Wins for two local clubs at Irish Golf Tourism Operators awards

TWO local golf clubs are celebrating wins at the Irish Golf Tourism Operators Association annual awards.

Gerry Maguire, chairman of Carne Golf Links in Belmullet, was a hugely popular winner of the Service Excellence Award. He was presented with his award at the IGTOA awards event in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo.

Enniscrone Golf Club general manager Keith O’Neill was awarded Manager of the Year.

Carne, overlooking Blacksod Bay, was the last course designed by the legendary Eddie Hackett and many say he saved his best work until last.

The new nine holes is now integrated with the back nine holes of the original Hackett course, providing a new integrated course routing - 'The Wild Atlantic Dunes' course.

Rated at number 12 in Ireland, over 20,000 rounds of golf are played each year at Carne, accounting for over €1 million in green fees.

In his acceptance speech, Gerry Maguire complimented the team at Carne Golf Links, led by general manager Fiona Togher. He referred to the many challenging times of the recession and coming through the pandemic but said there is a 'terrific sense of community spirit and support from all in the area'.

Enniscrone Golf Club secretary Gary Laird said of the club manager's award: “The award is great recognition of the endeavours and success achieved by Keith in promoting Enniscrone Golf Club as a premier destination for visitors both overseas and from Ireland and is richly deserved.”

The IGTOA represents companies involved in bringing in over €90 million annually in golf tourism, primarily from the US, and works with Irish courses, to grow that business.