Fota Island Golf Club in Cork will host the tenth edition of the AIB Irish Seniors Open from June 2-4, 2006. It will be the first time that the European Seniors Tour has visited Cork and the eighth venue for the tournament, which was first played at St Margaret's near Dublin in 1997.
Set in a 780 acre estate close to Cork City with its international airport and ferry terminal, Fota Island is a challenging, par 71 championship course weaving its way through woodlands and featuring pot bunkers and undulating putting surfaces.
Designed in 1993 by Irish Ryder Cup player, Christy O'Connor Jnr and former Walker Cup Captain, Peter McEvoy, Fota Island staged the Irish Club Professionals' Championship, the Irish Amateur Open and three Irish PGA Championships.
During 1998, Fota Island Golf Club was purchased by the Killeen Group. Under the direction of Jeff Howes Golf Design, work commenced immediately on upgrading the course to European Tour standards. The course reopened in September 1999, following the rebuilding of all 18 greens, and the redesign of some 8 of the holes.
Fota Island then staged two successive Irish Opens on The European Tour in 2001 and 2002, won by Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Søren Hansen of Denmark respectively. Montgomerie, in fact, set the course record of 63 on his way to victory in 2001.
Billy Andrews of AIB said: "We are delighted that the AIB Irish Seniors Open is going to Cork for the first time and on the occasion of its tenth anniversary. The Fleming Group has created a magnificent course at Fota Island and with the development of the hotel now underway it will undoubtedly be a wonderful venue for the 2006 tournament.
“We look forward to next year's event, which will take place in a Ryder Cup Year and it is appropriate that it should take place on a course where Christy O'Connor Jnr was involved at the inception. Christy, of course, is AIB's Ambassador for our involvement with the Ryder Cup. I am sure the people of Munster will give a tremendous welcome and support to the AIB Irish Seniors Open as they have done in the past."
In November 2004, The Fleming Group purchased Fota Island Golf Club and surrounding lands from Killeen Leisure Group Limited. The Fleming Group has interests which stretch across a broad sector of industry and have established a very successful track record in the leisure industry through its ownership of the Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa amongst others.
The Fleming Group have commenced construction on a substantial hotel and residential development at Fota Island with the Hotel due to open in April 2006. Jeff Howes Golf Design have been appointed Architects to resign the practice area and to provide an additional 9 holes of championship standard golf holes in keeping with the existing course.
John Fleming Managing Director for the Group, said: "On behalf of the Fleming Group I am delighted to welcome this highly prestigious event, the 2006 AIB Irish Seniors Open to Fota Island. We look forward to working with our event partners AIB, Greenstar and Failte Ireland and the European Seniors tour to ensure that the 2006 AIB Irish Seniors Open is a most successful and memorable event"
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: "We are delighted that the tenth anniversary of the AIB Irish Seniors Open, in association with Greenstar and Failte Ireland, coincides with our first visit to Cork. By reaching this milestone, AIB have reaffirmed their commitment to golf and to keep the AIB Irish Seniors Open positioned as one of the premier events on the Seniors Tour Schedule.
"Fota Island has established a deserved reputation as a top class facility and gained worldwide recognition during two outstanding editions of the Irish Opens, played in front of huge crowds, in 2001 and 2002.We thank AIB and The Fleming Group for their support."
Australia's Noel Ratcliffe won the 2004 AIB Irish Seniors Open at The Heritage at Killenard earlier this month - his second victory following his success at Adare Manor in 2002.
