Galgorm Castle Times Issue 4 (February 2019)

Issue 4

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February 2019

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VISION

Member Benefits

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A unique time to be a member of Galgorm Castle

Course Updates

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Q&A with the MD

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Open Fixtures

LADY CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CASTLE KITCHEN

NI OPEN

A message from the lady captain Allison Kearney

A message from the captain Peter Daly

Forging new relationships with stunning new clubhouse restaurant

Record breaking event remains integral part of the Galgorm Castle story

One Unique Destination Home of the NI Open

Galgorm Castle Membership Benefits Include: F

1 0% Discount at the Castle Kitchen + Bar (Galgorm Castle)

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10% Discount in Gillies Bar & Grill (Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort)

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1 0% Discount in Fratelli Ristorante (Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort)

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10% Discount on Spa Membership (Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort)

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30% Discount on the driving range

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Members’ Discount on buggy hire

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Full GUI/ILGU handicap

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Weekly competitions

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Annual membership rewards

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Special rates for members’ guests

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Complimentary use of the Fun Golf Area (free for members children/grandchildren U12)

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iscounted golf globally (Pacific Links D & Overseas Partnerships)

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Reciprocal Partnerships locally, including Lough Erne, Ballycastle & Massereene

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Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Galgorm, Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT42 1HL T 028 256 46161 F 028 25 651151 E golf@galgormcastle.com

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CONTENTS

WELCOME

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elcome to the fourth Galgorm Castle Times as we look forward to another exceptional year at Galgorm Castle. The story continues to evolve as we bring you news from around the estate and update you with everything that’s happening at your golf club and highlight the many benefits of being part of the Galgorm narrative.

There has never been a better time to be a member of Galgorm Castle and we welcome you along with family and friends and encourage you to experience everything that’s going on around the estate. New ventures include the stunning Castle Kitchen + Bar, the brand-new restaurant at the clubhouse. The championship course gets better and better every year under the stewardship of Rodney McKay and his team plus we have activities for all the family at the Fun Golf Area, Himalayas putting green and Galgorm Fairy Trail.

We hope you enjoy your latest Galgorm Castle Times as we look forward to another exceptional year for Irish golf, especially with The Open returning to these shores in July for the first time in almost 70 years.

Gary Henry Managing Director, Galgorm Castle

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Welcome

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Lady Captain Allison Kearney

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Captain Peter Daly

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Galgorm Golf News

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Course update – Rodney McKay

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Galgorm Membership

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Q&A Gary Henry

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Around the Estate

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NI Open

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Q&A Colin Johnston

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Castle Kitchen + Bar

CREDITS

Photographs courtesy of: Kevin Markham, PressEye, GolfFile, Picture Magic Studios.

Design: EM Creative Produced by: PGPR

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LADY CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE

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Allison Kearney

s every Captain before me has mentioned, a year as Lady Captain flies in and this year was no exception! It was a pleasure and honour to Captain such a wonderful group of ladies at Galgorm Castle. We have a unique bond, both on and off the golf course, and it holds very special friendships within the club.

Our season kicked off in April with our weekly competitions, combined with our ILGU team events.

Our teams played well as always, and for my part I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Minor Cup, Junior Foursomes, Irish Mixed and Revive Active. I thank all the Galgorm team captains and players for their commitment to the club.

My Lady Captain’s Day in June will live long in my memory. The weather was perfect, the course looked pristine thanks to all the hardworking greenkeepers and we enjoyed using McQuillan’s as our temporary base. We were lucky enough to have our evening function at The Ivory Pavilion and it made for a perfect and stylish end to the day. I was delighted for our 2018 winner Dr Shobie Khanna.

Another personal highlight was our Away Day to Whitehead, a beautiful sunny day with a bus full of lively ladies and some great craic! Frances McKinney

was our deserved winner that day. I always enjoy NI Open week, both watching the golf from such talented professionals and volunteering to work as scorer during the tournament. It’s great to see the event go from strength to strength each year.

We had a superb few days at Castleknock Hotel in September. It was a deceiving course and plenty of our balls ended up missing in action, but I was very pleased for Sally Ann Roddy who won the Kirkenny Trophy with a great score.

The golf season wound up with our Prize Night in October, taking place at our new Clubhouse facility The Castle Kitchen + Bar. Our joint Players of the Year were June Irvine and Beth Moore, two outstanding lady golfers and very worthy winners.

