The internationally renowned Mount Juliet Estate becomes the 16th member of the exclusive European Tour Properties network with the announcement of the Irish venue as a European Tour Destination.
Mount Juliet, one of Ireland’s most iconic golf resorts, located in the heart of County Kilkenny, becomes the first European Tour Destination in Ireland, joining a network of venues that encompasses 14 different countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Steeped in history, the 250 year old Manor House at Mount Juliet, which has operated as a luxury hotel since 1989, enjoys panoramic views over the River Nore and Ballylinch Stud. Located just 20 minutes from Kilkenny City and a little over an hour from Dublin, Mount Juliet boasts an extensive range of world class amenities and facilities, including Ireland’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, a state of the art equestrian centre, the Michelin starred Lady Helen Restaurant, river and coarse fishing, extensive walking, jogging and cycling trails and a relaxing spa and leisure centre.
The course at Mount Juliet was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1991 with a friendly match between Nicklaus and Irish golfing legend Christy O’Connor Snr. Two years later it hosted the first of three consecutive Irish Opens, boasting an illustrious roll of honour of Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance respectively. The venue subsequently hosted the 2002 WGC – American Express Championship when Tiger Woods dominated the world class field to claim victory, and again in 2004 when Ernie Els emerged victorious.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The calibre of champions who have won at Mount Juliet underlines the quality of this magnificent venue. The European Tour’s relationship with Mount Juliet stretches back more than two decades and we now enter into an exciting new phase with this collaboration within the European Tour Properties network.”
David MacLaren, The European Tour’s Director of Property and Venue Development, said: “Mount Juliet is consistently recognised as one of Ireland’s finest parkland courses and fits perfectly within our portfolio of world class venues. We look forward to working with Michael McElligott and his team in developing our partnership. We are particularly proud to now have our first European Tour Properties’ member venue in Ireland, one of the world’s most celebrated golfing destinations.”
Michael McElligott, Principal and Managing Director of Mount Juliet, said: “We are delighted to announce that Mount Juliet is now a member of the European Tour Properties network of extraordinary golf destinations. We have today joined a fraternity of truly world class golf resorts, thereby strengthening our growing relationship with The European Tour.
“Our membership endorses Mount Juliet’s position with the European Tour’s stamp of a tournament-quality golf venue that presents a level of on and off-course facilities guaranteed to provide a memorable experience for our Club members and all visiting golfers. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with both European Tour Properties and The European Tour. Tetrarch Capital is equally proud to be supporting the European Challenge Tour, which we are hosting this week at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort.”
As a European Tour Destination, Mount Juliet will benefit from European Tour Properties’ focused, year-round sales, marketing and operational support, joining the 15 existing members in the European Tour Properties’ portfolio, which includes exceptional facilities such as Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, London Golf Club in England, Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort on the French Riviera and Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, recent host venue of The 2015 Solheim Cup. Mount Juliet joins Saujana Golf and Country Club in Malaysia and Black Mountain Golf Club and Resort in Thailand as additions to the European Tour Properties portfolio in 2015.
Mount Juliet www.mountjuliet.ie
European Tour Properties www.europeantourproperties.com