Ireland’s elite amateurs will face a much-improved Rosses Point links when County Sligo Golf Club hosts the 102nd Connolly Motor Group sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open from April 18-22.

Architect Martin Ebert and DAR Golf Construction are close to completing Phase One of the three-phase course renovation plan, which will present the players with many new challenges from the tee as well as subtle run-offs and enhanced green complexes that will only add to the challenge.

There will be a field of 138 for the Championship with at least six of those emerging from the 90-man, 18-hole West of Ireland Qualifier on April 16.

As for the sponsors, Connolly Motor Group has extended its sponsorship deal for another three years until 2027.

“We are delighted that the Connolly Motor Group have agreed to continue their sponsorship for a further three years,” said men’s captain Robert Fitzpatrick, whose wife Niamh is Lady Captain, making them the first husband and wife captaincy team at the club since Mrs and Mrs Arthur Jackson Jnr in 1931.

“To have a sponsor of the prestige and generosity of Connolly’s allows us to do so much for the players and volunteers. Their support of sport is well recognised and certainly appreciated by many.”

Kevin and Neil Connolly of Connolly Motor Group said: “Connolly Motor Group are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the West of Ireland Championship. As a family-run business in the west of Ireland, we have a huge customer base in the area and are synonymous with golf, so it’s very close to our hearts, and we’re proud to have the entire brand involved.

“It’s a fantastic local tournament, being one of the longest-running amateur golf championships in Ireland, with past winners going on to achieve huge success.”

The sponsorship from the Connolly Motor Group allows Co. Sligo to offer players the best possible experience and also helps in the provision of live radio coverage of the event from Ocean FM,.

As for the golf course, work on Phase One of the renovation of the links began in October last year and players, including defending champion Keith Egan, will face a great test.

Most of the work in the first phase has been on the fairway bunkers, unifying the design to a rough-edged style.

Greenside bunkers will remain revetted.

There are now three large fairway bunkers at the first, where the bush on the left has been removed.

The right-hand fairway bunker at the second has been removed and the rough near the boundary wall cut back.

The fairway bunker on the left has been rebuilt while the run-offs around the second green have been redone, creating more recovery optiins.

The view from the third tee is now even better with a subtle mound on the left blocking the view of the machinery sheds. The green will be rebuilt during a later phase of the renovations.

The par-three fourth green has been extended to the left while the severe run-off on the right-handside has been softened considerably, making it easier to mow without recourse to a fly-mo.

There are now five fairway bunkers on the fifth, rather than eight, and the green has been reduced in size, with the front greenside bunkers now 30 yards short of the putting surface.

There is also a new tee situated centrally in line with the back of the fourth green.

The fairways bunkers on the sixth have also been redone, and some greenside mounding softened somewhat.

The raised seventh tee has been lowered to fairway level, which means balls running through the back of the 14th will no longer run up against the steep bank that formed the left side of the old seventh tee.

The plan is eventually to move the seventh fairway to the left, but for now, the green has been changed, removing the big extension to the right while also creating a subtle run-off area at the back, where balls previously ran up a steep incline, leaving an awkward chip from a severely downhill lie.

The 10th green has also been reduced to its original dimensions, and the left greenside bunker removed, creating a new run-off area on the left and at the rear.

As for the par-five 12th, the pimple in the right rough will be removed, opening up the tee shot.

The tee at the 13th will be raised, offering a better view of the green, while at the 15th, two greenside bunkers on the left have been removed and a subtly undulating run-off area added.

The greenside mound left of the 17th has also been lowered considerably, while at the 18th, two new fairway bunkers, situated left and right of the landing area, appromixately 100 and 120 yards from the green, will give players pause for thought before they reach for the driver.

The green has also been widened at the back following the removal of the back right greenside bunker.