Moyvalley GC Upgrade by O'Connor Junior

A quick non-Scottish golf blog as this appeared in my inbox a few minutes ago:

“CHRISTY O’CONNOR JNR APPOINTED TO UNDERTAKE THE UPGRADE AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE GOLF COURSE AT MOYVALLEY HOTEL & GOLF RESORT”

The recent news that Irish golfing legend, Ryder Cup player and prolific international golf course

designer Christy O’Connor Jnr has been appointed to upgrade and redevelop the golf course at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort, Co. Kildare has been greatly welcomed by the business and golf community in Co. Kildare.

Last week Christy O’Connor Jnr spoke at a Kildare Tourism event hosted in Ballyna House at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort and gave a brief insight into his course upgrade and development plans for the future;

“Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort is truly a hidden gem in North Kildare, only a stone’s throw away from the capital and Dublin International Airport, located just off the M4 Motorway. I was really taken aback with my first visit around Moyvalley, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been introduced to this magnificent venue previously. The golf course has the making of a very fine golf course and it will be a pleasant task for me to bring the course in line with the top golf courses in Ireland. I am very much looking forward to working closely with the Directors, members and the team here at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort and to welcoming new members on board to this magnificent facility.”

Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort has in recent times been taken over by new owners Ms. Rita Shah, and Ms. Jane Tripipatkul and her son Mark McCarthy who purchased the property with the late Irish racehorse trainer Oliver Brady. Poignantly, the recent “Celebration” event at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort was held in "Memoriam to Oliver Brady and the Shabra Charity Foundation".

Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort is undergoing strategic review in the coming months ahead and the Directors are looking forward to a successful partnership with County Kildare Fáilte and the greater Kildare Tourism network. Speaking about the great news Mr. John Osborne, Chief Executive of County Kildare Fáilte said;

"We, at County Kildare Fáilte, are delighted to support this very special event at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort.  Kildare is a County that features an abundance of hidden gems and authentic heritage hence a key objective of our strategy is to showcase these incredible locations. This celebration event at Moyvalley, reinforces this objective and serves to remind us of the unique heritage that is available on our doorstep.  We wish the team at the Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Course continued success and look forward to an ongoing collaboration".

Significant investment will be now provided for the upgrade and development of the golf course and works will start with immediate effect.

Further details on Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort can be found on www.moyvalley.com

That's it - end of email. It will be intriguing to see what Christy does with the course. Its rather low, flowing, hypnotic rhythm was one of the course's strengths. And the greens were excellent (when I played it in 2008). Christy prefers a higher, more physically daunting appearance along/on fairways and around greens. Should prove an interesting mix.