Ardglass Golf Club Wins Top Links Course 2011 Award

Down District Cllr Dermot Curran with Ardglass Golf Club Captain Cormac McMullan, the St Mary's HIgh School Choir with their teacher Cathal Murphy at the civic reception in the club.

Ardglass Golf Club Wins Top Links Course 2011 Award

Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Dermot Curran, welcomed Club Captains, Lady Captains, Presidents past and present and fellow Councillors to Ardglass Golf Club on Friday 2 December 2011.
Guests attended the event celebrate the Club winning Links Golf Course 2011, the Irish Golf Tour Operators Association (IGTOA).
Speaking at the event, Councillor Curran welcomed Denis Kane, IGTOA Chairman, David Hudson IGTOA Vice Chair and Stacey Williams IGTOA National Executive Officer and said: “It is a tremendous accolade to bring this title to the area, the economic benefit golf tourism can bring to this locality is very significant especially on the back of recent success by Northern Irish golfers. Ardglass can now capitalise on this market being among the best in offer.
"We are very fortunate in this area to have many of Ireland’s finest courses which attract visitors from as far away as Australia, North and South America and Japan all coming to Ardglass Golf Club.
"By bringing such a range of tourists into the area it not only benefits the club but the whole County Down tourism and hospitality sectors.”
Guests included Mark Robinson whose specially commissioned paintings were on display during the evening. The ‘Open Champions’ collection of paintings celebrate the magnificent achievements of Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Fred Daly. 
Cormac MacMullan, Captain of Ardglass Golf Club said: “We are delighted to be honoured by Down District Council for our achievement in the IGTOA Awards and it is very fitting we had Stacey Williams CEO and Denis Kane Chair of IGTOA here with us to celebrate.

"He added: "Golf clubs have traditionally suffered during this recession but we are working every day to make Ardglass a success story in Ireland and beyond. It is also a treat to have the unveiling of this wonderful exhibition of paintings of golfing greats on the same night as we at Ardglass are being recognised for our achievements. We hope to see lots of local people visiting the Club and enjoying this magnificent exhibition in the coming days.”
Margaret Ritchie MP for South Down said, “The news, Ardglass Golf Club has been awarded Irish Golf Tour Operators Association Links Golf Course of the Year 2011 is a great boost, not only for the Club but for the Down and South Down area. This recent success is the result of the innovative and attractive golfing packages that Ardglass Golf Club have designed to meet the requirement of the 6,000 visitors it welcomes each year to its first class and world renowned Links Course.
“Along with this award comes recognition and attention to the great tourism offering that the Down area and South Down has to offer visitors. We have a great tourism product here with St Patrick’s Country and the Mournes, and we must all work together to ensure that it is further developed, particularly in this time of economic downturn."

Dennis Kane, IGTOA Chairman, speaking at the civic reception at Ardglass Golf Club after the club won the coveted Best Links Course in Ireland 2011 award.

Three past captains at Arglass Golf Club... Hugh Kelly, Dessie Connolly and  Eddie McGarry.

Mark Mohan, Senior Tourist Officer with Down District Council, Ned Gilchrist, Past Captain of Ardglass  Golf Club, and current President, William Shaw.

Former club captain Jack Murphy with South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, Peter Fitzsimons, Warrenpoint Golf Club Chairman, and Gerry Kelly, host for the evening.