Novel challenge to set new course record at Galway Bay Golf Resort

Date Published: 14-Jun-2012

THE Galway Bay Golf Resort along with special guest, former Ryder Cup and World Cup golfer, Christy O’Connor Junior, formally launched ‘The Guinness Mid-Strength Blue Tee Challenge’ on Monday.

The challenge which is open to both male and female, professional and amateur golfers alike, will take place on Sunday, July 22nd, and will see golfers compete off the course’s championship tees in an attempt to set a new course record.

This will be the first time the record will be attempted since the course’s upgrade in 2006. The last record being a four under par 68, carded by Wicklow native and former tour professional, Eamonn Darcy.

The 18 hole challenge, set on the beautiful resort in Renville, Oranmore, and designed by Galway native, Christy O’Connor Junior, will provide an exhilarating contest for both the professional and amateur golfer. With 300 acres of picturesque parkland, measuring 7308 yards of the back tees, the Atlantic Ocean washes the Galway Bay Golf Course on three sides.

The Championship P.G.A course also boasts one of the West of Ireland’s finest golf academies, with facilities including, a 20-bay driving range off real grass tee-boxes, separate pitching, chipping and bunker areas and a nine hole putting surface.

Speaking at the launch, Christy O’Connor Junior said: “Having re-designed Galway Bay Golf Resort and upgraded 16 holes in order to bring it more on line to a links style golf course, I now feel that t

he golf course is capable of hosting any tournament in the world.”

The Galway Bay Golf Resort is most famously known for hosting the 1999 West of Ireland P.G.A Open, won by Costantino Rocca, but better remembered for Pádraig Harrington coming second and getting enough points to qualify for the Ryder Cup team.

The resort has also attracted some of the tour’s top players, such as Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Nick Faldo and the 2011 Open Championship winner, Darren Clarke who won the Irish Professional Championship at Galway Bay in 1994.

The registration fee for the challenge is €25 and tee times are available from 8am. For more information log on to www.galwaybaygolfresort.com or call 091-790711.