Waterways Ireland World Corporate Golf Challenge

One of the things I love about these big ‘international’ style events is that they always take place on top tier courses. Why create a splash if you can’t do it in the biggest pond. The Waterways Ireland World Corporate Golf Challenge is certainly set to make a splash as it arrives at Lough Erne on Tuesday 25th September. The Faldo Course at Lough Erne has water on a dozen holes, so those participating are likely to be visiting the wet stuff at some point.

[Photo: Some of the ‘wet stuff’ around the 7th green]

This ‘Challenge’ is designed for businesses large and small and it is the Irish qualifier for the World Corporate Golf Challenge. The winners will head off on an all-expenses paid trip (flights, golf, all WCGC official functions) to represent Ireland at the 2013 World Final, making it one attractive proposition if your golf is on song at the moment.

Teams enter as pairs, so if you want to impress a supplier, reward a valued customer or suck up to the boss why not enter and enjoy one of Ireland’s best parkland courses. Set in County Fermanagh and promising a five star resort, the event offers plenty of ‘extras’ for its Stg £220 per team (N.B. accommodation is not included). 

 [Photo: The par three 3rd hole, in the woods]

A Bird’s Eye View

On Monday 24th September, the event kicks off with an opening ceremony and drinks reception on “Kestrel”, a boat which will be moored on Lough Erne Resort’s jetty.

On the 25th, the day promises breakfast on arrival, buffet lunch, a gift bag and a range of water-based activities (it is sponsored by Waterways Ireland after all!) on Lough Erne throughout the day… not forgetting the 18 hole competition.

[Photo: The approach to the short par four 10th, on what Lough Erne considers its Signature Hole]

The golf course plays through glorious woodland and then out to the lake as it stretches across a private 600-acre peninsula between Lower Lough Erne & Castle Hume Lough. It has a lazy pace, wild and untouched rough, and sleek greens. It is thrilling and, despite the water, this is one relaxing round of golf that every level of golfer can enjoy. It makes it the perfect venue for such an event…

20 Countries

… an event which takes place in more than 20 countries worldwide. To date, over 1 million golfers have taken part since the inception of the Waterways Ireland World Corporate Golf Challenge in 1993. Now that the qualifier is taking place at Lough Erne, there are plenty of reasons to participate.

[Photo: The nerve-wracking tee shot on the par four 17th, with the resort behind]

Lough Erne was voted Golf Resort of the Year (Irish Golf Tour Operators Association 2010) and Northern Ireland’s Hotel of the Year (Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2011), so go the extra mile and spend the night on Monday 24th.

“These events are always great fun, and very competitive! Representing not only your company but potentially also your country adds an extra dimension to the day. We’re looking forward to a big turn out and an exciting tournament for the Waterways Ireland World Corporate Golf Challenge,” says Lynn McCool, Director of Golf and Head Professional at Lough Erne Resort.

For further information or to enter, please contact the Golf Shop at Lough Erne on 028 6634 5766 or e-mail golfshop@lougherneresort.com or contact Director of Golf & Head Professional Lynn McCool on lmccool@lougherneresort.com

Alternatively, visit www.posnettgolf.com for special offers including a free practice round and accommodation rates.
 http://www.Facebook.com/worldcorporategolfchallenge.com>

http://www.posnettgolf.com/World-Corporate-Challenge.aspx
 http://www.worldcorporategolfchallenge.org

Lough Erne and heavy metal?

Lough Erne Golf Resort is a big, elegant and glamorous venue. It is only open a couple of years but you wouldn’t know from the exceptionally high maintenance that makes fairways play like carpet and greens flow like silk. And, alongside Old Head, it is the most pampered golf experience you will encounter on the island.

[Photo: the view from the 1st tee of the hotel, clubhouse and lodges]

After our adventures in Rosses Point, Dad and I made it in plenty of time to the outskirts of Enniskillen, and into Northern Ireland. Neither of us had brought Sterling, so we wondered how that would affect things. It is undoubtedly a problem for many visiting golfers (and tourists) who see no border as they pass between south and north.

To enter the resort you drive through the Castle Hume Golf Club (a sister club of sorts, but please don’t play it by mistake) and past the big clubhouse. You cross a bridge and you have arrived. The trouble is, it’s not that easy to figure out what you’ve arrived at. The first building is the hotel and everything has been built to blend together, so you’re not sure if it’s hotel or clubhouse. Keep going. There is then a run of lodges and, tucked in between, you’ll find the clubhouse.

We drove past and kept going, looking for somewhere to park. The place was packed – it was something common to all the clubs we played.

If you like to be pampered and treated like royalty, then the experience starts when you arrive at the check-in desk outside the clubhouse: you will be greeted and welcomed; you will be asked what time you’re playing, whether they can get your buggy, fetch your golf clubs from the car and generally make life easier for you. And all done with genuine friendliness and courtesy. The golf shop is the same – and it’s one of those shops that has everything and is well stocked. The Lough Erne Challenge is prominent and you can buy momentoes of Darren and Rory’s victory over Padraig and Shane. North vs. South. If only all the North’s difficulties could be resolved this way.

