The Irish Seniors Open will be played on a links course for the first time in its 12 year history when next year's event is played at Ballyliffin Golf Club on the Inishowen Peninsula, Donegal from June 20th-22nd.
Ballyliffin is one of the world's renowned links resorts with two championship courses, The Old Links, which has recently been refined by Faldo Design, and the newer Glashedy Links.
Six-time major winner Nick Faldo has a close affinity with the Donegal venue for he once tried to purchase the entire complex in the 1990s, so it will come as no surprise his design company was called upon to carry out the upgrade work to the Old Links course. The Ryder Cup captain has also staged his Faldo Junior Series at Ballyliffin.
The Irish Seniors Open will continue to receive support from Failte Ireland as part of their commitment to the European Tour Group and AIB as Associate Sponsors.
Ballyliffin is no stranger to hosting high profile professional events having previously hosted the 2002 North West of Ireland Open, a dual ranking event which counted on both the European and Challenge Tour.
"The staging of the prestigious Irish Seniors Open on The Old Links is testament to the significant investment by the club in recent years in the original Ballyliffin Links which has been substantially improved by Faldo Design," enthused John Farren, General Manager, Ballyliffin Golf Club.
"Both links are now regarded as being amongst the best in world and Ballyliffin is one of the premier destinations for golf visitors to Ireland. Ireland has a third of all links courses in the world and this will be an important showcase for links golf in Ireland."
Seamus Brennan, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said: "I am delighted that once again the Irish Seniors Open will be supported through the Fáilte Ireland International Sports Tourism Initiative. The event provides a great opportunity for us to showcase Ireland as a world class golf and holiday destination and for visitors to enjoy the unique and beautiful surroundings of the North West."
In recent years the Irish Seniors Open has been held at some of Ireland's finest championship parkland courses such as current Irish Open venue Adare Manor in Limerick. It was staged at Fota Island in Cork, where the then Murphys Irish Open enjoyed great success and in more recent times the event was played over this year's Seve Trophy venue at The Heritage in Killenard and last year PGA National Palmertown House took its turn.
"The Irish Seniors Open has always been one of the most popular events on our schedule and we are excited to be taking it to what is undoubtedly one of Ireland's greatest links courses at Ballyliffin Golf Club," said Andy Stubbs, Managing Director The European Seniors Tour.
