Out in the open, so to speak. Although there remains a journey ahead if either is to happen, the possibilities of both The Open and the AIG Women’s Open – two Majors run by the R&A – being held at Portmarnock Golf Club in north Dublin have advanced considerably.
The R&A, the custodians of the championships, confirmed that a full feasibility study would be undertaken to see “what would be required to make it happen,” while Minister for Sport Catherine Martin has asked her officials to engage with Portmarnock Golf Club in their efforts to become the first venue outside of the United Kingdom to host the events.
“Securing either Open would be very significant for the game of golf in Ireland and our international profile as a must visit destination for golf tourism,” said the Minister.
Portmarnock Golf Club, consistently rated among the world’s leading links courses, ended its male-only membership rule in 2021 (ending a policy which had existed for 127 years) to become “gender neutral”, a vote by the membership which also had the knock-on effect of making the course available to once again host big tournaments with financial support from the Government.
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In a clear indication that Portmarnock is very much being considered as a potential future venue for the men’s and women’s Opens, a spokesperson for the R&A said: “Portmarnock is undoubtedly one of the world’s outstanding links courses and we believe there is the potential to host our major championships there but it is essential that a full evaluation is carried out to assess whether it is feasible and what would be required to make it happen.”
Royal Portrush in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, has successfully staged two Opens – in 1951 when Max Faulkner won and again in 2019 when Shane Lowry famously lifted the Claret Jug – and will again stage the championship in 2025, the 153rd Open.
[ Rory McIlroy backs ‘amazing’ Portmarnock as future Open Championship venueOpens in new window ]
Securing the AIG Women’s Open first is more likely. That championship is scheduled to be played on the Old Course at St Andrews next year and will be held at Royal Porthcawl in Wales in 2025.
Minister Martin, speaking of that possibility, said: “The hosting of the women’s tournament would be a particularly welcome boost for the growth of the women’s game. Women and girls make up approximately 22 per cent of golf club membership in Ireland and the Government is committed to supporting this growth.
“I am pleased to have provided significant funding to underpin the rebirth of the Irish Women’s Open, successfully hosted this year and last at Dromoland Castle, and the hosting of next year’s R&A Women’s Amateur Open at Portmarnock will further increase the profile of women in the sport and awareness of the importance of driving equality and inclusivity across the sport in Ireland.”
“To build on this progress by hosting the most prestigious Women’s Open in the coming years represents a very positive opportunity and one which I have asked my officials to engage on with Portmarnock Golf Club.”
Portmarnock has traditionally been to the fore as a host venue for big tournaments. The inaugural Irish Open was held on the north Dublin links in 1927 and it has staged a record 19 Irish Opens, the last of those in 2003. It also staged the Canada Cup, which evolved into the World Cup of Golf, in 1960 and the Walker Cup in 1991.
As it happened, Rory McIlroy, then a young amateur, was flying over the course into Dublin Airport in 2003 when New Zealand’s Michael Campbell won.
Speaking at last month’s Horizon Irish Open at The K Club, McIlroy – commenting on speculation that Portmarnock was on the R&A’s radar as a possible Open venue – remarked: “ ... having a course that’s so close to a major city, so close to a major airport, having a great golf course. I think it would be amazing.”
It might be a case of ladies’ first, but – with Government support and the R&A’s willingness to take the majors outside of the UK – the possibility of Portmarnock Golf Club hosting golf’s oldest Major would appear to be very real indeed.
