Travel Trade Golf Classic Celebrates 20th Anniversary!

As has been the case for the past eight years, it took place alongside The Big Travel Trade Event, and after two decades the Classic is as popular as ever.

Jonathan Adair, the Golf Classic organiser, recalled that the first Classic took place at Belvoir Park Golf Club 20 years ago, with the prize presentations taking place at The Culloden, immediately afterwards. Since then every other event has been at The Hilton Templepatrick which now calls the Classic ‘home.’

“I remember being at a similar golf event in England, and thought ‘we can do that’ and we did,” recalled Jonathan. “The Golf Classic was a remarkable success right from the word go, and of course we have been lucky throughout the years with great support from sponsors and golfers, while the weather has played its part over the years too.”

Overall winner and recipient of this year’s top prize, an Irish Ferries crossing for a car and four people to France with mobile home accommodation at Keller Campotel resort, was Dave Conlon of Travelport. A delighted Dave received his prize from Marie McCarthy of Irish Ferries.

The weather gods were certainly smiling on the Classic once again. Despite a forecast break in three weeks of stunning Spanish-like sunshine, rain was expected to come in during the day. As it turned out there was little more than a bit of dampness in the air before golfers and sponsors came off the course to take advantage of the refreshments served up Irish Ferries at their ’19th hole.’

“We’ve never had a really bad day’s weather, ” said Shauna Broderick of Northern Ireland Travel News, who has been involved in almost all the 20 Golf Classics over the years. “We were keeping our fingers crossed this time, but thankfully the rain stayed away and everyone got back into the clubhouse dry.”

The Team Prize, a four ball at The Hilton Templepatrick Golf and Country Club with a B&B Overnight Stay went to a Celebrity Mix team comprising of Michael Magill, David O’Connor, Joseph McClean and Piaras Curran. The Ladies Prize of Golf Vouchers went to Claire Balmer.

The other Classic winners were:

• Hole 1 – Nearest the Pin, Second Shot, Amazon Echo Dot Smart Speaker sponsored by Celebrity Cruises – winner NIGEL CRAWFORD
• Hole 2 – Longest Drive, Golf Vouchers sponsored by Virgin Atlantic – winner DAVID SMYTE
• Hole 3 – Shortest Drive, Flights and Ground Arrangements for Stay in St Johns sponsored by Westjet and Destination St John’s – winner ANDREW OSBOROUGH
• Hole 4 – Nearest the Pin, Moet Chandon champagne sponsored by If Only…. – Winner, PIARAS CURRAN
• Hole 5 – Longest Drive, Goody Bag presented by Ethiopian Airlines – winner, ROY GREER
• Hole 6 – Longest Drive, Mystery Prize, sponsored by Jet2holidays – winner, GARY BINGHAM
• Hole 7 – Beat the Pro, Golf Holiday sponsored by Gran Canaria – winner, JAMES BELL
• Hole 8 – Closest to the Water, Second Shot, Car Plus Four and Four Tickets to the Scottish Open – winner JOE McCLEAN
• Hole 9 – Longest Drive, Tablet presented by Amadeus – winner MICHAEL MADDEN
• Hole 10 – Nearest the Pin, Second Shot, Golf Vouchers, presented by Super Break – winner JAMES BELL
• Hole 11 – Nearest the Pin, Irish Sea Crossing presented by Stena Line – winner, MARTIN PENROSE
• Hole 12 – Nearest the Pin, Second Shot, Mystery Prize sponsored by Qatar Airlines – winner, DARREN HOUSTON
• Hole 13 – Nearest the Pin, Second Shot, £50 Love to Shop Vouchers – winner, JOHNNY McKIMM
• Hole 14 – Nearest the Pin, Second Shot, Goody Bag and Rum, presented by Cuba Holidays – winner, DAVID McCULLOCH
• Hole 15 – Nearest the Pin, Champagne presented by Blue Insurance – winner, IVAN VALLELLY
• Hole 16 – Longest Drive, One Armed Swing, Mystery Prize presented by Online Travel Training – EDDIE GRAHAM
• Hole 17 – Longest Drive, Mystery Prize presented by Tourism Ireland – winner, (tie) JORGE ARMAS and GUSTAVO CABRERA
• Hole 18 – Nearest the Pin, Second Shot, Luxury Italian Hamper, presented by Topflight – winner, DON SHEARER

As usual, Blue Insurance offered the stunning prize of a new car for a Hole in One at Hole 15. Unfortunately, it remains just a dream prize until 2019!