The Irish Golf Club Gazette: 02/28/13

2/28/2013

Padraig Bags Clune Construction

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Clune Construction recently announced it has signed a long-term partnership agreement with PGA Tour and golfer Padraig Harrington.

Clune Construction is one of the largest commercial interior construction companies in the USA, and the official pairing of Clune and Harrington emerged from an interim branding arrangement last year when Clune helped in the raising of funds for the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation.

The two men, both Irish born with a commitment to philanthropy, soon formed a friendship that led to the long-term partnering of Clune Construction and Padraig Harrington.

Padraig Harrington has won more than 25 tournaments worldwide, including back to back British Open Championships titles in 2007 & 2008 and the U.S. PGA Championship in 2008. As part of his role as ambassador, Harrington will wear the Clune Construction logo on his shirts during tournaments, and is very pleased to unite with the civic-minded company. "I have a full schedule this year, with tournaments throughout the US, Europe and around the world, and look forward to representing the Clune name both on and off the golf course, " Harrington said. "I'm impressed with their business and delighted to partner with them."

Michael Clune, founder of Clune Construction, believes the partnership will create long-lasting benefits for both parties. "We are excited about this partnership and glad to be a part of the Harrington team, which includes his active charitable foundation," said Clune. "Padraig's brand values match up well with ours, and we think he will be a respected and valuable ambassador for us as he competes around the world. Our organisation also is thrilled that Padraig has agreed to join with our company for several golf-related special events this year."

Clune Construction is known for its involvement with various charitable organizations and places a high value on giving back to the communities it serves. "Our company is committed to helping community organizations and finding unique ways to meld business and community ventures. It is our hope that that partnerships such as this, beyond the business sponsorship element, can provide another avenue to assist in doing that," according to Clune.

Green Light for Bushmill Dunes

Work on a £100 million golf resort near the famous Giant's Causeway on Ulster's north coast is due to get under way later this year after a landmark ruling at the Northern Ireland High Court .

Mr Justice Weatherup dismissed a legal challenge by the National Trust which claimed the development would have a major environmental impact on the UNESCO designated World Heritage site.

More than a decade after the initial planning application was lodged, the judge endorsed a decision last year by the Northern Ireland Environment minister Alex Attwood to give the go-ahead for a championship course and five star hotel outside the village of Bushmills, Co Antrim, a mile and a half from the Causeway, one of the country's main tourist attractions.

The ruling was a personal triumph for the US-based Northern Ireland businessman Dr Alistair Hanna who is heading up the investment and advisory group involved in the Bushmills Dunes golf resort and spa scheme, and which he claims could create up to 360 direct jobs and an estimated 300 more through suppliers and construction.

The Trust launched a fierce campaign of resistance because of the close proximity of the proposed 18-hole championship course, luxury hotel and holiday accommodation to the Causeway and sought a judicial review of the minister's decision to approve the application – one of the most significant since the power-sharing executive was established in Belfast.

Dr Hanna was not in court for today's judgment, but afterwards declared work would begin as soon as possible. It is likely to begin towards the end of the summer and take at least two years, maybe three, to complete.

He said: ''Not only will the resort provide a world class golf links course and facilities attracting thousands of visitors each year, it will also protect the vulnerable topography of the coastal area which has been left vulnerable following decades of neglect.''

The Trust, which once applied for planning permission to extend an hotel overlooking the Causeway, had previously said it was not opposed to golf or development, but repeated time and time again, it was trying to protect the Unesco designation as a World Heritage site.

It also claimed the development fell within the four kilometre zone which Unesco has placed around the stones.

But in a judgment which lasted an hour and 45 minutes, Mr Justice Weatherup rejected all their objections which ranged from protection of the Causeway which was afforded under international law to the impact on wildlife, – including bats and lizards – as well as the economy and tourist accommodation.

The National Trust was bitterly disappointed by the ruling and said it remained convinced a massive development in the setting of the World Heritage Site was wrong.

A statement added: ''We still believe that if a development of this scale does go ahead in this location, the message is that nowhere in Northern Ireland, no matter how important or protected, is safe from development.

''The ruling today has served to highlight aspects of very serious concern for those partners involved in the care and protection of the World Heritage Site.

''It is essential that we work together to get planning policy right in Northern Ireland to ensure that appropriate development can happen, but not at the expense of our beautiful landscapes and historic places.''

''There are also significant issues regarding the relationship between government in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and UNESCO that must be addressed to ensure the protection of our World Heritage Site for the long term.''

McIlroy Cuts Just a Blip - Bubba

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Bubba Watson believes Rory McIlroy's early struggles with his new Nike clubs is nothing more than a blip.

McIlroy has suffered a poor start to the season after switching equipment manufacturers in a multi-million pound deal, missing the cut in Abu Dhabi and losing to Shane Lowry in the first round of the WGC World Match Play last week.

But Masters champion Watson is convinced the world number one - who will defend his Honda Classic title this week - will come good again soon, while admitting he had never been offered "stupid" money to change clubs.

"I think Rory is going to be number one for a while," Watson said on a teleconference ahead of his title defence at Augusta from April 11-14. "There is no-one in the history of the game who is 100 per cent in making cuts.

"And match play is match play, it's such a goofy tournament so I don't think Rory and Tiger (Woods) losing in the first round shows anything."

As for changing clubs, Watson added: "If the right number, or what we call a stupid number in our business, comes along then obviously you look at it and you figure it out.

"I never wanted to leave Ping, I've been with them since I was eight years old so for me it's an easy decision. I've never got a stupid number, though."

Watson, who defeated South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen in a play-off to win his first major title last April, gets to choose the menu for this year's champions dinner, which is traditionally held on the Tuesday before the first round.

Last year, 2011 champion Charl Schwartzel opted for a South African braai - a traditional meal made up of grilled meats - but Watson is giving nothing away just yet.

"We will wait and see," the left-hander added. "I think I should be allowed to just wait to tell everybody."