There were 12 award categories and The Colt Championship Links at County Sligo Golf Club won the Irish Golf Course of the Year awards, beating off competition from The Strand Course at Portstewart, Carne Golf Links, Adare Manor, Old Head and the Jameson Linksat Portmarnock,
Men’s Captain, Robert Fitzpatrick said: “This means an awful lot. We are 130 years on the go and this means so much to the members. We are a member owned and run club. To be mentioned in the same category as the other nominees in brilliant, thats a wonderful trip to Ireland in itself to visit all of the courses that were nominated. Each course is as good as the other, but on this occasion we have come out on top and we are absolutely thrilled. This is very special.
“It’s great now that others know what the members at County Sligo have known for a long time and that County Sligo is now recognised as the best course in Ireland.”
The Golf Course awards were hosted by former Tour Professional & Sky Sports Golf Presenter, Nick Doughtery.
Doughtery sat on the judging panel along with 7 other judges who come from strong golfing backgrounds.
When County Sligo were annouced as winners, the judging panel stated that “County Sligo is a truly welcoming club, running great inclusivity and sustainability initiatives. Recent course improvements have bedded in brilliantly, and the academy is growing and excelling – a worthy winner of Ireland Golf Course of the Year 2024.”
Eimear McManus who was one of the judges added: “I’m absolutely thrilled for everyone at County Sligo Golf Club. They put in a great entry for the award and they proved to be a worthy winner.”
Golf Resort of the Year
Adare Manor is a bucket list destination for most people, but we just felt that with the benefits the Ryder Cup will bring to the local community, and recent improvements to the already world-beating experience offered to all guests, they deserved to win Resort Course of the Year 2024. If you only visit one golf resort in the world, Adare Manor should be that one resort. – David Jones, Golf Course Awards Judge
Ireland: Golf Course of the Year
County Sligo is a truly welcoming club, running great inclusivity and sustainability initiatives. Recent course improvements have bedded in brilliantly, and the academy is growing and excelling – a worthy winner of Ireland Golf Course of the Year 2024. – The Golf Course Awards Judging Panel
Practice Facility of the Year
World-class coaching and tech set-up, as well as an incredible variety of programmes and initiatives. I loved finding out that Sigmoid HQ also focuses on the nutritional, physio and mental side of golf practice, not just the technical side of the game. – Nick Dougherty, Golf Course Awards Judge
Great Britain & Ireland Golf Course of the Year
Worplesdon is a course that has had an undoubtedly exceptional year, but also one whose success is built on a commitment to running a thriving golf club in every department. They met every criteria point, with a strategic vision focused firmly on the future – an outstanding course, a progressive club, and a fully deserving winner of Great Britain & Ireland’s Golf Course of the Year 2024.” – The Golf Course Awards Judging Panel
Winners – Worplesdon
England: Golf Course of the Year
It’s inspiring to see a relatively small traditional club operating at such a high level across so many areas – clearly set on driving forward on and off the course, they are running outstanding junior and women’s programmes, and are a worthy winner of England Golf Course of the Year 2024. – David Jones, Golf Course Awards Judge
Scotland: Golf Course of the Year
As the home of golf, you wouldn’t be surprised if they occasionally got complacent, but the Old Course and St. Andrews take their responsibilities to their community and to the sport of golf incredibly seriously, never more so than over the last 12 months. The AIG Women’s Open felt like a seminal moment for Women’s Golf, with young girls truly embracing the opportunity to experience the Old Course with a twist, in what truly did feel like a festival of golf. – Emma Ballard, Golf Course Awards Judge
Wales: Golf Course of the Year
Pyle & Kenfig is a club and a course on the rise – they have carried out some wonderful course improvements, and are doing a huge amount of work off the course, with sustainability and inclusion initiatives making a positive impact on the environment and within their community – a deserving winner of Wales Golf Course of the Year 2024. – Nick Dougherty, Golf Course Awards Judge
Emerging Course of the Year (Est. after 2000)
A modern style links with one of the best clubhouses, it’s only been around for a few years, and it looks like it’s been bedded in over a hundred years. The veteran programme for the caddies is a stand-out initiative, and really does save lives – a worthy winner without a doubt. – Inci Mehmet, Golf Course Awards Judge
Short Course of the Year
Sunningdale Heath are a truly inclusive club, led by an inspirational team with clear vision – one built on supporting the next generation, on engendering a real community spirit, and on providing a course that can be enjoyed by all. Intergenerational and mixed-ability golf works perfectly at this special course. Quite simply, we felt it embodied everything a short course should be, and was an incredibly deserving winner. – Nick Dougherty, Golf Course Awards Judge
Sustainability Award
Carnoustie have built-in sustainability considerations to literally everything they do, the scale and breadth of their initiatives are market-leading across the board, and without doubt, deserve to be the inaugural champions of The Sustainability Award.– Scott Macpherson, Golf Course Awards Judge.
Junior Golf Programme of the Year
We all felt that juniors were absolutely central to the club, and given prominence in a way you rarely see at a course of this standard. Growing golf in the North-East of England, especially for juniors, is at the core of everything Close House do. The instruction is first rate and Juniors are encouraged to get out on the courses as early and as often as possible – they are worthy winners of Junior Golf Programme of the Year. – Dan Walker, Golf Course Awards Judge
Inclusivity Award
Golf It! Glasgow has made incredible strides in a short space of time. Inclusivity is in their DNA, and are a true trailblazer in every sense – we are delighted to recognise Golf It! Glasgow as our inaugural Inclusivity Award winner. – The Golf Course Awards Judging Panel