[Photo: the walk to the 1st uses a bridge to get you there]

We ate fish & chips in the dining room next door, listening to gentle music drift from the speakers overhead, wondering who had selected the music as it turned to heavy metal. This is not a ‘heavy metal’ type of place. Then again, what golf club is? The menu is good, the food excellent, and you can have Faldo wine if you so choose. We didn’t.

Outside we met Lynn McCool, the Director of Golf and head professional. Her office is just behind the check-in desk and she brought me in to introduce me to Amen Corner.

A red mist descended. There are certain things guaranteed to rile me: clichés like ‘hidden gem’; ‘you’ll use every club in the bag’; and ‘we have an Amen Corner’ are high on the list. There is one Amen Corner, and it’s at Augusta National, Georgia, not in Ballygobackwards where you have a handful of interesting holes that happen to be difficult.

“There,” Lynn said, pointing at the computer screen. Not holes, but courses. On screen were Rosses Point, Donegal and Lough Erne golf clubs. “A perfect triangle,” Lynn said. “Our own Amen Corner.”

[Photo: the approach to the par four 2nd.]

The three clubs form a perfect triangle and they are putting together a special offer to play all three. It’s a novel take on the Amen Corner idea, but it brings together three top class courses: parkland and links.

Now here’s the thing: I’ve had comments about Hooked that I clearly rate links above parkland, and that is true. The reasons are many, but that does not mean I dislike parkland. Far from it. I like it in a different way. You can’t beat the elegance, the trees, rivers and lakes, the soft greens and that easy rhythm.

Lough Erne satisfies on all these fronts, and the long bridge that takes you to the 1st tee is a perfect and unique appetiser.

We had a buggy and I got the distinct impression that the course is designed to be played by buggy, and not by foot. Then again, the course is built in an environmentally sensitive area (signs for bats and otters are evident) and they don’t want people trekking into certain areas where they could do damage. You’ll find this as you leave the 1st green where you have to take the long way round to reach the 2nd tee.

There’s no doubt you can have some fun in the buggy too, and they will have a few damaged vehicles if they’re not careful. The blacktop weaves through the trees on the 2nd hole like a run of chicanes, and one wrong move will send you into a tree. Who said golf wasn’t dangerous.

[Photo: the par five 9th green sits over the water, the halfway house to the right.]

The wind from the morning persisted, adding considerably to the challenges: first, it tunnelled down the early woodland holes, then swept across the hilltop for holes 6 and 7 (where a sign proudly proclaims that Rory was the first person to drive the green 396 yards away – it’s a dogleg), before finding more woodland and lakeland holes to charge along. It gave Lough Erne some teeth. This is a course where shots fall into two categories: relatively easy driving and tricky, dangerous approaches. From the white tees, the course is just 6,241 yards so it’s not long by any means for a Par 72, but those approaches and artful design make you work hard. (There are also blue tees, 6700 yards, and black tees, 7167 yards.)

Our original plan had been for dad to drive and me to play. After three consecutive rounds I thought dad would be happy for the rest. Not a bit of it. There was only one hole he didn’t play because he thought it looked boring (the 12th), and he insisted on playing the 18th which was voted the best par three in the British Isles by Golf World, in May 2010. Two things to point out there: it’s not often you get a new, ultra plush course finishing with a par three; and it is in no way the best par three in Ireland, let alone the British Isles. A fine par three, to be sure, but the best? I think not.

[Photo: the par five 14th shows off the wildness/manicured contrast]

How you view Lough Erne will depend on how you like your parkland golf. Pampered, polished and perfect is the order of the day here. There is drama and beauty, and a wonderful contrast of manicured vs. wild on almost every tee box. Views from 6 and 7 are heart-warming and the Lough is never far away.

[Photo: the par four 10th. Designed for you to go for it]

I only have two requests of you if you visit this premier venue: play off the back tee on 16, which is right beside the 15th green – it is an awesome drive; and have a go at driving the signature hole 10th – it is 294 yards downhill, with the green sitting out in the lake. You’ll probably lose your ball, but oh those bragging rights if you make it!

Lough Erne gets Cool

It's great to know that Lough Erne Golf Resort is keeping up its high profile with some quality appointments. Rory McIlroy already represents Lough Erne on both the European and US PGA Tours, and now the resort has appointed 37 year old Lynn McCool as the head professional.

Born in Ireland, Lynn has considerable experience behind her. She is a former European, Asian and South African Tour pro, and she was head pro at the K Club when it hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006. She was also the director of golf at the Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club in Co. Antrim.

Lynn has done well for herself. After winning several amateur titles, including the Ulster Girls Championship, she won a golf scholarship to the University of Hawaii. I bet that was a hard decision for her to make: the climate of Ireland vs. the climate in Hawaii.

Her golf work has been broad: she has run golf schools and corporate golf days, as well as working on marketing and advertising campaigns. I imagine the latter will come in use as the downturn bites and the glamourous resorts struggle that much more.

And seeing as she's a rather attractive lady, she has also graced Sky Sports Ireland and BBC Northern Ireland.

Good luck Lynn.