While some are already there and enjoying Guinness and Irish golf, most of the 33 trip participants are jetting off from their respective home airports today, with arrival in Dublin early Sunday morning.

Special guests on the trip this year include Fred Gehrisch, CGCS - TurfNet Superintendent of the Year 2014 - and his wife Lynn, of Highlands Falls Country Club in Highlands, NC -- both guests of Syngenta.  

Superintendent of the Year 2014 Finalists Eric Wygant (Shannopin Country Club), Joel Kachmarek (Tacoma Country and Golf Club) and Jorge Croda (Southern Oaks Country Club) are also coming along as guests of Syngenta.

We are also delighted to have Joan Colleran, wife of the late Paul Colleran of Aldarra Golf Club, accompany us. A 2014 Superintendent of the Year finalist, Paul was nominated posthumously after succumbing to brain cancer last year.

Another winner is on the trip this year. Doug Ayres of Corral de Tierra Country Club near Salinas, CA, is a guest of Aquatrols for submitting the best entry in the Aquatrols/TurfNet Smart Water Management Video Challenge.

The group also includes eight wives, one father and two sets of brothers.

Participants include:

• Matt Crowther, Mink Meadows Golf Club, and his wife Cherly
• Fred Gehrsich, Highlands Falls Country Club, and his wife Lynn
• Eric Wygant of Shannopin Country Club and his wife Debra
• Jorge Croda of Southern Oaks Country Club
• Matthew Tacilauskas, Palm Beach Country Club, and his wife Trish and friend Tammy Kardoulias
• John Gall of the Cherry Hill Club and his wife Maureen
• Jeff Hemphill of Nissequogue Golf Club and his wife Deborah
• Doug Ayres, Corral de Tierra Country Club, and his wife Melissa
• Joel Kachmarek, Tacoma Country and Golf Club, with his father, Kas, and brother Mark
• brothers John Gosselin of Aronimink Country Club and Tom Gosselin of Overbrook Country Club
• Joan Colleran, PGA, Overlake Golf & Country Club
• Steven Neulip, Etowah Valley Golf Club
• Mark Fuller, Connecticut Golf Club
• Frank Tichenor, Forest Hill Field Club and his guest Pete Radtke
• Scott Schukraft, Elite Turf
• Mike Cook, The Care of Trees
• Tripp Trotter, Syngenta
• Kevin Collins, Aquatrols
• Jon Kiger and his wife Elaine, TurfNet
• Peter McCormick, TurfNet

Courses on the schedule this year include

• Sunday: The Links Portmarnock (est 1996)
• Monday: County Louth/Baltray (est 1892)
• Tuesday: Portmarnock Golf Club (est 1889)
• Wednesday: The Island Golf Club (est 1890)
• Thursday: Royal County Down (est 1889)
• Friday: Royal Portrush (est (1888)
• Saturday: Ballymascanlon Hotel Golf Course

The 6th TurfNet Emerald Challenge event will be held with Irish superintendents at Portmarnock Golf Club on Tuesday, all in an effort to decide whether the coveted Hurley Trophy stays in Ireland or returns to the States.

Follow along this week while we bring you daily updates from the trip. Slainte'!