Let's Play Golf Open - a Very Irish Challenge

Next week the Golfer’s Guide to Ireland will be appearing in clubhouses around the country. In its 22nd year, it includes an article on the 12 big golf challenges that take place across our beautiful country.

Now that number has risen to 13 – or should that be 131 given our suspicious nature – with the launch of the inaugural Let’s Play Golf Open, organised by Concierge Golf, a company founded and run by John Dooley, the former Club Professional at Doonbeg.

[UPDATE: MARCH 8TH 2013]
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ONE ROUND OF GOLF AT DOONBEG, ON SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER. AS SUCH IT HAS BECOME PART OF THE IRISH PAIRS GOLF LEAGUE (click for details) THE INFORMATION BELOW IS THEREFORE OUT OF DATE... BUT MAY INTEREST YOU FOR NEXT YEAR.

Concierge Golf has put together a four night/three round tournament package at three of the greatest golf courses in Ireland: Adare, Doonbeg and Lahinch. The courses need no introduction and the combination of parkland and links adds to the tournament.

The event will run from 2nd - 6th October, 2013, and golfers will be accommodated for the four nights at The Atlantic Hotel, in Lahinch.

There will be a wide range of prizes and plenty of entertainment for all the players to enjoy.

Event Schedule

2nd Oct, 8pm Registration at the Atlantic Hotel

3rd Oct, Adare G.C

4th Oct, Lahinch G.C

5th Oct, Doonbeg Lodge G.C, presentation and final night’s entertainment

6th Oct, Depart 

Doonbeg's short par three 14th

Format

With all of these tournaments the set up is often what sets them apart. The Let’s Play Golf Open is one of only two such tournaments which includes accommodation in the package (the other is the Dunmore East Classic), but the format will also add an interesting proposition. A) it’s a two player team event; B) the scoring system changes over the three days:

·      Day 1 Singles Stableford, full handicaps & combined scores to count.

·      Day 2 Better ball, Stableford and 3⁄4 of the player’s full handicap.

·      Day 3 Better ball, Stableford and 3⁄4 of the player’s full handicap.

There will be a limit of 16 two-player teams.

Handicap certificates will be required one month in advance of the event.

Adare's par three 16th

Prizes

If there has ever been one gripe that I’ve had about prizes for these tournaments, it is that they are invariably crystal. Some people love it – me, not so much. And this tournament comes up trumps on that front as well.

1st prize is sponsored by Drive Golf Performance (the total club fitting session).  

2nd, 3rd and 4th Prizes will be sponsored by Concierge Golf, but are unlikely to be crystal!

If you are one of the lucky golfers who scores a hole in one on the selected par 3s, you could win a 6 day trip for 2 people to the 2014 US Masters, or a €1,500 Omega watch of your choice, or a €1,000 Kuoni holiday voucher or a €750 voucher for your local Pro shop. All in all, a nice little extra touch.

Lahinch's opening drive on a par four up the slope.

The Price

€439 per player. Based on four nights’ accommodation, that works out at €110 per night, including golf on courses where the green fee is typically over €100. That’s a good price – toss in the fact that there will be 16 teams going after four prizes and the odds are pretty good. 

A deposit of €120.00 per team (€60 per player) is required on booking and the remainder will be required three months in advance of the event. The 1st of March is the closing date for entries.

If you want to enter or need more info, please contact John Dooley at Concierge Golf.

Email: john@conciergegolf.ie

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Follow Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlayGolfOpen

Website: www.conciergegolf.ie

Tel: +353 21 240 9110