ANNIKA Academy Announces Ireland Destination Golf Experience

(ORLANDO, Fla.) - The ANNIKA Academy - Hall-of-Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam's boutique golf instruction and fitness school - is bringing its Destination Golf Experiences to Ireland for the first time.

Organized in partnership with Celtic Golf, one of the world's leading golf-tour operators, the Academy will visit the iconic courses of southwest Ireland Oct. 6-12. The program will include instruction and rounds at:

* Ballybunion's Old Course (No. 17 in GOLF Magazine's "Top 100 Courses in the World")

* Dooks Golf Club (No. 32 in Golf Digest Ireland's "Top 100 Irish Courses")

* Old Head Links (No. 8 in Golfweek's "Best (Modern) Great Britain & Ireland Courses")

* Tralee Golf Club (No. 84 in Golf Digest's "100 Best Courses Outside the U.S.")

* Waterville Golf Links (No. 23 in Golf Digest's "100 Best Courses Outside the U.S.")

Participation will be limited to no more than 21 guests with instruction at each stop tailored to the nuances of links golf. Expected topics include full-swing and short-game fundamentals, the importance of balance and posture, tackling uneven lies, mastering the "bump and run" shot, secrets to reading fescue-grass greens, how to play in the wind, links-course management strategies and more.

"We're very excited to partner with Celtic Golf on our inaugural Ireland Destination Golf Experience," says John Goodman, Director of Sales and Marketing at the ANNIKA Academy. "This is a unique opportunity for guests to improve their games under the watchful eyes of our talented instructors while playing five of the world's greatest seaside golf courses."

The package is $3,950 per person (based on double occupancy). It includes six nights' accommodations at the five-star Killarney Park Hotel (www.killarneyparkhotel.ie), ground transportation, greens fees, instruction and full Irish breakfast daily. Roundtrip airfare to Shannon International Airport (SNN) is not included.

"A golf vacation to Ireland is magical," says Jerry Quinlan, CEO of Celtic Golf. "Together with the ANNIKA Academy, we'll take care of all trip logistics so guests can sit back, relax and soak up the Emerald Isle's unmatched on- and off-course charms."

No stranger to "road games," the ANNIKA Academy has hosted Destination Golf Experiences at Lake Tahoe's Old Greenwood Golf Course for four consecutive years. Later this summer it will visit West Virginia's historic Greenbrier Resort, home of the PGA TOUR's Greenbrier Classic.

For more information about the Destination Golf Experiences and other ANNIKA Academy programming: www.theannikaacademy.com, TheTeam@TheAnnikaAcademy.com, 888.266.4522.

For more information about Celtic Golf: www.celticgolf.com, info@celticgolf.com, 800.535.6148.

About Celtic Golf

Celtic Golf is a business run by the Quinlan Family - Americans with deep Irish roots who are passionate about creating memorable golf vacations to Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales as well as many destinations in Europe. Jerry and Josephine Quinlan and co-founders Peg and Jack Quinlan have been delighting golf travelers for over twenty years. Whether you're a pro or an avid weekend golfer - an individual, a family or a large group - we'll help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

About the ANNIKA Academy

The ANNIKA Academy is a state-of-the-art, "boutique" golf school at Reunion Resort, near Orlando, Fla. It opened in 2007 as a way to share Annika's passion for golf, fitness and nutrition, along with her personal team of coaches. Their simple techniques allow players of any age, gender or skill level to reach their potential by transferring more energy and power from the gym to the course. The Academy is a Certified Callaway Performance Center with two spacious hitting booths that offer custom club fitting and video swing analysis. Complete with a modern fitness facility, conference room, and full-service locker rooms, the Academy provides individualized golf instruction, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and custom corporate packages. Guests can play with Annika or learn the proven winning approach she established with her world renowned team of instructors.

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