Globe-trotting Portumna native O’Rourke hitting it big in British Columbia

By Jim Hynes

IRISH golf has been flying high since Pádraig Harrington ended a 60-year wait for a second Irish Major triumph by capturing the 2007 British Open Championship.

After all, the achievements of the Dubliner and his subsequent fellow Major winners Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Shane Lowry, have made Irish golf an important global brand.

As a result, many of our globe-trotting PGA professional have achieved significant success at major clubs and resorts all over the world and Portumna native Pauric O’Rourke is no exception.

Pauric (37) was recently voted the PGA Professional of the Year by his peers in British Columbia (Western Canada) where he is the Head Professional at Fairmont Chateau Whistler, one of Canada’s top resorts. O’Rourke has shown that sometimes it is possible to get a job you love doing, and that a youthful hobby can be turned into the career of a lifetime.

The Portumna man has had a remarkable journey, serving his apprenticeship under Shane O’Grady at Black Bush, and learning the ropes with highly respected PGA professionals such as Nigel Howley, Mark Staunton, Paul McCanny and David Mortimer.

Pauric loved playing golf from an early age and was one of the talented junior golfers at Portumna Golf Club. He practiced hard at his craft and locals heard him pulling his trolley from his parents’ house to the club every morning and evening.

He was golfer of the year at Portumna Golf Club in 1998, 1999 and 2000, along with holding the course record 65 (-7). He turned Professional at +3 handicap.

Pauric went on to have a successful playing career, competing in golf tournaments in America, Europe and Asia, along with the Irish circuit. Eventually, he landed a position at Pine Valley USA.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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