Castlerock confirmed as ISPS HANDA World Invitational co-host

Castlerock Golf Club has been confirmed as co-host venue for the 2023 ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics. 

The event will once again return to Northern Ireland later this year and Castlerock will join Galgorm Castle Golf Club in bringing together some of the best players in the men’s and women’s game.

The DP World Tour tournament and co-sanctioned LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour tournament will be played concurrently over the two courses from August 17-20.

The addition of Castlerock, located in Co. Londonderry, brings a unique angle to the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, as players will be tasked with tackling a links layout in addition to Galgorm Castle’s parkland course. 

Castlerock Golf Club, founded in 1901, is a classic links course set amid towering dunes. The original course comprised nine holes and was laid out on the western part of the present course. Additional land was leased in 1908 and Ben Sayers was commissioned to design an 18-hole layout.

Every player will play one round at each venue over the first two days, before all the action takes place at Galgorm Castle once the cut falls after 36 holes. 

Andrew Snoddy, Tournament Director of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, said: “We are delighted to welcome Castlerock Golf Club to the ISPS HANDA World Invitational. 

“It is a stunning links venue and I am excited by the added dimension it brings to the event. It will test every part of the players’ games and having two courses offering a mix of links and parkland challenges further enhances the ISPS HANDA World Invitational’s quest for innovation.”

Bert Mackay, General Manager of Castlerock Golf Club, said: “We have completed a large amount of work on the course over the past number of years so we are incredibly excited to seeing it being put to the test by some of the world’s best in this great co-sanctioned event. 

“Northern Ireland is building a great reputation for putting on incredible golf events and this one will be no different.”

Christina Kim, three-time LPGA Tour winner, said: “Castlerock is one of my favourite courses in Northern Ireland. It is rugged with its beauty, demanding and constantly makes you think. You need to be smart about how you challenge the course and have faith in your abilities. And that’s only part of the reason Castlerock is such a spectacular course. It brings out the best in a player if you allow it to.”

In 2022, Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson picked up his second DP World Tour title in wire-to-wire fashion, while Sweden’s Maja Stark fired a stunning closing round of 63 to win the women’s competition by five strokes.