I must thank my Honorary Secretaries and Committee for all their sterling work and invaluable advice throughout the year.

And finally, it just leaves me to wish our new Captain, Julie Murray, all my best wishes for her 2019 year.

Allison Kearney Lady Captain, Galgorm Castle Golf Club

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CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE

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Peter Daly

t has been a great privilege to be Captain of Galgorm Castle Golf Club in 2018. I would like to thank the office bearers and committee for giving me this great honour and for their guidance, support and hard work during the year.

In a busy year, duties started with the GUI interclub competitions. Thanks to all the team captains and players who gave up their time to represent the club.

Unfortunately, we didn’t raise any silverware, but I certainly enjoyed following all the teams with great pride.

I would like to thank our Director of Golf, Ross Oliver, and his team for all the support given to me and all the teams through the year. Nothing was ever a problem, even offering to remedy my swing at one stage!

Every week I see first hand the hard work and dedication of the green staff. Our head green keeper, Rodney McKay, has done a fantastic job in presenting the course and, in particular, the greens to such a high standard that are rightly recognised as among the best in the country.

My Captain’s Day in June was one that I will truly never forget. The thunder and hailstones were only a temporary setback and gave the members time to reflect

on their scores in McQuillans, recharge the batteries and restart with renewed vigour. The support I received from all the members was truly humbling and something that I will always cherish. Colin Johnston and his team did such a great job throughout the day, especially when we retired off site to present the prizes and dance the night away at Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort.

This year the clubhouse went through a complete refurbishment. The finished product is truly spectacular, and I wish Declan and staff continued success in the Castle Kitchen + Bar. The NI Open keeps getting bigger and better every year as part of the Challenge Tour series and that is down to the hard work of Gary Henry and his team. Thanks also must go to all our members who volunteered as marshals to ensure the event continues to be such a success.

Finally, I would like to wish our incoming Captain, Sammy Graham, every success in 2019. I am sure he will do an excellent job representing Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

Peter Daly Captain, Galgorm Castle Golf Club

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standing and improving your golf swing. It doesn’t matter what level of golfer you are, Trackman helps everyone, from beginner to touring professional. Through TrackMan we promise to deliver best results for your game.

HOW IT WORKS?

Custom Fit for You

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he days of buying a set of golf clubs off the shelf have long gone. There is so much technology and information at our disposal, it makes complete sense to get custom fitted and make sure your next set of clubs are right for you.

The first part of the journey should be to arrange a custom fit with the team at the pro shop, who will get you onto TrackMan and crunch a few numbers. It’s

tried and tested, and you can be sure the PGA team at Galgorm Castle will help elevate your game to a new level.

The radar unit tracks the trajectory of your golf ball from launch to landing. It measures the full ball flight to produce the highest quality data. Trackman gains valuable information about clubhead speed and gives a precise picture of the club during impact. This helps coaches determine and identify how a player’s clubface or swing path might need to be adjusted for best results.

WHAT IS TRACKMAN? TrackMan technology provides the most accurate feedback in the industry. In layman’s terms, the statistics are divided into two main categories; ball flight data and club data. Knowing this detail is essential to under-

LONG DRIVE: Watch Rory, Tiger and co have some fun with the TaylorMade Long Drive Challenge. Note Trackman on the tee gathering up all the stats

GROWING THE GAME

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algorm Castle is fortunate have a vibrant membership across all categories but that doesn’t mean resting on our laurels. As a golf club we are always looking for new ways to Grow the Game and attract new members. During the year we have a number of initiatives to welcome potential new members who may be complete beginners or perhaps an existing member wants to refer a member of their family or a friend? Here are a number of initiatives to look out for in 2019.

FUN GOLF AREA OPEN DAYS Held in spring/summer, a great opportunity for families to give golf a go on the six-hole pitch & putt course and 36hole Himalayas putting green. A great, fun activity to enjoy for all the family! Full details to be announced soon.

FREE MONTHLY CLINICS Our PGA Professionals will be running FREE MONTHLY CLINICS from March for members. Hit the ground running by taking advantage of this great initiative! Dates and times to be confirmed.

LADIES INTRODUCTION TO GOLF This popular programme will run again this year and has introduced a number of new Lady members in recent years. A similar programme for Senior Gents is also planned for 2019.

SCHOOL COACHING Our PGA professional staff will continue to deliver coaching programmes in local schools. We are currently developing an outreach programme where pupils in local primary schools will visit Galgorm Castle to experience the facilities as we strive to grow our junior section.

