Carne Links, a leading Irish Links course located on the Mullet Peninsula in Belmullet, are delighted to announce that the PGA in Ireland’s premier tournament, the Irish PGA Championship, is set to return to Carne Golf Links in 2023 for the third year in a row, following its successful staging at the challenging and visually stunning Co Mayo venue in both 2021 and 2022.
The 2021 edition of Ireland’s oldest Championship, which numbers major champions Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, and Darren Clarke amongst previous winners, marked the official opening of the Wild Atlantic Dunes course at Carne.And David Higgins gave the dramatic course a baptism to remember with a birdie at the final hole to finish a shot clear of Mark Staunton and claim the first prize.It was the second time the Waterville Golf Club pro had won the trophy. The 2022 edition of the Championship finished with an exciting final round with Damian McGrane from Carlow just pipping North Wests’ Brian McElhinny, to the Champions enclosure. The big question is who will come out on top when this year’s 54-hole tournament is contested from 10th to 12th August.
Once again it will be sponsored by Columbia Sportswear and will be preceded by a Pro-Am on 9thAugust.
Commenting on Columbia’s continuing support and the return to Carne Golf Links, PGA in Ireland manager Conor Dillon said: “We are looking forward to returning to County Mayo for the 113th Irish PGA Championship.
“The previous two years staging of the tournament at this very impressive venue were hugely successful and I would specifically like to thank ColumbiaSportswear for their generous support of our premier event.”
Gerry Maguire, the chairman of Carne Golf Links owners, TurasoireachtIorrais Teo, added: “The team here at Carne Links are privileged to have been asked to host the Irish PGA Championship for the third year in a row in 2023, and look forward to welcoming back everyone to Carne”
“This event is huge for the town of Belmullet and indeed the wider Mayo region, and its importance to both Carne Links and the local economy cannot be underestimated. Spectators are welcome throughout the event, including within the Clubhouse, and we hope to garner significant media coverage of this premier Irish golfing event.”
“We are delighted that our main sponsor for the past two years, Columbia Sportswear, have kindly agreed to also sponsor the 2023 championship, and we very much look forward to working in partnership with them, the PGA in Ireland, and the local community, to ensure the 2023 tournament is even better than its predecessors."
Tim Boyle of Columbia Sportswear said “I’m honoured to support the event again this year, in the US we call that a “threepeat”
The announcement of the hosting of this very prestigious tournament for the third year running comes on the back of the Wild Atlantic Dunes course at Carne rising to number 11 in the Golf World Magazine Irish golf ratings, announced earlier this week. Exciting times ahead for Carne and the North West
