American golf journalists drop by ‘fore’ a visit

Millions of golfers across the United States – and potential holidaymakers for Northern Ireland – are set to read or hear all about our world-class golf, following this week’s visit by a group of top American golf journalists.
By Steven Crawford
Published 30th Jul 2015, 10:07 BST
The group is pictured on the first tee at Portstewart Golf Club along with Bernard McMullan, Tourism Ireland New York (third left) and Rory Mathews, Failte Ireland (right).The group is pictured on the first tee at Portstewart Golf Club along with Bernard McMullan, Tourism Ireland New York (third left) and Rory Mathews, Failte Ireland (right).
The group is pictured on the first tee at Portstewart Golf Club along with Bernard McMullan, Tourism Ireland New York (third left) and Rory Mathews, Failte Ireland (right).

The journalists – whose radio stations or publications have a combined audience of millions of US golfers – are here as guests of Tourism Ireland, Tourism NI and Fáilte Ireland. In addition to experiencing the challenges of Portstewart’s championship course, the journalists also had the opportunity to play Ballyliffin, Portsalon and Rosapenna in Co Donegal, Rosses Point in Sligo and Royal Dublin.

Promoting golf holidays in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland is a major focus for Tourism Ireland in the United States, and in other key markets around the world. Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s head of North America, said: “We were delighted to invite these leading golf journalists to the island of Ireland, helping to showcase the world-class golf on offer here to a huge audience of potential American golf holidaymakers. Tourism Ireland has an extensive programme of promotions under way this year, to highlight our world-class golf and encourage more Americans to consider a golfing vacation on the island of Ireland.

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“Golf is the world’s largest sports-related travel market and we are working hard to drive home the message that a golfing holiday here 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 golfers.”

As well as inviting influential American golf writers to visit the island of Ireland and experience some of our great courses for themselves, Tourism Ireland’s golf TV ads aired to millions of golf enthusiasts this spring, on the hugely popular NBC Golf Channel, as well as on Golfchannel.com; a digital ad campaign has also been running on various golf websites, directing people to the golf pages on Ireland.com. Social media activity is also encouraging American golfers to come and play some of our great courses. And Tourism Ireland is attending a number of high profile golf events this year – including the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Massachusetts, in September.

Related topics:Northern IrelandAmericanTourism Ireland