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THE county was more than well represented at a major US golfing showcase during the week as Tourism Ireland’s golf promotional programme for 2016 kicked off in Orlando, Florida. Twelve (12) golf tourism operators from around the island of Ireland, as well as three American golf tour operators, joined Tourism Ireland at the PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Orlando, to highlight our world-class golf. The PGA Show is one of the biggest golf exhibitions in the United States, attracting more than 40,000 golf professionals and enthusiasts, as well as around 1,000 influential golf journalists, each year.

Representatives from South West Ireland Golf Limited (SWING), based in Tralee, Tralee Golf Club, Muckross Park Hotel, Killarney Park Hotel and Waterville Golf Club greeted visitors to the Golf Ireland stand, where they promoted what Kerry and the island of Ireland have to offer US golf enthusiasts.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s head of North America, said: “The American golf market remains a priority for Tourism Ireland in 2016 and we will continue to promote the island of Ireland as a top golf destination, capitalising on the global success of our golfers including Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell.

“Golf is the world’s largest sports-related travel market and Tourism Ireland is working hard to drive home the message that a golfing holiday in Ireland is about much more than a round of 18 holes – the combination of our world-class golf and our unique brand of hospitality plays a key role in attracting American golfers to visit.”

Tourism Ireland will undertake an extensive programme of promotions in the United States this year, to build on what was the best year ever for American visitors to Ireland in 2015 – and to boost the number of golf holidaymakers from the US. The organisation will take every opportunity to maximise the recent accolade from Golf Digest magazine – which named Royal County Down the number one golf course in the world.

Our world-class golf was highlighted to some 80 influential golf journalists and golf pros earlier this week, before the PGA Show kicked off – at a special Ireland Golf Day at Streamsong Golf Resort in Florida. Tourism Ireland golf TV ads will air this spring on the Golf Channel, and online ads will run on GolfChannel.com, encouraging American golfers to click through to great golf vacation offers on Ireland.com; and Tourism Ireland will invite influential American golf writers to come and experience our world-class courses for themselves.

Brendan Keogh, South West Ireland Golf Limited (SWING), based in Tralee; Anthony Byrne, Tralee Golf Club; Brian Miley, Muckross Park Hotel; Allan O’Connor, Killarney Park Hotel; Miriam Young, Waterville Golf Club; Danny Brassil, Old Head Golf Club, Kinsale;; Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland; and Declan O’Brien, Destination Golf, New York, at the PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Orlando.