Golf Channel's Big Break Ireland Reality Series Premieres

One of The Golf Channels most popular series, The Big Break, has returned for its 16th season. Filmed at the historic Kildare Hotel, Spa & Country Club (The K Club) near Dublin, Ireland, home of the 2006 Ryder Cup, Big Break Ireland airs on The Golf Channel Tuesdays at 9:00 pm EST. Six of the Big Break Ireland contestants were recently in New York City for the Big Break Ireland launch event, along with representatives from The Golf Channel, The K Club and Tourism Ireland.

Big Break Ireland, which was produced in cooperation with Tourism Ireland, features a cast of six young men and six young women (presented on attached photo) competing against each other. The final male or female winner will be awarded two tournament exemptions from the four exemptions available, which represent events on the LPGA Tour, European Tour and Ladies European Tour. The winner also will receive a host of other prizes.

Filmed on location last May at The K Club, the landmark resort located just 30 minutes from Dublin City Centre and Dublin International Airport, Big Break Ireland took place on the property's two championship golf courses - The Palmer Smurfit Course and The Palmer Ryder Cup Course. Both designed by Arnold Palmer, The Palmer Ryder Cup Course is consistently ranked as one of the top-3 parkland courses in Ireland. The Palmer Smurfit Course, in contrast, is an inland links course, with dramatic landscapes and dune-type mounding throughout. In addition to hosting the 2006 Ryder Cup, The K Club also has hosted 13 European Opens on the European Tour.

The Big Break show concept pits highly skilled golfers against each other in a variety of challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness. During Big Break Ireland, one contestant will be eliminated each week, with the last player standing awarded his or her Big Break -- a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in two 2012 professional tournaments.

Photo L to R: Bennett Maki (Big Break Ireland contestant), Annie Brophy (contestant), Richard Williams (The K Club), Nicole smith (contestant), Joe Byrne (Tourism Ireland), Mallory Blackwelder (contestant), Kelly Jacques (Ireland contestant), Julien Trudeau (contestant), Charlie Rymer (Golf Channel analyst)