shanker
Q-School Graduate
How sad that the Irish Open is deserting famous golf courses like Portmarnock and Ballybunion!Links golf will never die-the main reason there are very few Pro tournaments held on links courses is the lack of infrastructure and the loss of revenue whilst the course is being prepared.
We have lost the Irish Open from links courses to "resort courses" such as Adare Manor and Carton House in the past few years.
Interestingly last year a week before the Open the Irish PGA Championship was played at The European Club a superb links, Harrington won the tournament and credited the practise on a links course as ideal prepareation for the Open.
BTW I don't know whether it's true but I read that Harrington stipulated he would play the Irish PGA only if it was held on a links course. His idea being to get links practice for the British Open while a lot of the others were at Loch Lomond. It seemed to work.