2021 fixtures released; The European Club to stage Flogas Irish Amateur Open
The 17th at The European Club
The links at The European Club will test the cream of Irish and international golf when it hosts the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open from October 15-17.
The stunning Co Wicklow venue, which steps in as a replacement for Galway Golf Club, has already hosted seven major championships — two Irish Men’s Close Championships (Rory McIlroy 2006, Robbie Cannon 2018), two Irish Women’s Close Championships (Alison Coffey 2001, Tricia Mangan 2006), and three Irish Professional Championships (Pádraig Harrington 2007-9),
The new date and venue was revealed when Golf Ireland released its adjusted fixture list for 2021.
The calendar features a host of changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic with several events rescheduled for autumn.
They included the Irish Women’s and Girls’ Amateur Open Championships, which are also now set for 15-17 October at County Louth, the same weekend as the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open at The European Club.
Moving these championships also ensures they will now coincide with the Carey Cup Match against the Metropolitan Golf Association, which will take place on the Montgomerie Course in Carton House on 12-13 October. Fittingly in the inaugural year of Golf Ireland this match will include mixed teams for the first time.
The Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship, originally scheduled for 8-12 May, will be a 72- hole stroke play event from 13-15 August at Tullamore with the club moving its Captain’s Day to accommodate the event.
The Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open Championship will be played at Donegal on 20-22 October.
The international dimension of many of Golf Ireland’s events is obviously dependent on the pandemic and its possible impact on international travel.
Golf Ireland is closely monitoring this and will continue to consult with the relevant government departments and agencies in both jurisdictions with a view to plans for these events, and also for the staging of the European Women’s Team Championship, scheduled for Royal Co Down on 6-10 July.
Castle supporters during an inter-club event. Picture: Cashman Photography
At regional level, several important fixtures will also assume new positions in the calendar, including the Munster Women’s and Girls’ Championships, the Munster Men's Stroke Play, the Ulster Women’s and Girls’ Championships and the West of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship, the latter moving from its traditional Easter date to the first weekend in September.
Meanwhile, the draws for inter-club competitions will be conducted by Golf Ireland’s four Regions over the next fortnight, and published later this month, with the intention of commencing no earlier than the middle of May, subject to public health restrictions.
This season’s inter-club competitions will see a return of the foursomes format to events that have traditionally been played in such a way, with special safety measures to be communicated to competitors in advance of the start of the competitions.
Golf Ireland hopes to conclude the postponed 2020 AIG All Ireland Cups and Shields Finals at Donegal Golf Club as soon as possible, almost certainly in May.
Mark Wehrly, Director of Championships with Golf Ireland, said: “We know that golf is a low-risk activity and are hopeful of a return at club level for our sport very soon, after which we will look to progress towards running our competitions throughout the summer and autumn.
“We’re very grateful to all of our host clubs for their forbearance and continued enthusiasm in helping us to achieve this. At such a difficult time for everyone in the industry, it is a testament to them that we are able to present such a comprehensive fixture plan for the year ahead.
“There are still some uncertainties in the road ahead and we will continually review our schedule as well as our plans for managing COVID-19 at event, but as things stand we hope to be very busy this season.”
Online entry is expected to open before the end of March though there are major changes to the entry criteria for many events as the new World Handicapping System goes through a period of adjustment.
For instance, entry to 120-man field for the Irish Amateur Close will be for he top 20 on the 2020 Bridgestone Order of Merit and top 30 on the 2019 Bridgestone Order of Merit.
The remaining places filled in order of Handicap Index at the close of entries, up to 10 places short of the full field with those 10 places potentially being filled by entrants who in the view of the Committee should be in the field but have been omitted due to the vagaries of the new system.
As for the ISPS HANDA Ulster Men’s and Women’s Open Strokeplay set for Royal County Down from May 31 to June 1, the top two men and the top woman will be given entry into the ISPS Handa World Invitational Tournament at Galgorm Castle.
The Committee, in their discretion, may allocate a further place to a female competitor.
