First cheque for Tommy; ClubstoBuy.com launched; Powerscourt gets ClubLink

Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney) during last year's Irish Youths Open & Irish Colleges Invitational Championship at Moyola Park Golf last May. Picture by Pat Cashman

Mediterranean Tour — Killarney's Tommy O'Driscoll bounced back from an opening 86 with a 72 to make his first cut as a professional in the Palm Hills Championship.

The 19-year old Kerryman made the cut on 14 over after winds gusting over 35mph made for tough scoring conditions on the opening day. Scores

England'steven Uzzell also shot a 72 and at five under par, he's the only player under par, five shots clear of Ireland's Liam Murray (72-73), Spain's Xavi Puig (71-73) and England's James Scade (69-76).

O'Driscoll's brother Dylan, an amateur, missed the cut after rounds of 90 and 85.

Powerscourt Golf Club

Powerscourt signs up for ClubLink

Technology — Powerscourt Golf Club has signed up for the ClubLink package from Golfgraffix.

“As mobile technology becomes increasingly engrained in the fabric of sporting enthusiasts’ daily lives, we recognised the importance of ensuring that Powerscourt Golf Club was an early adopter,” said Powerscourt’s Golf Manager, Gavin Hunt.

“We are confident as we commence our 20th anniversary celebrations that the introduction of our new App will further enhance our members and visitors experience of Powerscourt Golf Club.”

The App, which is available to download from the Apple and Android App Stores, includes an Online Booking Facility, Online Golf Shop, 3D Course Guide with Flybys and GPS Measuring, Live Scoring, In App Diary, Rewards and Course Alerts. 

For sponsorship opportunities within the App please contact John or Aaron at ClubLink directly on 01 4100990.

ClubstoHire launches ClubstoBuy,com

Travel — They might have made a strategic mistake by failing to maintain a high profile relationship with Paul McGinley but whatever about the nitty gritty of that decision, ClubstoHire.com continues to expand

At a time when golf is going through some hardship, with the number of rounds being played going down (figures released by Golf Business News show the third quarter of 2015 was down 7% on the third quarter of 2014), the number of golfers choosing to play abroad has never been higher.

Clubstohire.com has benefited from this trend most and the company is introducing a new service to enable golf club renters to purchase the sets they've used at ClubstoBuy.com.
 
Six years after making it affordable and convenient for travelling golfers to rent golf clubs abroad for an average of €40 per week for a set in places such as the Algarve in Portugal to Cape Town in South Africa, the company is now offering used clubs from leading golf brands such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno and Wilson Staff are on sale at competitive prices to rival any club resale specialist. The site is due to go live by the end of this week.

ClubstoHire.com CEO Tony Judge has taken over from Paul McGinley has the face of the company in publicity shots.

“The creation of our new website is a direct result of ClubstoHire customers asking us where they can purchase the clubs they’ve just played with and enjoyed using during their golfing trip,” said CEO Tony Judge.

“Despite a drop in the number of rounds played at home, more golfers are choosing to play abroad in better weather conditions and take the opportunity to try out the latest sets to market.

“Given the demand from our rental customers and golfers in general, we anticipate that ClubstoBuy.com will prove an extremely popular website taking our business to another level and encouraging more frequent rounds of golf,” he added.
          
Last month, ClubstoHire added Myrtle Beach to its list of prime golf destinations served in the United States, just six months after opening in Orlando, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Other long haul locations include Cape Town, Bangkok and the Dominican Republic.                                                                                               
In 2015, around 70,000 sets of clubs were hired by golfers who preferred the convenience of picking up golf clubs at the destination airport, hotel or golf course and saved on airline charges of up to €100 for excess weight.

Since the Dublin-based company was formed in 2010, it is estimated to have saved golfers €4.5m in extra baggage charges, while renting out almost 250,000 sets of clubs.

But it remains to be seen if dropping winning Ryder Cup captain McGinley as the face of the company last year was worth the risk.

“Now that the business has been launched and rebranded, an attempt to renegotiate a further contract was inconclusive," McGinley told The Irish Times last year. "I am now no longer involved in the business.”

The European Tour star had just begun working with Golf Channel in the US and remains a high profile media figure all over the world.
 
Locations currently being served by ClubstoHire.com are: Spain - Alicante, Costa Dorada, Girona, Gran Canaria , Malaga, Murcia, Palma (Majorca) & Tenerife; Portugal – Faro, Lisbon & Madeira; Cyprus – Paphos; Morocco – Marrakesh; Turkey – Belek; South Africa – Cape Town; Dominican Republic – Punta Cana; Thailand – Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket; United States – Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix/Scottsdale & Myrtle Beach; UK & Ireland – Cork, Dublin & Edinburgh.