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GALGORM CASTLE MEET THE PROS Name: Position: Age: Turned Pro: Joined Galgorm Castle: Golfing Hero:

Ross Oliver Director of Golf 31 2010 (+1) 2013 Tiger Woods

Name: Barrie McGoldrick Position: PGA Professional Age: 32 Turned Pro: 2013 (0) Joined Galgorm Castle: 2017 Golfing Hero: John Daly Name: Alistair McDiarmid Position: Teaching PGA Professional Age: 50 Turned Pro: 1995 (1) Joined Galgorm Castle: 1997 Golfing Hero: Seve Ballesteros Name: Gareth Maybin Position: Coach Age: 38 Turned Pro: 2005 (+3) Joined Galgorm Castle: 2017 Golfing Hero: Tiger Woods

STEP OUT IN STYLE IN 2019

At Galgorm Castle Pro Shop we stock all the top brands and the PGA team will be happy to get you up and running in time for the new season.

SHOES UnderArmour (UA) continue to excel in the footwear market and will challenge Footjoy, the ‘No.1 Shoe in Golf’. FJ Pro SL will face competition from the new UA Showdown SL. This year we’ll stock the new FJ Superlite, while the timeless DryJoys Tour remain as popular as ever, alongside the FJ Hydrolites and FJ Originals. In the UA corner, we’ll also have the Spieth 3.0, the Fade RST 2.0 and the new HOVR Drive.

CLOTHES The 2019 Spring/Summer lines will be dropping throughout February/March, with the latest from UnderArmour, FootJoy, Galvin Green, Lyle & Scott plus more.

ROSS’S PICKS Trousers: UA Matchplay Taper – the best trouser on the market!

Polo Shirt: FJ Stretch Pique – perfect for the crested shirt Midlayer: UA Daytona was a huge success in AW and we’ll have fresh new colours in stock Sweater: New line of Lyle & Scott Crested V-Neck and ¼ Zip Sweaters Jacket: Invest in the best with Galvin Green.

BALLS In premium balls, the brand-new Titleist ProV1/X and TaylorMade TP5/X will be stocked as the two heavyweights renew their rivalry in 2019. We’ll also be stocking new balls from TaylorMade at varying price points, while the hugely popular Titleist DT TruSoft remains our club crested ball.

EVER HAD THE MOST UNPRODUCTIVE MEETING AT WORK? Nothing compares to this brainstorming session by the lads on tour

OPEN FIXTURES 2019 JANUARY - MARCH Ladies & Gents Open Day every Friday until March 15th MARCH Monday 18th St Patrick’s Ladies & Gents Open Stableford APRIL Monday 22nd Easter Ladies & Gents Open Stableford Tuesday 23rd Easter Ladies & Gents Open Stableford MAY Monday 6th Ladies & Gents Open Stableford Monday 27th Ulster Strokeplay Championship R1 (Men & Ladies) Tuesday 28th Ulster Strokeplay Championship R2 (Men & Ladies) JUNE Monday 3rd ILGU Seniors (ILGU) Friday 14th Lady Captain’s Day (Mrs Julie Murray) Friday 21st Ladies & Gents Open Stableford Saturday 29th Captain’s Day (Mr Samuel Graham) Sunday 30th US Kids Golf North of Ireland Tour (Boys&Girls) JULY Tuesday 9th Junior Open Stableford (Boys & Girls) Friday 12th Ladies & Gents Open Stableford Monday 29th Faldo Series NI Championship R1 Tuesday 30th Faldo Series NI Championship R2 Wed. 31st Faldo Series NI Championship R3 AUGUST 12th - 18th NI Open Monday 26th Ladies & Gents Open Stableford SEPTEMBER Friday 13th Irish Golfer Magazine Open Friday 27th Ladies & Gents Open Stableford OCTOBER Tuesday 8th Men’s Senior Open Stableford NOV – MARCH 2020: Ladies & Gents Open Day every Friday

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COURSE UPDATE

Course Consistency

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Galgorm Castle is already ranked and recognised as one of the best parkland courses in the country and Rodney McKay and the team ensure that consistency is retained all year round

It could be said the winter months are when the real graft takes place on a golf course.

Most often this is when the unseen work gets done so members and visitors get to enjoy the real benefits during the season.

This is definitely the case at Galgorm Castle where every year a major on course project is carried out alongside essential winter work before the annual spring maintenance programme ensures the championship parkland is in pristine condition.

