Con is in Charge in Fota

By Niall O’Shea

Walking around the Fota Island Resort this week, you’d be mistaken for thinking it’s just another year at the prestigious Cork golf course,  The pro-shop is busy, as is the clubhouse, a society prepares to head out and there’s about six people practicing in the Academy.  All in all it’s pretty standard for the championship resort.  But Fota is right in the middle of preparations for the Irish Open which take place from 18^th to 22^nd June.  While it’s business as usual as far as any of the golfers are concerned, the course staff are busy working with a plan to deliver the course in perfect condition for the tour professionals in June.  It’s 12 years since the European Tour event last took place in Cork and for many of the professionals that were in tour in 2002, they’ll notice a few additions.  While the Deerpark course is still the same, the hotel and lodges are new, the additional nine holes are new and the Academy is now.  All of the developments were opened between 2006 and 2007 and now Fota Island stands out as the premier golf resort in the south of the country. Continue reading →