Team Ireland Golf Trust Announces 2013 Allocations

05 Mar 2013

The Team Ireland Golf Trust today announced grants totalling €140,000 to fourteen aspiring golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional golf tours. More than €3 million has been provided to golf professionals since the scheme was introduced in 1999. The Team Ireland Golf Trust aims to contribute to an increase in the presence of Irish golf professionals on the various international tours.


Peter Lawrie, Damian McGrane, Michael Hoey and Shane Lowry are some of the graduates of the Trust who are enjoying extended and successful careers as touring professionals. They ensure Ireland has a strong Irish presence on the major international tours which is important for the sport of golf in Ireland. In addition the success of professional golfers on tour also helps to promote Ireland as a golf tourism destination worldwide.


The total budget for Team Ireland Golf in 2013 is €164,000, a reduction of €16, 000 on 2012 and is made up of €134,000 from the Irish Sports Council and €30,000 from Fلilte Ireland. The budget includes allocations for the GUI Academy and for the ILGU and GUI Performance Managers who work with the golfers on the Trust.


There are no new entrants from the amateur ranks to the Trust in 2013. Four golfers have been allocated the maximum grant of €15,000; Danielle McVeigh, Niall Kearney, Gareth Shaw and Niall Turner. A grant of €12,000 has been awarded to Paul Cutler who is going into his second year as a professional following an outstanding amateur career.


The Trust has recognised the performance of David Higgins in regaining his European Tour card and has allocated him a grant of €10,000 to assist his tour expenses in 2013. Other players to receive grants of €10,000 are Simon Thornton and Seamus Power.


Minister of State for Sport and Tourism, Mr Michael Ring TD, welcomed the allocation of the grants: "Golf is hugely important in Ireland for sport, community and tourism. We are proud that Ireland is doing so well at the highest levels of golf globally, and we must continue to invest in emerging golfers to maintain a strong Irish presence on international tours. The Team Ireland Golf Trust, which is unique in Europe, supports professional golfers at the start of their tour careers. I want to pay tribute to everyone involved in the scheme, especially the GUI and ILGU, which assist golfers to progress from amateur to professional ranks."


As part of the support package, all golfers can avail of the world class facilities at the GUI's National Academy at Carton House. The golfers on the scheme also have free access to the network of service providers such as physiologists, sports psychologists, biomechanists, physiotherapists and doctors coordinated by the Institute of Sport at Abbotstown.


The Irish PGA, the Golfing Union of Ireland, and the Irish Ladies Golf Union are represented on the Golf Trust committee, which is chaired by Mr. Padraig O'hUiginn who said: "The Trust was established with a very specific goal and we believe the value of the Trust is demonstrated by the presence of many successful Irish golfers in international competition. This brings enormous benefits to the game at home, not least by highlighting Ireland as an important golf tourism destination".


John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council commented "Ireland's top golfers are exceptionally talented and are enjoying great success in international golf. They are generous in their praise of the organisations that support them through their careers and in the transition from amateur to pro ranks. It is important to support all the golf organisations and the individual golfers to ensure that the game remains healthy and that we have a strong representation in all the professional tournaments.".


Niall Kearney (€15,000), who will compete on the Challenge Tour and in Asia in 2013, said: "I very much appreciate the support I receive from the Irish Sports Council and the Team Ireland Golf Trust. The funding will once again give me the opportunity to travel and play in the tournaments necessary for me to progress to next level. My main goals for 2013 are to win on Tour and gain my European Tour card for next year."


Gareth Shaw (€15,000), who will compete on the Challenge Tour in 2013, responded to the news of the grant: "Put simply without the support of the Irish Sports Council and Team Ireland Golf, I would not be able to play golf. The Challenge Tour is a very expensive tour and this grant definitely helps to ease the burden."
Danielle McVeigh (€15,000), who will compete on the Ladies European Tour and LET Access Tour in 2013, welcomed the grant: "I am delighted to get the financial support from the Team Ireland Golf Trust for the 2013 season. With this support I can play golf without worrying how I will fund my schedule this year. This will allow me to compete on tour and perform to the best of my ability to achieve my goal of a full tour card."


Paul Cutler (€12,000), who will play mainly on the EuroPro Tour in 2013, commented: "I am very proud to be part of Team Ireland Golf for the coming season. I am very grateful for the funding as it goes a long way in helping me to train and compete so I can reach my goal of a European Tour card."

 

Team Ireland Golf grant allocations 2013

  • Niall Kearney | Challenge Tour/Asian Tour | €15,000
  • Gareth Shaw | Challenge Tour | €15,000
  • Niall Turner | Asian Tour | €15,000
  • Danielle McVeigh | Ladies European Tour/Access Tour | €15,000
  • Paul Cutler | EuroPro Tour | €12,000
  • Seamus Power | E Golf Tour United States | €10,000
  • Simon Thornton | Challenge Tour | €10,000
  • David Higgins | European Tour | €10,000
  • Chris Devlin | Challenge Tour | €7,000
  • Jonathan Caldwell | EuroPro Tour | €7,000
  • Tara Delaney | LET Access Tour | €7,000
  • Brendan McCarroll | Alps Tour | €7,000
  • Cian Curley | EuroPro Tour | €5,000
  • Peter O'Keeffe | Challenge Tour/EuroPro Tour | €5,000