News
Latest > Luttresllstown Castle to host PGA Professional Championship
Nov 13th, 2016
Luttresllstown Castle to host PGA Professional Championship
Sponsored by Titleist and FootJoy
Words: John Dean
Ireland’s historic Luttrellstown Castle Resort will be the imposing stage for the 2017 Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship.
The Castleknock venue, which dates back to the 1400s, will host the event for the UK’s leading PGA pros from June 13-16.
It’s the first time the 72-hole tournament has been held in Ireland since 2001 but Irish players have enjoyed considerable success in the intervening years – David Higgins is the defending champion while David Mortimer and John Dwyer lifted the title in 2010 and 2007 respectively.
A total prize fund of £91,500, including nine regional qualifiers, is at stake while an added bonus for the leading finishers at Luttrellstown will be qualification for the 2017 Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team to face the United States at Foxhills Club & Resort in September 2017. It promises to be an exciting addition to the golfing calendar as Luttrellstown’s newly appointed director of golf Peter Lawrie confirmed.
“We’re delighted it is coming back to Ireland – it’s been a long time,” said Lawrie who is enjoying a new role in golf having previously been a longstanding member of the European Tour.
“It’s great for me having been recently appointed director of golf to have the tournament at Luttrellstown – it’s a nice synergy. I know all about tournament golf so to get an event like the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship is superb.”
“I know the course is well able to stand up to the challenge of really good players playing it – it is a championship golf course. I think the membership will come and support it and the players will enjoy the challenge.”
Luttrellstown is a parkland course, measuring 7,347 yards and has hosted past PGA events including this year’s qualifier for the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge.
“There are plenty of water hazards, deep bunkers, the set-up is superb and the greens are wonderful – even in November the greens are running at 12 on the Stimp which is pretty good for that time of year,” added Lawrie.
“Our facilities are wonderful with a driving range that is 300 yards by 200, plus three academy holes. I still love being involved in golf, I will be for the rest of my life, and you never know, I might be tempted to get my clubs out myself.”
PGA head of tournaments Ben Groutage added: “Luttrellstown is a wonderful golf course in a magnificent setting and it’s a challenge that the players will relish. I would like to thank Peter for all his work in securing a return to Ireland for the Championship and have no doubt it will produce another great champion and six excellent additions to the PGA Cup team.”
“With the support of both Luttrellstown and title sponsors Titleist and FootJoy, I know we can look forward to another successful staging of this flagship event.”
Luttrellstown, which is available for exclusive hire, is not just a favourite destination for golfers – other notable guests down the years have included Queen Victoria, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, Fred Astaire, Paul Newman and Ronald Reagan while more recently David and Victoria Beckham got married there.
Related:
