INSIDE: HOW TO CURE THE GOLF YIPS •GOLF IN THE EMERALD ISLE Annual Edition 2020 Price €4.95 £3.50stg Please keep on sale until March 31st, 2020 SHANE IRELANLOWRYD’S OPEN CHAMPION AIG CUPS & SHIELDS THE DEFINITIVE VOICE OF GOLF IN IRELAND IRISH GR 2020 ANNUAL QUARK DOC.qxp_IGR Spring3 2006 NEW 25/11/2019 14:59 Page 2 THE DEFINITIVE VOICE OF IRISH GOLF Annual 2020 Publisher/Editor: foreword Robert Heuston elcome to the 2020 Annual Edition of Irish Golf Review Magazine, Ireland’s longest Advertising: established Golf Publication launched in 1996 and with Irish Golf World Newspaper James Small continues to serve the golfing market at home and abroad in both print and digital format each year. Design: WOur cover story salutes Shane Lowry, Ireland’s new Open Champion, a top professional who John Barrett conducts himself with class both on and off the course and he is a worthy role model for our next generation golfer. The Clara man gave a sold out Royal Portrush a weekend to remember last July as Production: he claimed his first Major Championship. Spectators cheered on Lowry's every action as he finished Emma Meade six shots clear of the field at the 148th Open Championship and the first on the island of Ireland since 1951. It rounded off a memorable week as the last Major Championship of the year provided Contributors: plenty of thrills and highlights. After posting a record breaking 63 on Saturday evening, Lowry showed Charlie Mulqueen a different side to his game on an extremely wet and windy final afternoon at Royal Portrush Golf Club as he posted a battling 72 to reach 15 under par and get his hands on the Claret Jug. Philip Reid The season past represented a positive year for Irish professional golfers. There were many bright (Irish Times) moments most notably Rory McIlroy’s victories which included The Players Championship at Sawgrass, the RBC Canadian Open and the US season ending Tour Championship. The Major Championships Greg Allen however proved a huge disappointment for McIlroy and included a missed cut in Royal Portrush. It is (RTE Radio) my belief that Rory remains master of his own destiny and over time many Majors will follow. At the time of going to press Rory McIlroy was No. 2 golfer in the World Rankings and with his natural Emma Meade ability and course management skills will continue to be one of the favourites for honours every time (Freelance) he tees it up in 2020. One of my personal highlights during 2019 was the sight of Graeme McDowell returning to the winner’s Photography: zone of International golf with victory at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship in the Front Cover Image Dominican Republic. While his current ranking is significant behind his glory years, there is little doubt that Shane Lowry GMac has the game and the ability to win big again. For the likes of Paul Dunne, Gareth Moynihan, Seamus ICON Sportswire Power and others it still a case of work in progress however with time and patience better days lie ahead. On the Ladies front, Leona Maguire continues to shine and in April the Cavan lady won her first professional tournament at the Windsor Golf Classic in, California. Her total of 204 with rounds of AIG Cups & Shields Images 70, 69, 65 took her into a playoff which she won at the first hole with a birdie. She won prize money of Courtesy of Pat Cashman $22,500. In May, Maguire broke the course record at the LET Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic on the Photography Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. Her round of 64 was the lowest in her professional career. Many other highlights would follow and by October, Maguire had secured her LPGA Tour Distribution: card for the 2020 season. EM News 2020 is a Ryder Cup year and Whistling Straits, Wisconsin will play host to the bi-annual competition Newspread from September 25-27 when Europe and the United States will lock horns for what promises to be a mouth-watering contest. Golf Ireland’s Ambassador, Padraig Harrington will proudly lead the European charge as non-playing captain and with his attention to detail and meticulous For Advertising & Editorial preparation the European team will be strong contenders to take the Samuel Ryder Trophy back across Enquires: the Atlantic Ocean. Expect Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Jon Rahm to be at the forefront with high Tel: + 353 1 6622266 hopes that Shane Lowry will be present also for his debut. Email. [email protected] May 2020 will be a significant month with the eyes of the golfing world firmly focused on the Emerald Isle. Mount Juliet Estate, the luxury five-star resort in County Kilkenny, has been announced as Published by: the host venue for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the second Rolex Series event