Tree thinning, new pathways, a new tee and bunkering are just some of the tasks McKay and his team have been tending to this winter. However, the biggest undertaking has

unquestionably been the new ditch that runs across the 10th fairway.

“We opened up and exposed the ditch at the 10th. Apart from the two ends, it ran underground below the fairway,” explained McKay. “We dug it out and placed wooden sleepers up both sides, which makes a really nice feature for the hole.

“It now helps drainage in this part of the course, but also provides a new visual aspect and definitely enhances the hole. Three new bridges will also be added for crossing the new feature.”

The green staff have also been busy edging all the bunkers. “This is another major job,” says McKay. “The bunkers have been given prominent edges, which makes them real-

ly stand out when playing the course.

Aesthetically it really improves the course, makes it look really sharp.”

McKay is often asked what is the secret behind the good greens at Galgorm? “Spring maintenance.

In April/May we have to top dress them every few weeks. We understand golfers don’t like this but that’s what gives them nice, level and smooth surfaces for the season.”

On the ninth hole, a new members’ tee was built to the right of the path and changes the angle of the hole.

Work has also continued on paths around the course. There is a new path from the ninth tee to the fairway and a new path from the back of the 18th up to the car parks is in the pipeline.“There’s a lot more than just 18

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IN FOCUS

KEY COURSE CHANGES IN 2019

• Exposed a new ditch running across the 10th fairway, 130 yards short of the green. New sleepers installed and three new bridges being built. Great new feature for the hole and helps with drainage.

• Bunkering work continues. We have edged all the bunkers and these prominent edges make the bunkers look very sharp and aesthetically pleasing when playing the course.

• Bunkers are one of the most labour-intensive parts of the course with almost 50 bunkers.

holes to maintain here at Galgorm,” says McKay. “We also look after the Fun Golf Area and the Himalayas putting green and do a lot of work up around the castle too.

“The main aim just now is consistency so that no matter what time of year you play Galgorm the course is always presented to a very high standard. We strive to deliver that consistency all year.”

McKay takes great pride in the work at Galgorm and has seen the venue develop every year. “We always take on a new project every year. A couple of years ago we did the wall around the seventh, last year it was paths and bunkering and this year it’s the new water feature at 10. We’re continually moving forward and developing.

“Whenever the whole course is cut on a Friday and you go out for your final drive, it’s very pleasing to see everything around the course nicely presented and ready for the members on a Saturday,” adds McKay.

• New members’ tee box at the ninth to the right of the path. Another option and changes angle of the hole.

• Paths around the course continue to be a major project carried on from last year. New path from the ninth tee to the fairway and another at the 10th. New path to be constructed from the back of the 18th green up towards the car parks.

THEY SAID: SPORTING CELEBS ON GALGORM “It’s a beautiful golf course, I love coming back here to play.

Any day on a golf course is a good day and Galgorm is one of the best.”

“I try to get back to Galgorm and play here every year. This is a world class golf course which gets better and better every year.”

“It’s always a pleasure to come here and play. Places like Galgorm and the NI Open help build for the future after the success of Rory, Darren and Graeme.”

“I love playing here.

The course and greens especially are always in great condition, some of the best greens I’ve putted on.”

PAT JENNINGS

STEPHEN FERRIS

DAVID HEALY

MICHAEL MCKILLOP

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

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Home of the Northern Ireland Open and one of Northern Ireland’s leading golf clubs…be part of it!

• Footjoy • Galvin Green • TaylorMade

• Adult Membership • Young Adult Membership • Junior Membership

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from £12.40 per week from £4.81 per week from £1.15 per week

Special discount if aged between 25-35.

Contact the team now for more information on: T: (028) 2564 6161 E: golf@galgormcastle.com

• Under Armour • Lyle & Scott • Titleist

RESIDENT PGA PROFESSIONALS Expert advice for all your golfing needs Contact the team now for more information on: T: (028) 2564 6161 E: golf@galgormcastle.com

ACADEMY

THINKING OF STARTING GOLF? FUN GOLF AREA: Our newest offering, a 6-hole Pitch & Putt course and 36-hole Himalayas Putting Green. Great fun for all the family and golfers of all abilities. Check it out!

INTRODUCTION TO GOLF PROGRAMMES: Ladies | Gents | Juniors JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY: Weekly classes and holiday camps all year round!

