The Ireland Golf Tour Operators Association has voted Lough Erne Resort in County Fermanagh “IGTOA Golf Resort of the Year” just one year after the opening of the Faldo Championship Course.

Ireland’s newest golf destination was the unanimous first choice of 16 IGTOA Tour Operators on the Executive Board, beating off intense competition from 25 of the best-known golf resorts in the North and South of the country.

This is the 13th year of the annual awards and the judging criteria included the quality and challenge of the course, clubhouse facilities, standard of personal service in the hotel including accommodation, health and spa and the overall quality of the tourism product.

L-R Eamonn Kennelly, Chairman IGTOA; Jonathan Stapleton, General Manager, Lough Erne Resort & Pat JenningsThe prestigious 2010 Gala Irish Golf Resort Award, was presented by former Arsenal and international goalkeeper Pat Jennings to Lough Erne’s General Manager Jonathan Stapleton at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Co Down.

Stapleton said: “This is a great honour for Lough Erne Resort and wonderful recognition from Ireland’s leading Tour Operators. We are fast becoming recognised as the centre of golfing excellence in Ireland and we will continue to strive to set the high standards for golf course presentation, customer service and outstanding value for money”

The Faldo Championship Course has already received a number of awards and accolades and has been named as one of the Top 100 UK Courses by the highly authoritative Golf World and Golf Monthly magazines for 2010.

The Minster for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin TD, said: “Golf in Ireland is an extremely important product  and  the  growth  of  golf  has  been a unique partnership between Government,  public  and  private enterprise. The Government recognises the importance of golf to our tourism industry and through Fáilte Ireland has invested in a golf events strategy for many years with a view to showcasing our product to our key international markets.”