Golf is a growth business in the south-east, with spin-off benefits for multiple aspects of the local economy. This is well illustrated by the Dunmore East Golf Classic scheduled for April, which will open the tourist season in the fishing village by bringing as many as 600 golfers to the area for four days.
The classic, which has become one of the foremost events on the Irish golf calendar, is a major early boost for the many restaurants, hotels and other visitor facilities in the region. Conceived by a small group of local hoteliers and businessmen, the event was tailored to highlight the excellent and expanding golf facilities in the area and to generate business around them.
The classic is based on the circuit of four first-class courses within a 12-mile radius: Waterford Castle, Tramore, Faithlegg, and the Waterford club course. The marketing promotion for the classic has heavily targeted Wales. There are convenient ferry sailings, and hundreds of Welsh golfers have become regular visitors to the south-east.
Co Wexford in recent years has experienced a daily influx of visiting golfers, who travel to Rosslare Harbour on the high-speed ferry in the morning, play a round on one of the nearby courses and return home on the evening ferry.
Dunmore East offers visiting golfers a range of accommodation and dining packages along with lively social life and entertainment each evening.
This, with the attraction of excellent courses and the charm of a coastal village, has brought competitors for the classic from as far away as the US, Canada and Hong Kong. The 1996 event had a 62 per cent overseas entry.
It is now clear that golf clubs generate substantial revenue in a region. It is estimated that the two clubs in east Waterford at the time, Waterford and Tramore, took in about £102,000 in green fees in 1992. Two years later the four clubs then open collected about £550,000. The figure forecast for this year is about £700,000.
"The classic has been instrumental in increasing these figures
and also in promoting east Waterford," according to the event's organising secretary, Regina Mangan.
The good food image developed in Dunmore East is pivotal in bringing the golfing crowds there. The marketing includes offering dinner vouchers to the classic participants for various restaurants in the village.
Booking details are available from (051) 858182.