New holes extended in preparation for the Pros
Almost Immediately after being awarded the Irish Open, Portstewart Golf Club began preparing the course for the arrival of the pros. The club have released images of the new tees at the 14th, which extends the hole 'The Hill' by several yards.
View of the new 14th tees. pic.twitter.com/TZfq3trHnV
— PortstewartGolfClub (@PortstewartGC) 13 September 2016
It seems unlikely that this will be the last sign of work being done on the course, in fact a visit to the club shows several areas with machinery busy augmenting the course. The Club will want to work fast too, as next July will surely creep up on us faster than expected.
'The Hill' was already a challenging 493-yard par 5, so with the added distance, Rory McIlroy et. al. are not being given an easy ride on the North Coast next Summer. The image of the 14th came in conjunction with drone footage that the club is using to promote the course, with a different hole being displayed every day.
Day 2 on 10th hole, turf lifted. pic.twitter.com/IWqx0RTpP3
— PortstewartGolfClub (@PortstewartGC) 13 September 2016
Work has also begun on the 10th hole 'Fisherman's Walk', with the 407-yard par four being made into a more challenging beginning to the back 9. So expect further images to come from the club in the not-to-distant future.
The Irish Open will take place on the 4-9 July 2017