IRISH TOURISM chiefs are to amend a multimillion golf tourism campaign to reflect Darren Clarke’s win at the British Open. The €2.2 million “Home of Champions” campaign, which is currently running on television on the Golf Channel in the US and on TalkSPORT radio in the UK, will be altered to include the Dungannon golfer alongside major winners Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.
Margaret O’Reilly of Tourism Ireland said: “The kind of publicity that we achieved over the weekend for golf in Northern Ireland and on the island as a whole is the kind of exposure that money can’t buy.”
The ad features photos of Harrington, McDowell and McIlroy followed by those of several courses, including Royal Portrush, where Clarke is a member.
“You can play the same world class golf courses where these champions learned their skills,” a voiceover says.
Irish golfers have won six majors in the past five years, boosting the coffers of the golf courses associated with them.
The Holywood course in Co Down, where McIlroy (22) learned his trade, has seen a huge increase in interest since his win at last month’s US Open.
“We’ve had maybe 40 to 50 tourists from the States playing golf in the past month, when we’d usually have a dozen a year,” said Paul Gray, general manager.
Tourism representatives say they have logged a definite increase in US tourists this year, although it was difficult to say how many had come because of the golf wins.
“There are definitely more Americans around this year than last year,” said Adrian Cummins of the Restaurant Association of Ireland. “The Obama visit was a big plus but I think future American business should gain from the recent golf wins.”