Competitors will be facing a challenge unique in tournament golf, when the Murphy's Irish Open is staged at Ballybunion on June 29th to July 2nd next year.
And Tom Watson, the millennium captain of Ballybunion, and a competitor in the revived Irish Open in 1975, also expressed the view yesterday that if the wind blows, there will be times when bogey will become an acceptable score.
Watson, will not be present next year due to a clash with the US Seniors Open. But, as one might expect, he has no doubts about the prospect of a highly successful staging.
"Ballybunion is the type of quality course which should play host to an Irish Open," he said by phone from Dallas, where he is competing in the Bank One Championship on the US Seniors' Tour this weekend. "It is a beautiful piece of real estate and a wonderful challenge. I've never been able to feel totally in control of my game there: one is always aware of possible disaster, depending on the conditions."
He added: "It offers a variety of approach shots which are second to none. I especially love its vertical dimension, with so many uphill and downhill shots which you won't get even on the British Open courses we play. That's what makes it a unique challenge, especially in the wind."
The announcement became the final chapter in a bitter dispute within Ballybunion GC over the viability of the event, leading to an extraordinary meeting of the members. Original spectator limits, based on expert advice, were considered ridiculously restrictive by the sponsors.
"The club are not making it easy for us to put it on there," said Murphy's managing director Padraic Liston, when informed that a ceiling of 4,000 spectators per day would be imposed, along with a further 2,000 club members. But a determined group within the club eventually overturned the original committee decision at an e.g.m.
A significant contribution to their cause was made by Richard Stillwell, greenkeeper consultant to the European Tour who assured the club that there would be no difficulty in accommodating daily crowds of between 10,000 and 12,000. On that basis, Murphy's decided to bring the championship to the west coast for the first time in its history.
"It is our way of paying tribute, in the millennium year, to one of the oldest national open championships," said Liston at the announcement in Dublin yesterday.
It means the Irish Open returning to a traditional links for the first time in 10 years."
The decision also brought an enthusiastic response from Darren Clarke, who absented himself from this year's staging at Druids Glen, due to a wrangle over appearance money. "I think Ballybunion is a fantastic venue and I will be returning to the Irish Open next year if the appearance money issue is sorted out," he said yesterday.
Clarke took issue this year with the payment of a fee to John Daly which, we were informed, actually came from Druids Glen. After the deal with Daly had been finalised, however, Murphy's issued a statement to the effect that they would no longer be paying appearance money. "We intend to hold to that decision," said Liston yesterday.
Clarke remembered playing Ballybunion "a couple of times", possibly with Eoghan O'Connell, but never in competition. "We don't often get the opportunity on tour of playing links course, which makes the move to Ballybunion all the more attractive," added the honorary life member of Royal Portrush. "I think it's great news."
He was actually shopping in London yesterday and plans to relax for the remainder of the week with some social golf and a bit of fishing, in the build-up to next week's Ryder Cup at Brookline. And if one is to believe Watson, he and his European colleagues are in for a torrid time.
"I believe the US will win, not least for the fact that they need to win in the worst possible way," said the victorious 1993 American captain. "The controversy surrounding the money issue was blown totally out of proportion by the media over here and I believe it will have the effect of solidifying the players as a unit."
He concluded: "There is no divisiveness. They're going to win this time."
Meanwhile, the Irish Open will be the first professional event at Ballybunion since the Carrolls No 1 Tournament was staged there in July 1967. On his way to victory and a princely cheque for £300, Jimmy Kinsella shot a course record second round of 65 with a front nine of 29.
Interestingly, he started on the sixth (the old first), which will also be the opening hole for the Irish Open. For the duration of the tournament, the adjoining road will be closed and competitors will be ferried by buggy to the sixth tee and then from back to the clubhouse from the fifth green, where the round will finish.
Since then, the club played host to the Irish Amateur Close Championship in 1991 when Paul McGinley shot qualifying rounds of 77 and 74. He went on to lose a first round match by 5 and 4 to the eventual champion, Gary McNeill.