of the 2020 Select Media Ltd Race to Dubai which takes place from May 28-31. It is the first time in 25 years that Mount Juliet c/o Irish Golf Review will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, having provided the backdrop for the island of Ireland’s national 4-5 Burton Hall Road open in 1993, 1994 and 1995 – won by Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance, respectively. Sandyford Inside this Edition we have an extensive International Golf Travel section in which we feature the Dublin 18 stunning Algarve region of Portugal, Scotland and their golfing gems, Cyprus, an island populated Ireland by a wonderful array of courses, plus a selection of golfing delights within Poland. Closer to home we explore a selection of great golf courses and accommodation providers throughout the Island of Ireland. There is so much to appreciate about Golf in Ireland and we are blessed as a nation with some of the finest links and parkland courses. Whether you are reading this publication All material contained in this at home or abroad make Golf in Ireland part of your plans for 2020. You won’t be disappointed. edition is copyright of Irish Golf Thanks to the team at Irish Golf Review & Irish Golf World and our many positive influences around Review 2019 and may not be the world for all their support in 2019 which was our 23rd year of Publishing. In 2020 we will launch reproduced or electronically our new Facebook page where you can enjoy videos, news, travel, tuition, fashion, tournament stored without the permission updates and product news plus travel recommendations to suit your golfing requirements. of the publisher. However items Wishing all our readers, contributors, and advertisers a Happy Christmas and New year and all the may be freely reproduced provided best for 2020. the source is acknowledged. Until the next time………….. Robert Heuston Publisher/Editor Irish Golf Review 3 ContentsAnnual Edition 2020 The Golfing Delights Of Cover Story The Algarve As the southernmost region of Portugal, The Ireland’s New Open Champion Algarve is known for all year-round sunshine and Shane Lowry withstood miserable weather conditions and the beautiful, sandy beaches and of course stunning Golf. weight of local expectation to claim his first Major title with a Page 36 stunning six shot victory at the 148th Open Championship. Page 30 Scotland – The Home Of Golf Scotland continues to represent one of the most popular destinations for golfers. In this edition of Irish Golf Review, we explore a selection of great options throughout the regions. Features Page 50 Cyprus – A Golf Paradise AIG Cups And Island In The Sun Shields With Cyprus offering a golfing destination full of potential Irish Golf Review salutes the 2019 and possibilities, there is no better place to ‘take a swing’. winners in both the Men’s Competition Page 52 Finals hosted by Westport Golf Club and Ladies Finals which took place in Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort, County Meath. Page 26 DDF Irish Open 2020 Mount Juliet Estate, the luxury five-star resort in County Kilkenny, has been announced as the host venue for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the second Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race Golf In Ireland 2020 to Dubai which takes place from May 28-31. Come and Play our world class courses and Stay with our Page 32 many excellent Accommodation providers. Make Golf in Ireland part of your plans this year. Page 56 Discover Poland Irish Golf Review profiles the wonders of Poland which we recommend as a leading Golf Travel destination for 2020. Page 34 Want A Cure For The Yips? Most likely you’re looking in the wrong place, writes Philip Moore, BSc Counselling & Psychotherapy and a member of Rathfarnham Golf Club. Page 70 6 Irish Golf Review Golf & Accommodation Hilton Vilamoura Set among five of the best golf courses in the Algarve,Hilton Vilamoura features lake-style outdoor pools with waterfalls and an Headfort Golf Club extra-large futuristic spa. Pinhal Golf Course is on the hotel's Headfort Golf Club in Kells, County Meath is an outstanding 36 hole doorstep and Vilamoura Old Course is 5 minutes’ drive away. parkland complex dominated by magnificent specimen trees Page 46 and river scenery. Both courses take full advantage of the natural beauty of one of Ireland’s oldest and finest estates. Page 28 JJW Hotels And Resorts In Portugal, JJW boasts three luxury hotels, five golf courses, and world renowned centres of golfing excellence. Guests and golfers have been taking advantage of these award winning facilities for Four Seasons Fairways over 50 years… Four Seasons Fairways is an exclusive members' residential Page 38 club set in one of the most prestigious addresses in the Algarve, Quinta do Lago.