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| MAKING
GOLF HEADLINES WORLDWIDE SINCE 2002 |
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CONTACT:
Robert Hill | info@roberthillconsulting.com
| +353 (0)86 6812744 |
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| 29 January 2008 | ||
| POWERPLAY GOLF DEBUTS AT POWERSCOURT A ROBERT
HILL CONSULTING PRESS RELEASE Powerscourt Golf Club in Co. Wicklow hosted Ireland’s first ever PowerPlay Golf Event on Monday January 28th, and it is clearly going to be the first of many. The event took place on the club’s East Course, designed by past Walker Cup Captain and co-creator of PowerPlay Golf Peter McEvoy OBE. Forty competitors teed off in magnificent sunshine and quickly learned just how exhilarating PowerPlay can be. On his first hole Dermott Synnott (2 handicap) from Delgany started with a net eagle and 8 stableford points to get his round off to flyer. His challenge faded however in the face of some fine golf from Jim Melody (9 handicap) and John Sheehan (7 handicap) who both collected birdies on two of their three PowerPlay holes, posting scores of 27 points and 25 points respectively. Ultimately though, it was a Powerscourt member Michelle Freely (31 handicap) who took first prize through clever selection and great execution of her PowerPlay holes. Michelle scored two net eagles on two of her three PowerPlays with the reward of a huge 16 stableford points. Michelle’s final score of 28 points goes down as the national record and Ireland’s first ever PowerPlay Golf winner! PowerPlay Golf which launched in the UK to great acclaim in 2007 and is scheduled to roll out in 45 countries, is described by many as ‘golf’s version of Tag-Rugby’. In cricket-playing countries, the predicted effect of the launch of PowerPlay Golf is that the new format will create the same fundamental changes in golf as the introduction of the one-day game brought to the sport of cricket worldwide - with distinct similarities to the launch of Twenty20 cricket.Played over 9-holes, each green in a game of PowerPlay Golf has two flags, rather than one. Players on a ‘PowerPlay’ aim for the Black Flag, the harder of the two, with extra points as a reward for birdies or better. The ‘risk-and-reward’ format heightens tension, and makes golfers think harder about their shots. Bernard Gibbons, Director of Golf at Powerscourt, said: “This was a fantastic occasion for Powerscourt and it was great to see everyone so energized coming off the golf course. People just seem to love playing PowerPlay – it’s exciting, it’s a lot of fun and brings another dimension to the game. This is the new way to play golf and I know it will be a huge success for golfers and golf clubs across Ireland.” Powerscourt is currently one of four Official Venues which also include Carton House Golf Club in Co. Kildare, Faithlegg Golf Club in Co. Waterford and Castle Dargan Golf Club in Co. Sligo. It is expected that by the end of this year over 80 clubs will have registered as official venues offering PowerPlay to golfers throughout the country. Details can be found on www.powerplay-golf.com (click on the Ireland flag), or by contacting Robert Hill on 01 2870215, or by emailing him on robert@roberthillconsulting.com. |
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| Media Contact (Ireland) : | Robert Hill, Robert
Hill Consulting Tel: +353 (0)86 6812744, Email: info@roberthillconsulting.com |
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| Media Contact (UK): | Andy Hiseman, Hiseman
Partners Tel: +44 (0)1780 757461, Email: andy@hiseman.com |
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| Notes to editors:
Notes to editors: PowerPlay Golf (www.powerplay-golf.com) is the two-flag, ‘risk and reward’ golf format currently being introduced to all major golf-playing countries. The game offers a fast, high-pressure version of golf which puts players under pressure to take Tour golf style decisions. Players earn extra points for birdies or better when playing to the Black Flag, which is generally in the more difficult position on the green. A round of PowerPlay Golf takes half the time of a normal 18-hole round. Golf clubs become Official Venues, and can then offer PowerPlay Golf events for members and guests, green fee golfers, visiting societies and corporate golf customers. Golfers can earn PowerPlay Dollars by playing in both Official Events and in casual games, thus climbing the web-based PowerPlay Golf World Rankings, and can also create custom PowerPlay Leagues for friends and colleagues. The format has been welcomed by many of the game’s governing bodies around the world. Peter McEvoy OBE, former captain and chairman of selectors of the Walker Cup, is one of the game’s co-creators. PowerPlay Golf has been described by many as golf’s equivalent to Twenty20 Cricket. It will soon be seen on TV around the world. Powerscourt Golf Club (www.powerscourt.ie) is situated in the grounds of the magnificent Powerscourt Estate in Co Wicklow and is renowned for its two magnificent golf courses. Opened in 1996 the East course was designed by former Walker Cup Captain Peter McEvoy OBE and quickly established itself as one of Ireland’s finest parkland courses. Just 2 years after opening, it hosted the Smurfit Irish PGA championship and in 2001 was the venue for the AIB European senior tour. In 2005, David Mclay Kidd whose work includes the renowned Bandon Dunes in Oregon and the new Castle Course at St. Andrews, created the West Course at Powerscourt offering members and guests an experience like no other in Ireland. |
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