First ever Irish Open Trophy Tour competition gives school kids a chance to:
Receive a visit for their class or school from the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Trophy AND world famous ‘Claret Jug’
Gain an insight into the life of a professional golfer from Des Smyth, Dubai Duty Free golf ambassador and vice-captain of the victorious 2014 Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles
Participate in a Q&A with European Tour, Rory Foundation & Royal County Down representatives
Enjoy a fun introduction to golf through the CGI’s ‘Golf Awareness Clinic’
Receive tickets for their class and family to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro Am
Win a VIP tour at the Pro Am and meet some of the world’s top golfers
SCHOOLCHILDREN throughout Ireland are being invited to create Irish Open history for their school as part of a nationwide competition organised by The European Tour and the Rory Foundation.
For the first time ever, the inaugural Irish Open Trophy Tour competition will give four lucky schools across the island of Ireland an historic opportunity to host a visit not only from the Irish Open Trophy BUT ALSO the world famous ‘Claret Jug’, which, as reigning Open Champion, currently resides in the bulging trophy cabinet of none other than world number one Rory McIlroy.
Supported by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI), the competition invites children between the ages of 9 and 15 to tell The European Tour why their class or school deserves a visit from these two prestigious trophies.
Not only that, the four winning schools will also participate in a Q&A session with representatives of The European Tour, Rory Foundation and Royal County Down Golf Club – as well as taking part in a CGI ‘Golf Awareness Clinic’ which will give children a fun introduction to the sport through a variety of golf-related games including putting games and hitting real golf balls into a blow up net, and virtual golf on the Wii console.
Pupils will also gain an insight into the life of a professional golfer from Irish professional golfer and Dubai Duty Free golf ambassador Des Smyth, eight-time winner on the European Tour, vice-captain of Europe’s victorious 2006 and 2014 Ryder Cup teams, and twice a member of the Ryder Cup playing team in 1979 and 1981.
The four winning schools will also receive tickets for the winners’ class to go to the Pro Am event on the Wednesday while the overall winning pupil will receive family tickets for the Pro Am and a VIP tour with a chance to meet some of the world’s top golfers.
To enter, schoolchildren should simply send an email to trophytour@irishopen.ie outlining in no more than 250 words why their class or school deserves to win this unique and historic prize – clearly stating their name, age, address and school.
Closing date for entries is Thursday April 30th with the prize to be taken between May 4th and 15th.
“Professional sport can really inspire individuals and a trophy is the ultimate aim for many in sport,” said The European Tour’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Championship Director Antonia Beggs, “which is why we’ve decided to give schools in Ireland a chance to host the prestigious Irish Open trophy which has been held aloft by so many golfing legends over the years.
“Not only that, our winning schools will also get to see and have their picture taken with the world famous ‘Claret Jug’ which has been kindly donated by the current Open Champion Rory McIlroy. As the best golfer in the world at the moment, Rory is a perfect example of how top professional golfers can inspire anyone to be as good as they can in whatever they choose to be. This is a very strong message that we want to convey to children with our first ever Irish Open Trophy Tour Competition.
“Follow your dreams, work hard and you can achieve great things!” she added.
Advance tickets are currently available at a cost of £30 or £35 per day with season tickets (for all four days) available for £75. Families will be delighted to hear that under-16s will be admitted FREE as long as they are accompanied by an adult (up to four children are allowed with one paying adult).
For more information on the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation or to purchase tickets,
visit www.irishopen.ie.
Caption:PRIZE PUPILS: Katie Curran and Daniel Jennings from St Mary’s Primary School in Newcastle visited Royal County Down Golf Club to launch the first ever Irish Open Trophy Tour competition.