PROFESSIONAL TUITION: Three resident PGA Professionals to help your game!

CONTACT THE TEAM NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON T 028 256 46161 F 028 25 651151 E golf@galgormcastle.com

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Golfing at Galgorm

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Join us on the journey and become part of the Galgorm Castle story

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here has never been a better time to become a member of one of the best parkland courses in Ireland and home to the European Tour’s NI Open. Galgorm Castle is consistently ranked as one of the province’s top championship venues and was also named the IGTOA’s ‘Parkland Course of the Year’.

Members at Galgorm Castle enjoy so many other great benefits away from the fairways.

Member discounts at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, PGA coaching programmes, access to the Fun Golf Area for all the family, reciprocal golf partnerships and more…

Golfing at Galgorm; so much more than just a golf membership www.galgormcastle.com/golf

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the entrance to greens or work areas.

Sometimes the course is shortened in winter but it’s normal golf conditions all year. We believe we are getting it right and that was the message that came out of the members’ survey.

WHAT WAS THE SURVEY ABOUT?

GARY HENRY Managing Director Galgorm Castle

Gary Henry reflects on a successful year at Galgorm Castle in 2018 and looks forward to another busy and exciting year for the club, especially in light of the invaluable feedback received by members in the recent and wide-ranging survey carried out HOW WAS 2018 AT GALGORM CASTLE? It was great to see so much good weather for a change. I hope the members got the chance to enjoy their golf. As ever Rodney McKay and the team had the course in wonderful condition. One of our core objectives for the golf course is to have a consistent high standard and make it playable all year round for members and visitors.

YOU HAD ANOTHER BUSY WINTER PROGRAMME FOR THE COURSE? We are always looking at ways to improve the course and every winter take on a new project. On the course update pages Rodney explains how the team dug out the ditch that runs across the 10th fairway. With new sleepers up each side this is a massive improvement to the hole.

Work continues to create new paths

in places like the ninth, 10th and a new path from the 18th green is in the pipeline. We have almost 50 bunkers on the course and they have all been edged which makes them stand out when playing the course.

After greens, bunkers are the most labour-intensive part of the course.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY? We want the course to be of a high standard week-in, week-out and playable all year and we managed that very well in 2018. We appreciate April and May are always challenging months due to the essential spring maintenance programme and the annual growing in period. That said, we are very lucky we haven’t taken the approach of some other clubs; we don’t use temporary greens or mats and we always try to play the full course.

Some roped off areas simply protect

We engaged with the membership to gather their feedback on all aspects of Galgorm Castle. It covered competitions, membership benefits, facilities, value, improvements, course ratings and more. The survey was very well received and was a very useful resource. The feedback was very constructive and we appreciate the time members took to complete the survey.

It helps us plan and put a strategy in place for the future of the club.

We plan to have a survey every few years. It’s definitely a good way to communicate with members.

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR 2019?

A big focus for 2019 is ‘Growing the Game’. This is hugely important, both as a golfer and an organisation. We constantly need to be aware of where new members will come from while ensuring we do all we can to retain our current membership and encourage their friends and families to get involved. Juniors and young adults are a particular area that we are paying attention to and we have revised the policy for these demographics.

CAN MEMBERS HELP DRIVE THE GALGORM MESSAGE? Thankfully we are already a very proactive golf club with a strong membership base and great camaraderie.

That in turn feeds into team success.

We know through communication that members enjoy coming here to use all the facilities, not just the golf course, everything else that the estate and membership has to offer. That’s the word we need to get out there

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to attract new members. Members can help attract new members. We have facilities here that no other club in Northern Ireland possesses for members to enjoy and also share with their families, from golf to the Fairy Trail and the Castle Kitchen + Bar. THERE’S MUCH MORE THAN JUST GOLF ON OFFER AT GALGORM? The estate in general continues to thrive. All aspects, such as the garden centre, business courtyard and the castle are doing well. We had film crews on site again. There are other development plans for the future too.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE NEW GOLF IRELAND INITIATIVE? We welcome the move, 100%. It’s definitely the way forward and we completely support it. Ladies golf at Galgorm has been growing for a number of years and we hope that continues. We are a vibrant mixed club for all the family and we continue to reinforce this message.

