THE Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) urged Irish golf fans to book early for next year’s Irish Open at Royal County Down which will be hosted for the first time by world number one Rory McIlroy’s very own charitable foundation.
The last time the Irish Open was held in Northern Ireland was in 2012 when the record-breaking event at Royal Portrush became the first European Tour event to totally sell out in advance.
Now the race is on again for coveted tickets to what insiders are quietly but confidently predicting will be the best Irish Open ever – and it’s not hard to see why expectations for 2015 are so high.
The fact that it will be played on the prestigious links of Royal County Down, which has appeared in countless lists of the world’s best golf courses, is in itself a major achievement but with The Rory Foundation on board as the official tournament host, it is expected that the world number one will enhance the already impressive Irish Open line-up by recruiting some of the leading players from both the European and US PGA for 2015.
Already one of golf’s most exciting young talents Rickie Fowler has confirmed his participation and more big names are expected to follow his example.
The Open takes place from May 28 to May 31, and as an added incentive to book early, early birds can save £10 if they book their tickets by December 31 before prices rise from £25 to the normal gate price of £35 from January 1, 2015. Ticket holders will be able to leave and re-enter the venue at their leisure.
And families will be delighted to hear that kids under the age of 16 will be admitted FREE as long as they are accompanied by an adult (up to four children are allowed with one paying adult).
Northern Ireland native and current world number one Rory McIlroy said: “I am delighted that the Irish Open is being hosted at Royal County Down in 2015. It is hugely exciting to be joining some of the world’s greatest golf talents on my home turf. Northern Ireland has established itself as one of the world’s greatest golfing destinations and Royal County Down is one of the world’s finest links courses.”
More than 80,000 visitors are expected at Royal County Down with an audience of millions watching the action on TV across the world, once again putting Northern Ireland on a global stage.
For more information on the Irish Open 2015 including accommodation offers, golf in Northern Ireland and ticket information, visit www.discovernorthernireland.com/irish-open-2015 / www.irishopen.ie or #2015irishopen
Photo:JUST THE TICKET: (l-r) The European Tour’s Irish Open Championship Director Antonia Beggs with NITB’s Chief Operating Officer Kathryn Thomson in Dublin to urge Irish golf era to book early!
