Europe's superstars will be in America for the US PGA Championship but the week nevertheless represents a huge opportunity for the go-ahead Ballyliffin club.

Ballyliffin has been described as the Ballybunion of Ireland's north.

Nick Faldo was so enchanted by the old Ballyliffin links when he first visited in 1993 that he tried to buy the club.

By that stage, plans were already in train for a second course on the dune-filled 365 acres of magnificent links land.

By August 1995, the new Glashedy course, designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, had opened to acclaim and within three years the Irish Women's Open was being staged at the new links.

Ballyliffin has continued to go from strength to strength over the past four years.

A careful public relations strategy has cultivated the best of terms with the British and Irish media.

The Glashedy course, despite only being only seven years old, is already confortably within the top 100 course in respected magazine Golf World's British Isles rankings.

All who play the Glashedy track agree that it is likely to push higher up the list very quickly as its reputation expands still further.

Club general manager Cecil Doherty says this week's European Tour event represents a massive opportunity for Ballyliffin.

"It's another huge milestone for the club and tremendous recognition of our achievements to date and the current standard of our golf courses.