IS THAT WHY YOU INTRODUCED THE NEW ULSTER STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP? We’re leading the way once more with the first event of its kind to be hosted jointly by the GUI/ILGU for elite males and females. This takes place May 27-28. Galgorm will hopefully be represented by the likes of Jordan Hood and Michael Reid and a number of our promising juniors. We look forward to

developing young lady golfers to compete in this one day.

YOU’RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH GALGORM SPA & GOLF RESORT? Part of our strategy is to develop our working relationship with The Resort. This is working extremely well and special thanks go to Colin Johnston and all his team for their commitment and hard work. We look forward to many successful years ahead.We’re also developing other partnerships that benefit members. We’re working on a number of reciprocal arrangements including a partnership with Lough Erne where our members will be able to enjoy golf at a reduced rate and it’s all about adding further value for our members. We already partner with the Dom Pedro Group in Portugal and La Manga in Spain where members receive discount and preferential rates.

WE HAVEN’T MENTIONED THE NI OPEN YET, WHAT’S THE STORY? The NI Open continues to be part of the Galgorm story. We are proud

QUALITY OF PUTTING SURFACES

COURSE LAYOUT/SETUP

RATED VERY GOOD OR EXCELLENT

ABOUT RIGHT

of a tournament that has broken all records on the European Challenge Tour. Big tournaments can sometimes be a short-term inconvenience for members, but we believe the benefits are worth it when Galgorm is placed in the global shop window. The profile attracts visitors and green fee revenue which helps keep membership costs down and allows us to continually reinvest in the course and facilities like we do every year. The members who volunteer at the NI Open are crucial to its success.

GALGORM CONTINUES TO PLAY AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME? We are always trying to improve and we hope the members see that.

The progress we have made at Galgorm is also reflected in the annual course rankings. This year Galgorm was ranked inside the top-30 parklands in Irish Golfer Magazine’s annual rankings and is widely regarded as one of the best parklands in Northern Ireland. This combined with the many great reviews we receive from visiting golfers, tournament players and media, confirms we are on the right track and encourages us all to keep working hard and improving all the time.

I must thank Rodney and his team for all their hard work over the year and to all the staff who continue to work hard to take Galgorm Castle to the next level. And to the members, huge thanks for their continued support as we look forward to the next phase of the journey together.

CASTLE KITCHEN + BAR

NI OPEN 2018

94.7% 92% 90.8% 85.3% VISITED THE NEW RESTAURANT

ATTENDANCE AT THE NI OPEN

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AROUND THE

ESTATE

It’s not just the world class golf that’s on offer which attracts visitors to Galgorm Castle. The estate has numerous attractions and activities to appeal to all the family, not to mention the new Castle Kitchen + Bar restaurant at the clubhouse

BUSINESS COURTYARD

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usiness continues to boom at the Courtyard Business Park with local and international tenants recognising the unique and desirable setting within Galgorm Castle. Excellent transport links and infrastructure to all parts of the province ensures the Courtyard Business Park is a popular choice with the business community.

CREATIVE GARDENS

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ince opening in 2014, Creative Gardens at Galgorm has become one of the most popular garden centres in the province.

Customers travel from far and wide to visit Creative Gardens, located in the shadow of the estate’s Jacobean castle.

Creative Gardens is fully stocked with great gift ideas and all the plants and gardening equipment and accessories you could ever need. The Creative Gardens Café is a buzz of activity as visitors come to sample all the homemade delights; from delicious scones and desserts to tray bakes and cakes. Food is served throughout the day.

OPENING HOURS Mon-Sat 09.30 to 17.30 Sunday 12.30 to 17.30 (The Café closes 30 mins earlier on each day)

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GALGORM FAIRY TRAIL

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aunched in 2017, The Galgorm Castle Fairy Trail is a unique experience with brilliant trails and interactive journeys around the estate.

See the sights and hear fascinating stories along the way with a rich history dating back to 1607. A great day out for all the family where children and adults can learn facts about the native wildlife and local history of Galgorm.

THE IVORY PAVILION

“A

venue of unique distinction situated in the exceptionally beautiful and scenic location of Galgorm Castle.” The Ivory Pavilion is a stunning venue for weddings and events within the walled garden of the original Galgorm Castle.

The Ivory Pavilion is fully licensed to hold wedding ceremonies plus other events and corporate functions.

FUN GOLF AREA

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he Fun Golf Area is a great addition to the Galgorm Estate. Ideal for all the family to try golf. It really doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned campaigner looking to sharpen your game. The six-hole pitch and putt course is great fun and is geared towards families. A great introduction to golf.

