A group of key international golf sports journalists who write and commentate for top magazines and sports channels in the US, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France and the UK, with an overall reach of 22 million, are currently in Ireland to play a selection of our world-famous golf courses and participate in the Irish Open Pro-Am at the Montgomery course, Carton House this afternoon.
This flagship event presents an opportunity for Fáilte Ireland, as the biggest sponsor contributor, to show Ireland’s solid reputation and ability to stage, host and manage large golf events.
The golf media guests who are here as part of a visit supported by tourism bodies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland will play with some of the golfing greats such as Francesco Molinari, two-times Ryder Cup player and ranked number 41 in the world; Simon Dyson, 2011 Irish Open winner; Raphael Jacquelin, winner of the 2013 Spanish Open; Jamie Donaldson, last year’s Irish Open winner; Robert Rock, 2012 HSBC Abu Dhabi Champion; and Michael Campbell, Former US Open Champion and 2005 Irish Open Champion.
As part of the lead-up to the event, Golf Ireland developed a digital and social media campaign promoting the Irish Open and the wider golf experience available in Ireland. This includes a specially commissioned ‘Greening in the Years’ video,.
The video highlights the great history and golden moments of past Irish Opens which evokes great memories with viewers. Check it out here
Fáilte Ireland’s overseas publicity officer Rory Mathews said: “The 2013 Irish Open has the aim of creating a spectacular ‘Festival of Golf’ when Carton House welcomes a world class field to County Kildare from 27-30 June, which is expected to welcome more than 90,000 golf fans. We in Fáilte Ireland hope it will also provide a wonderful advertising opportunity for Golf Ireland to showcase the two ingredients we are most famous for – our beautiful 40 shades of green and our warm and friendly hospitality and people.
“It is important that we fully promote what is available by assisting these journalists in showcasing what Ireland has to offer. This will certainly encourage and help maintain Ireland’s reputation as a destination for high-quality and challenging golf.”
The golf sector provides a total overseas spend of €202m for the Irish economy. More than 163,000 overseas visitors played golf while in Ireland in 2012, each worth on average €1,200 to the economy (two and a half times that of the average tourist).
Research shows that Ireland is hitting the mark on both satisfaction levels and value for money for our overseas guests – with satisfaction rates at 94 per cent and value for money at 83 per cent