Tourism Ireland is encouraging American golf fans to come and attend the Irish Open and to extend their visit and try out fantastic courses for themselves.

Joe Byrne, Tourism Ireland’s Executive Vice-President US and Canada, said: “The US golf market remains a priority for Tourism Ireland in 2012. We will undertake a busy golf promotional programme this year, which includes capitalising on the success of our major golf champions as ambassadors for the island of Ireland. “Golf is the world’s largest sports-related travel market and Tourism Ireland is working hard to drive home the message that a golfing holiday in Ireland is about much more than a round of 18 holes – the combination of Ireland’s world-class golf and our unique brand of hospitality plays a key role in attracting American golfers to come here.”

‘Home of Champions’ is a marketing campaign launched last year (summer of 2011) in Great Britain and the US, designed to boost golf visitors from overseas. Across the world, Tourism Ireland and golf tourism partners are promoting prominently at all the major golfing events. Tourism Ireland is also working closely with specialist golf tour operators such as golfbreaks.com and Your Golf Travel and with the English Women’s Golf Association.

The golf market is very important for tourism, particularly from the US and Britain but also, increasingly, from the European markets. High profile achievements such as the historic wins by Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, the announcement of North & West Coast Links as ‘European Golf Destination of the Year’, are all being used as ‘hooks’ to draw attention to Irish world-class golf experience and to grow visitor numbers. For the ones who love golf, Ireland is indeed the best place on earth! Make this year’s goal to play golf in the land of spectacular golf courses, go to Ireland and play like a pro!