Major statement at PGA Show

Golf Ireland kicked off its increased presence at this year’s PGA Show with a media event on-site on January 25th featuring Paul McGinley.

Golf Ireland kicked off its increased presence at this year’s PGA Show with a media event on-site on January 25th featuring Paul McGinley.

Hosted by WFAN’s Ann Liguori, invited guests heard from the former Ryder Cup Captain on the state of golf, his favorite career moments and, of course, his love of Ireland and its stunning courses.

Also on the panel was Gary McNeill, head professional at Royal Portrush – venue for the 2025 Open Championship – and Alison Metcalfe, EVP North America with Tourism Ireland.

More than 30 partners represented Golf Ireland on the stand at the PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Orlando this week. The world’s largest annual gathering of the golf industry, the PGA Show traditionally hosts golf industry professionals from around the world discovering the newest trends, technology, and destinations from exhibiting golf companies and brands.

Alison Metcalfe, Executive Vice President Tourism Ireland North America, “The PGA show provides an excellent opportunity for our golf partners to meet and do business with US golf professionals and industry partners, as well as highlight the unique nature of an Irish golf experience to media. Our message is that the island of Ireland offers an unforgettable, world class golfing experience, for our visitors.”

Ms. Metcalfe continued, “The US golf market remains a priority for Tourism Ireland and we continue to promote the island of Ireland as a leading golf destination. Golf is the world’s largest sports-related travel market and Tourism Ireland, together with our partners Failte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, is working hard to drive home the message that a golfing vacation on the island of Ireland is about much more than a round of 18 holes – the combination of our world-class links, located all around the island of Ireland, and our unique brand of hospitality, plays a key role in attracting US golfers to visit.”

Ireland will once again find itself at the center of the golf world in the coming years as it hosts two ‘major’ tournaments with The Open Championship returning to Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2025 and Adare Manor will be the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2027.
The Horizon Irish Open will return to The K Club this year as part of a long-term deal with the DP World Tour, which will see the island of Ireland’s national Open played at the former Ryder Cup venue in 2023, 2025 and 2027.

Ireland offers a fabulous array of signature links courses which includes Royal County Down, Portmarnock, Lahinch, Rosapenna, Ballyliffin and others, but there is also an equally unique opportunity to discover outstanding alternatives such as Carne, Westport, Dooks, Castlerock and Connemara. Here, the US golfer will find epic new experiences and courses that will keep visitors coming back for more.

Getting to Ireland is also easy with non-stop flights available from 15 gateways across the US this summer to Dublin. Flights will also operate from New York, Boston and Chicago to and from Shannon. Both Irish airports boast US Immigration Preclearance which means visitors will return to the US as domestic passengers.