McElroy Targets West of Ireland

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Dermot McElroy has shelved plans to turn professional mid-season and has set his sights on the West of Ireland Amateur Open which gets under way at Rosses Point on Friday.

The 21-year-old Ballymena star is tipped to become the next big thing in Irish golf, despite narrowly failing to win his tour card at last year's European Tour Qualifying School.

He's already 61st on the planet in the amateur rankings but knows he's going to have to find some form with the putter if he's to avoid another early exit in the West and finally add an amateur 'Major' to his list of achievements.

Second favourite behind defending champion Rory McNamara to win at Co Sligo, McElroy said: "It's all going to depend on how the putter is working. I've a habit of missing four three-footers a round and that's just giving holes away, so that's going to be key, especially if it's very windy.

"Hopefully this year it will be a bit different for me on the greens but to be honest, my putting's been very poor this year.

"After South Africa and the Spanish events, it was really awful. I just couldn't break 33 putts for any round, but I've put in a lot of practice since then and it's coming along.

"I've no idea when I will turn professional, but I don't think it will be this year. I'm going to finish the amateur season. I had thought about going after the British Amateur at Royal Portrush and Portstewart but I think I'd just like to wait."

McElroy's goal is to become a Major winner before joining the paid ranks.

"I just want to win one of the big amateur events, so it'd be nice to win a West or the North of Ireland," he said.

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Home Internationals return to Sligo

4th Hole County Sligo Golf Club

In August 2011 County Sligo Golf Club will once again have the honour of hosting the prestigious Men's Home Internationals. 

This is the second time that the tournament has been hosted by County Sligo. In 1991 the Irish team retained the trophy on home soil after a magnificent win in Conwy the previous year. Three time major winner Padraig Harrington was a member of this team that went on to complete a hat trick of victories at Prestwick the following year.

We are delighted to host the 2011 Home Internationals in Rosses Point where officials, players and supporters are assured a of very special welcome from the members of County Sligo Golf Club. 

Rosses Point is situated 8kms (5 miles) from Sligo town, it is a beautiful maritime village and holiday resort with two magnificent sandy blue flag beaches. The village is set against the backdrop of the spectacular Dartry mountain range and the beauty of Sligo Bay. 

There are numerous excellent restaurants, top class hotel and bed & breakfast accommodation and no shortage of friendly pubs. The bay is ideal for swimming, angling and all water sports, it is also a very popular sailing resort with Sligo Yacht Club located a short walk from the village.

Just off the coast from Rosses Point are two small islands, Oyster island and Coney island. Oyster island with it's distinctive lighthouse takes its name from the many oyster beds that were found along its shores. The islands are separated by Shrunamile, the channel of a thousand currents.

A feature of the bay is the unusual 'Metal Man', a 12 ft tall cast iron statue of a Royal Navy petty officer placed on a perch rock to indicate the safe passage through Sligo Channel to the quays in Sligo town.

Rosses Point has been immortalised in paintings and verse by the renowned Yeats brothers, the poet William Butler and the artist Jack. They spent many summers there as children staying in the 'grand' Elsinore Lodge which was owned by the Middleton family. 

'One of the oldest and best known links courses in Ireland'

Founded in 1894, County Sligo Golf Club is one of the oldest and best known courses in Ireland. The links are set out on one of the most scenic locations in the country, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the west; Benbulben dominates the view on the northern skyline and bears a striking resemblance to Cape Town's Table Mountain. 

To the east is Glencar Valley and the Dartary mountains with the impressive peaks of Lugnagall and Truskmore, while the southern vista is completed by Knocknarea topped by a large Cairn of stones reputed to be the grave of the 'Warrior Queen Meave of Connaught'.

The course was designed by Harry Colt in 1927 with his able assistant Captain Hugh Allison taking credit for the bunkering arrangement. Allison was noted for his deeper bunkers and with a high ridge line to be negotiated for a successful exit.

The club has hosted many prestigious events over the years. It is home to the West of Ireland Championship which is held each Easter. The club has hosted the Irish Close Championship as well as the Interprovincial and the Home International Championships which were staged here in 1991 when Ireland won the Raymond Trophy.

In recent years the golf club has engaged the services of the renowned course architect, Martin Hawtree, to strengthen areas of the course that were being challenged by the continual improvements in golf equipment. His work is ongoing and includes new tees that have been added to the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 11th, 17th and 18th holes. Also included is the reshaping of existing bunkers and the creation of new bunkers on the 6th, 7th, 11th and 15th.

These changes will ensure a stern test for the elite amateurs of Britain and Ireland as they compete for the Raymond Trophy Home Internationals scheduled for County Sligo in 2011.

It is now over 100 years since the clubs inception and Harry Shapland Colt's classic course design has stood the test of time, so that even with today's advances in golf technology and coaching, it still offers a stern test for even the most accomplished golfer.

Tom Watson has described Rosses Point as "a magnificent links" and made particular mention of the stretch from the 14th to the 17th. This course is considered by many to be the finest 18 holes of golf in Ireland.

Course type: Links

Designer: Harry Colt

Championship Length: 6750 yards

Par: 71