A group of players from the Golfing Union of Ireland Ulster branch were treated to a clinic from five-time European Tour winner Michael Hoey as the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses aims to build a lasting legacy.
While Hoey unfortunately missed the cut at the stunning Galgorm Castle, the Tournament Ambassador returned at the weekend to give his free time and, alongside another European Tour winner Martin Wiegele, give some valuable advice and coaching to some of the most promising up and coming players in the region.
The 35 year old, who has won four Challenge Tour titles in a glittering career, dished out valuable advice about how to warm up for a round, techniques to take form on the range out on to the golf course and general swing tips as the star-struck kids watched on.
It was just another initiative from the visionary team at Galgorm Castle to use the Challenge Tour tournament as a platform to build on the recent success Northern Ireland has achieved in the world game and form a bridge between the amateur game and the highest echelons of the professional game.
With four amateurs having been selected by the GUI Ulster Branch to play in this week’s event – two of them in Dermot McElroy and John Ross Galbraith making the cut – the tournament has already provided inspiration for the next generation of golfers in the country.
