Golf event will give Newcastle boost

Golf event will give Newcastle boost

5 November 2014

ORGANISERS of the hotly anticipated Irish Golf Open have confirmed they will recruit 1,000 temporary staff and volunteers to ensure the May even goes smoothly.

The new recruits will be employed to organise and run the event, which will be held at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle at the end of May.

The event, which is expected to draw crowds of more than 90,000, will also operate a re-entry system for spectators, allowing them to leave the grounds during the course of the day.

This news has been welcomed by local councillor Patrick Clarke, who hopes the re-entry system will be of benefit to local traders by giving visitors the opportunity to shop in Newcastle town centre. 

“We have been advised that the European Golf Tour have now agreed to a re-entry system to allow visitors and tourists who are spectating at the Irish Open in Newcastle to be able to leave the Royal County Down Golf Club grounds which will hopefully benefit Newcastle businesses traders and the hospitality sector during the golf event,” he said.

“The European Golf Tour has also confirmed that up to 1,000 temporary staff will be recruited to help organise and run the Irish Open event and that there will be an opportunity for local people to apply for any positions advertised in due course.

“The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is expecting in excess of 90,000 visitors to the Irish Open 2015 golf event in Newcastle and are hoping to capitalise on promoting Newcastle, the Mournes and Down in terms of increasing tourism and the area as a golf region to a global television audience of over 300 million households.

“Preparation is well underway for the Irish Open and I certainly welcome the event planning undertaken so far by both the European Golf Tour, NITB and both councils and believe Newcastle and the whole Mournes and Down area are going to experience something very special with the hosting of the Irish Open 2015 at Royal County Down Golf Club which will benefit both economically and increase tourism in Newcastle as a holiday destination and surrounding areas in the Mournes and Down.”