- Over €300m annual golf tourism to Ireland
- €0.47 indirect economic impact for every €1 direct GVA
- 40,000 spectators, 46pc increase since 2022
- 16 Irish players competing including Leona Maguire
- Global broadcast reaches 100m households
The tourism component of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at The K Club, taking place 27–30 August 2026 on the Palmer South Course, has been structured to maximise local financial injection, global brand visibility and a broadened spectator experience. International golf tourism has generated over €300m annually for the Irish economy, according to Golf Ireland data, with major golf events driving regional development and a notable multiplier effect. For every €1 in direct gross value added created by the golf industry, an additional €0.47 has been generated in indirect economic impact.
The tournament has scaled to attract approximately 40,000 spectators, marking a 46pc increase since KPMG took over title sponsorship in 2022. The organisers have implemented an all-encompassing entertainment hub featuring live music, children’s activities, dedicated yoga sessions and structured stage programming alongside the championship golf. Hosting the event at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, has allowed tourism bodies to pull heavily from the large population bases and transport hubs of the wider Dublin and capital region. A record-breaking 16 Irish players, including 9 professionals such as Leona Maguire and 7 amateurs, are competing.
The tournament’s global broadcast audience has reached over 100m households, serving as an extended travel commercial for Ireland’s luxury hospitality sector. The Palmer South course has been presented specifically as a premium inland links venue featuring dune-style mounding and dramatic rock features, designed to capture the interest of high-spending overseas golf travellers. The event has aligned perfectly with the Ladies European Tour calendar to capture global golf media momentum building up to the Solheim Cup, with Tourism Ireland and regional authorities using a rotating venue strategy to evenly distribute visitor spending across different regional counties.