Try the Himalayas Putting Green too. This scaled replica of the famous St Andrews attraction will test your putting skills, while having plenty of fun at the same time.

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Cormac Sharvin

Michael Hoey

Calum Hill

WATCH:

European Tour Highlights (2018 NI Open)

DRAMATIC HIGHS & LOWS IN 2018

The NI Open continues to be an integral part of the Galgorm Castle story with a tournament that has evolved and become one of the most successful tournaments on the European Challenge Tour

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n a historic year for golf in Northern Ireland with The Open coming to Royal Portrush in July, organisers of the NI Open are working hard on plans for the 2019 event with further announcements to be made in the coming weeks and months.

Few will forget the dramatic scenes that unfolded last year when

Scotland’s Calum Hill seized his opportunity after the unfortunate demise of his compatriot Scott Henry in the closing stages at Galgorm.

Hill landed his first European Challenge Tour title with a blistering final round 64 that included four birdies in his final five holes, compared to Henry’s double bo-

gey, bogey, bogey finish to lose by one shot.

“I didn’t even think it would be close. It didn’t even cross my mind as I was playing 18,” said a surprised Hill after recording a 19-under winning total of 265 to receive the trophy and cheque for €28,800.

As for Henry, his emotions were at the other end of the spectrum.

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Scotland’s Scott Henry playing the 18th

Gavin Moynihan

“To finish the way I did was pretty devastating,” said the Scot at the time.

It was a good week for a handful of Irish players with Cormac Sharvin tied ninth on 14-under.

The Ardglass golfer also received the Bridgestone trophy and £250 bonus as the best Irish player under 30. Clandeboye’s Johnny Caldwell was two strokes further back on 12-under and one ahead of Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy.

Dermot McElroy

WATCH: Calum Hill – The Champions Hour

Unfortunately, the Tournament Ambassador Michael Hoey missed the cut.

The vision for 2019 is a new Men’s and Ladies event in another innovative move for the NI Open.

The introduction of a ladies event comes at a key time for golf in Ireland after the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU) formally approved the establishment of Golf Ireland.

TOURNAMENT GOLF AT GALGORM NI OPEN 2018 Calum Hill (Sco) 265 -19 2017 Robin Sciot-Siegrist (France) 2016 Ryan Fox (Nzl) 265 -19 2015 Clément Sordet (Fra) 267 -17 2014 Joakim Lagergren (Swe) 271 -13 2013 Daan Huizing (Nld) 271 -13 2012 Paul Reed (Eng) 204 -12 2011 Chris Hanson (Eng) 202 -14 2010 James Hepworth (Eng) 201 -15 NI AMATEUR OPEN 2017 Colin Fairweather (Knock) 146 2016 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint) 141 2015 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 137 2014 Aaron Grant (Dundalk) 140 2013 Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) 277 2012 Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) 215 2011 Ciaran Molloy (Ardee) 280 2010 Reeve Whitson (Mourne) 143 2009 Simon McConnell (Ballyclare) 69 ULSTER YOUTHS 2006 Gareth Shaw (Lurgan) 287

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COLIN JOHNSTON Managing Director, Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort HOW DID YOUR CAREER START, TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY? The hospitality industry has been a large part of my life from a very young age. I got my first weekend job at Cutters Wharf Restaurant and Bar aged just 15. It was the early experiences that quickly made me realise that I was bitten by the hospitality bug and wanted to pursue my career in this bustling environment.

I joined Galgorm in 2008 as Operations Manager and was fortunate enough to be promoted to General Manager of The Resort and now to Managing Director.

WHAT SETS GALGORM APART FROM OTHER LUXURY PROPERTIES? WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL? The Resort’s success has been underpinned by the development of the people and the investment in the property which has been driven by the vision of the owners. The key to maintaining positive momentum in the future will mean that this approach must continue. Our business is about creating exceptional, bespoke experiences for each of our guests, offering an authentic Irish welcome with luxury facilities to allow guests to create their own unique stay.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES IN YOUR INDUSTRY? The strong growth of the Northern Ireland tourism industry has been a welcome trend over the past decade.

Brexit has created several challenges for the hospitality industry around financial volatility and the potential loss of EU funding. However, there have been some positive side effects too, including the fall in the value of the sterling which has made Northern Ireland a more appealing destination for inbound tourists.

