Dundalk Golf Club is celebrating at present after being named as the host for this year’s 105th Irish PGA Championship.
The Blackrock course, also the base for the PGA in Ireland for almost 30 years, will stage the event on October 1st to 4th, with the Championship Pro-Am held on Wednesday September 30th, its first Irish PGA Championship since 1969.
Jimmy Martin won that year, succeeding the great Harry Bradshaw, who won on the only previous visit to Dundalk in 1953. That was Bradshaw’s eighth Irish title. The 6,826-yard, par 72 championship parkland course was redesigned by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas in 1980.
The last 18 months have seen extensive improvement work to the course, with the installation of many new bunkers and improvements to the drainage of existing greenside traps, as well as some tree removal, with the sixth and 15th greens now more exposed to the elements.
“We are thrilled to be having the event and see it as a great opportunity to showcase Dundalk GC and the recent investment that has been made in the course,” said Dundalk GC captain Brendan Keane.
“There is a strong association with the event here in Dundalk, having hosted the tournament in 1953 and 1969.
“I know our membership will be really enthused by the prospect, especially as a result of our close association with the PGA in Ireland.”
The Irish PGA Championship is prestigious in its own right, but success also brings entry into the European Tour’s flagship tournament, the BMW PGA Championship. Last year’s winner at Adare Manor Golf Club was Niall Kearney, the Royal Dublin professional who last week at Wentworth gave a good account of himself before missing the cut by one stroke.
