Golf Ireland signs three-year partnership with Whirlpool as official appliance partner

Golf Ireland has announced a three-year partnership with household appliance brand Whirlpool, making it the governing body's official appliance partner, as reported by Sport for Business, with the deal giving Whirlpool naming rights across a range of established championships and initiatives with a particular focus on the senior game, mixed competition and volunteer recognition.

The partnership was launched at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club during the opening round of the Whirlpool Irish Senior Men's Close and Women's Senior Open Championship, one of the key fixtures on the domestic amateur calendar.

Under the terms of the agreement, Whirlpool will become title sponsor of the Irish Senior Men's Open Championship, the Irish Women's Senior Open Championship, and the Irish Senior Men's and Women's Close Championships. The deal also includes the Whirlpool Senior Order of Merit, the Whirlpool Irish Mixed Fourball, and support for Golf Ireland's Volunteer of the Year programme through the Women and Girls Award.

Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly said the breadth of the partnership was a significant aspect of its value to the governing body. "This is a broad agreement that will support key championships and initiatives, particularly within the senior game, which continues to grow in both participation and standard," he said. "Having that level of backing is important for us as we look to recognise performance and contribution across the sport. We're looking forward to working closely with Whirlpool over the coming years."

Whirlpool is part of the Beko brand family, which already supports Irish sport through a volunteer partnership with Leinster GAA. Shane O'Connor, Beko Ireland marketing manager, said the deal represented a deliberate step to raise Whirlpool's profile in the Irish market. "While continuing to showcase Beko Ireland's long-standing dedication to Irish grassroots sport, this initiative will place Whirlpool front and centre," he said. "We can't wait for Whirlpool to showcase its presence at these prestigious upcoming events, and we are incredibly excited to work closely with the Golf Ireland team."

The inclusion of the Mixed Fourball, the Senior Order of Merit and the Volunteer of the Year support gives Whirlpool multiple points of contact with players, clubs and communities across the country, extending the partnership's reach well beyond the championship calendar into the everyday fabric of the game.