With the tourism growth also comes the challenge of finding sufficient talent and resources to deliver. We are meeting that challenge head on with our ‘Grow to Grow Apprenticeship Programme’ which represents an annual invest-

ment of £250,000 by the company and demonstrates our commitment to nurture and inspire a wealth of young resource.

We focus on staff development, training and wellbeing to retain talent as it is our people who make the difference.

HOW DO YOU MEET CUSTOMERS’ EXPECTATIONS? By becoming more attuned to the preferences of current and potential customers, we can more accurately target and build meaningful, lasting relationships with them, much like how we want to continue working with Galgorm Castle members to provide a product and service that they can enjoy and also be proud of in their clubhouse.

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We invest heavily in training our staff and equipping them with the skills required to make them successful.

Our brand promise is to “Delight Every Time”. My goal is to grow and strengthen this legacy by always hiring staff that fit our profile and in doing so create a strong, vibrant and customer centric culture.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE GALGORM OFFERING?

“WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH GALGORM CASTLE AND DEVELOPING THE GALGORM SPA & GOLF RESORT BRAND… WE FEEL THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO HARNESS THE CREDENTIALS OF BOTH PROPERTIES.” Exceptional service and facilities go hand in hand, which is why we are constantly researching new creative product offerings to take the customer experience to the next level as we aim to build on our existing reputation as one of the leading Resorts in Ireland.

The Resort boasts several unique facilities offering a truly ‘Irish’ spa experience that harnesses the magnificent natural surroundings. Extensive indoor and outdoor Spa facilities combine to create the largest thermal

spa village in the UK and Ireland and we’re delighted to offer Galgorm Castle members 10% discount on our Fitness & Wellbeing membership.

HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR STAFF MOTIVATED? Being passionate about what you do, leading from the front and having a very high level of integrity is vital as it instils trust in your staff. We believe in developing and nurturing talent.

The Castle Kitchen + Bar opened in August last year and has been a tremendous success to date. It is important that we continue to embrace the membership and work with the members of Galgorm Castle to ensure we deliver a product and a service that they are proud of. In turn, we hope the members can enjoy all that the Castle Kitchen + Bar has to offer regularly throughout the year with their playing partners, fellow members and families.

We hope all the members have a great golfing year in 2019 and we look forward to hosting the respective Clubs’ functions and doing all we can to ensure they are memorable occasions.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH GALGORM CASTLE? We are delighted to be working closely with Galgorm Castle and developing the Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort brand into 2019 and beyond. With golf at the forefront of NI tourism and The Open on our doorstep, we feel there has never been a better time to harness the credentials of both properties by developing an all-encompassing identity that allows us to compete on a global stage, whilst always ensuring we focus on our current customers, in this case the members of Galgorm Castle.

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Now open and a great option for Galgorm Castle members & their families and friends

KITCHEN + BAR

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K I T C H E N

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TELEPHONE: 028 2588 1001 OPENING TIMES Sunday 11:30am - LATE Monday & Tuesday 11.30am - 4.30pm Wednesday – Friday 11:30am - LATE Saturday 10:00am - LATE *Open from 10:00am daily for members LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Saturdays 10:30PM – 12am To view the CKB menus click here

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he distinct flavour, warmth, and ambience of authentic BBQ smokehouse await you at Castle Kitchen + Bar at the clubhouse of Galgorm Castle. A space for all occasions and tastes, make yourself feel truly at home in The Kitchen restaurant with views across the busy open servery, kept under the watchful eye of the signature bull adorning the tiles.

Serving up spicy street food minis, slow-cooked ribs and dry rubbed

beef, carefully sourced Northern Irish meat and poultry is barbecued to perfection with the distinctive char you have come to expect, fresh from the coals of the lump wood fire pit. Southern-inspired dishes feature across our menus, peppered with an eclectic mix of classics designed to ignite your taste buds from lunch, through to dinner.

Located adjacent to The Kitchen by a wrap-around horseshoe bar, sumptuous sofas, feature planting,

and wood burning stove merge to create an atmosphere of relaxed glamour in an intimate yet informal setting, perfect for gathering with friends over a drink. Raise the bar when it comes to dining al fresco and lounge on the roof terrace, with an exceptional outlook and fuss-free beer garden vibe. Take in views of the fairways and countryside while sipping on cocktails or grazing on small plates.

Galgorm, Ballymena, County Antrim Northern Ireland, BT42 1HL T 028 256 46161 F 028 25 651151 E golf@galgormcastle.com

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