R & A CEO Martin Slumbers has stated there is huge impediments to the chances of famed Irish club Portmarnock Golf Club in becoming a second Irish course to host the Open Championship.
It was Rory McIlroy who earlier this month sung the praise of Portmarnock joining Royal Portrush as a venue to stage golf’s oldest major saying it would be a “fantastic” venue for The Open, while double Open winner Padraig Harrington remarked that Portmarnock “would seem the logical first step” to moving the event around the world.
We know also following the removal of the gender barrier in 2021 to allow women members, Portmarnock joined the R & A and the Irish Government in confirming they would start looking at the feasibility of the famed links course located right on Dublin’s front doorstep hosting firstly the AIG Women’s Open and then leading to The Open.
The famed Portmarnock Golf Club right on the doorstep of Dublin
However, Slumbers in speaking with Golf Digest, indicated ‘huge’ logistical challanges would first need to be overcome while any decision to take The Open to the long-time Irish Open host venue would hinge upon the club and the Irish government collaborating on a feasibility study.
“One is Portmarnock Golf Club has asked the Irish government to help them explore how they can solve some of the infrastructure issues to be able to make a credible presentation to the R&A that they could stage the Open, and it’s very much in their court and needs govern investment to do it,” said Slumbers in Melbourne for the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
“The second piece is, there are some huge impediments to be overcome before we can get to the conversation, but that’s very much with the club and the Irish government.
“But the golf course is magnificent. I mean, it is a wonderful links course. We have staged many much amateur championships there including the Walker Cup (1991), the Amateur championship (2019) and the Women’s Amateur Championship next year. It is a world class golf course that I think will be tremendous to see the world’s best players playing on it.”
As well, Portmarnock has held more Irish Open titles than any other Irish golf course that includes on 19 occasions between 1927 and 2003 with the next nearest courses being Royal County Down and Royal Portrush four Open’s apiece.
Of course, let’s not forget Adare Manor will be host venue for the 2027 Ryder Cup.
However another adding his voice calling for The Open to be handed to Portmarnock is Paul McGinley.
Speaking at the opening of St Columba’s College Golf Academy in Dublin, McGinley said “I think it’s a reality and it’s got more chance of happening than not happening, but the timeline is open.
“A lot of ducks have to be lined up before it could happen. But it’s certainly a potential reality. Who would have thought that 10 years ago?”
And Golf Ireland welcomed talk of The Open hopefully heading to Portmarnock with CEO Mark Kennelly stating: “This aligns with our vision to amplify Ireland’s footprint in international golf, building upon our successful hosting of prominent tournaments like The Open and the Ryder Cup.
“We are eagerly anticipating more global golf events coming to Ireland in the future.”
