golf Tour Operators Association, I am delighted to welcome all the business partners to the IGTOA and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Golf Challenge and Business Networking Dinner in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland. I am confident that this will be the start of a very successful endeavour.”  

 Head of Business development  in Fáilte Ireland, Paul Mockler said: “Fáilte Ireland have, and will continue to support and invest significantly in our golf tourism industry. This includes support of the IGTOA and their member tour operators who drive significant volumes of visitors and revenue to Ireland.

“Vitally, the spread of golf courses around the country offers a significant opportunity to drive sustainable tourism growth to all regions of Ireland and supports an extension of the tourism season – key focus areas of our work in Fáilte Ireland. We are delighted to showcase the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands region and the wonderful golf offering at this year’s IGTOA event – one of our many platforms to support golf providers in the region, to grow their national and international sales.”

The event featured presentations from seven members of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands golf community; the first of several planned initiatives to showcase the region’s exceptional golfing offering to national and international industry members.

The representatives from Mount Temple Golf Club, County Longford Golf Club, Farnham Estate, Slieve Russel Hotel, Ballinasloe Golf Club, Portumna Golf Club and Glasson Lakehouse were also available to discuss potential partnerships with the golf tour operators in attendance.

According to Fáilte Ireland, golf tourism attracted 200,000 tourists annually before the outbreak of Covid-19, with the sector generating €300million in revenue and accounting for 1.6 million bed nights. 

The IGTOA and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Golf Challenge and Business Networking Dinner is a launchpad for the full recovery of one of the most lucrative but niche segments in the Irish tourism industry.