400 million homes and 80,000 Irish Open fans as Royal County Down ready ‘to share what we’re lucky to have’ with the world

Preparations are in the closing stages as Royal County Down gets ready to host play in the Amgen Irish Open from September 12-15 – with home hero Rory McIlroy the field’s star name.

The fan focus over four days of high-level golf will be on the delights and demands of the renowned links course but the behind-the-scenes machine has been in operation for some time to ensure the event’s successful return to Royal County Down for the first time since 2015.

"Discussions started over two years ago, with building work​ from July and everything obviously ramping up in recent weeks,” said Kevin Lowry, chair of the Championship committee at Royal County Down. “It’s quite amazing, the DP World Tour (Irish Open organisers) operates as a well-oiled machine used to putting on events on a weekly basis and it has been a fascinating process.

"We have built up a wonderful relationship with the DP World Tour and they draw on our knowledge of the course and area.

"I’ve been able to lean on people familiar with everything from 2015, including the copious notes kept by our secretary at the time, David Wilson, who is sadly no longer with us.

"We feel very privileged to be custodians of Royal County Down as a golf course, current members love nothing more than to see other people enjoy it.

"We want to share what we’re lucky to have with as many people as possible – and the best way to do that is to host something like the Irish Open.

"Staff have been working day and night but we’re so very proud of Royal County Down and the knock-on effect to the tourism industry, not just in the immediate area but across Northern Ireland, is considerable.

"We’ve been told coverage will be broadcast to somewhere in the region of 400 million homes across the world and we’ve 80,000 spectators expected during the week at Royal County Down.”

The scale of operation has been described by Lowry as “incredible”.

"From mid-July the build started so it’s around a 10-week process with over 500 lorry-loads of infrastructure coming on to the site,” he said. “We will have 1,000 extra staff next week, with somewhere in the region of 650 volunteers from 14 additional golf clubs around Northern Ireland.

"The building additions include everything from corporate marquees to media facilities, with the stand behind the 18th green going up in the space of about four days to hold 1,000 spectators.

"There are stands behind the first tee, ninth, seventh and fourth greens.

"To see the amount of work that goes into an operation of this size is incredible.

"Over the last few weeks the DP World Tour staff have basically been living here."

The decision to cap daily spectator numbers to around 16,000 marks a significant reduction on 2015 when figures hit 22,000 approximately – but it is a call made with the viewpoint less is more.

"The DP World Tour decision was made to try and give spectators the best possible experience, especially with families in mind,” said Lowry. “There would be nothing worse than a young fan unable to get a decent view due to the size of the crowd.

"So it is felt a cap helps allow for the right level of viewing experience and fan vantage opportunity.”

A May date in 2015 provided testing weather conditions and Lowry highlights the anticipated gains off a September calendar switch.

“Anyone from 2015 will recall the kind of weather everyone had to put up with at the end of May and, from a green-keeping stance, that is very different compared to a September date, in terms of growth,” he said. “The extra heat and few months of growth ahead of September help the course recovery rate.

"We’ve only had to close it down this week, which is quite unusual.

"The Tour officials are very happy with the condition of the course.

"We have a green staff of around 22 to 25 working on the course, although that number will double during the actual event.

"Decisions are made by the Tour over which tees will get used and flag placement.

"They have their own meteorologist on site making decisions based on weather reports and the green staff will work to that guidance.”

Alongside the expected legacy off hosting an event on the scale of the Irish Open, Lowry points to advance work put in place by organisers to further enhance the occasion at grassroots level.

"The DP World Tour’s ‘Golf For Good’ programme involves visiting schools and engaging with young people to showcase careers in the game, offer behind-the-scenes tours and various other insights,” said Lowry.

Lowry added: “We’re very proud of Royal County Down’s ranking by Golf Digest magazine as number one course in the world since 2012.

"We’re very used to hosting various amateur events and thousands of visitors each year...something like the Irish Open is a different dimension.”