Golf Ireland

2025 a year to remember

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John Doyle (Fota Island) receiving the Munster Stroke Play trophy from Paul Buckley from C2O Group, sponsors of the tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

2025 proved to be a year to remember for Cork golf, with several notable successes in the bag.  Douglas, Monkstown and Lee Valley all won green national pennants, and there were notable individual successes as well.

Douglas did a rare double, winning the AIG Senior Cup in the Women’s and Men’s, taking full advantage of the status as hosts for the AIG Inter-Club finals at the end of August.  Monkstown travelled to Northern Ireland and came home as winners of the AIG Junior Cup, and Lee Valley won their Girls Inter-Club title in Donabate in August.

It was a breakout year for John Doyle, the Mitchelstown teenager started the season in style with wins at the Irish Boys and the Munster Continue reading →

Golf Ireland reports on a positive 2025

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Golf Ireland
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Golf Ireland celebrated another strong year when they provided a scorecard of their own performance for 2025.  It was a positive year on many fronts, from showpiece events, international success, and overall participation in the game.  Clubs around the county have been reporting another positive year for membership, and that was also the case nationally.

It has been another year of growth across all areas of membership.  By the end of October membership figures had reached 236,384.  Just five years ago the membership figure stood at 182,000 prior to a Covid related boost, and the 30% increase over the past five years represents a sustainable growth.  Women now account for Continue reading →

Golf Ireland Professional Scheme 2026 now open

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James Sugrue who should be eligible for Golf Ireland Professional funding in 2026.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Golf Ireland Professional Scheme, a grant scheme to support Irish professional golfers in the early stages of their careers, and it’s possible that a few Cork golfers will be involved in the programme next year.

The scheme was established in 1999, and has been an invaluable source of funding for early stage professionals for 25 years.  A number of Cork golfers have benefitted from the scheme in the early years.  Mervyn Owens and Padraig Dooley were recipients when they were on the Europro Tour, Claire Coughlan for the Ladies European Tour, and Niall Turner was funded for two years when he was on the Challenge Tour and the Asian Tour.  The funding was previously called the Team Ireland Golf Trust, and was renamed as the Golf Ireland Professional Scheme a few yeas ago.

Sara Byrne and James Sugrue have both confirmed their tour status for 2026 and it’s likely that both will feature on the scheme.  2025 Golf Ireland professional Sara Byrne has enjoyed Continue reading →

Clonakilty chase first AIG All-Ireland glory

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Clonakilty Golf Club celebrate their AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield quarter-final victory at Mannan Castle

Since opening in 1994, Clonakilty Golf Club has undergone many changes, but this weekend could mark the beginning of its most exciting chapter yet as Liam Dennehy and his side chase a history-making performance at the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield All-Ireland Finals in Mannan Castle.

Having hosted the quarter-finals of both the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield and Women’s Minor Foursomes in August, Mannan Castle now welcomes eight teams from across the island, with semi-finals taking place on Friday, before the All-Ireland deciders on Saturday.

Formerly known as Lisselan Golf Club, Clonakilty has evolved from a six-hole layout to its current 14, with planning recently approved to extend Continue reading →

Howard earns Ireland call up following South performance

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David Howard had another good week on Golf Ireland’s Bridgestone Tour.  He reached the final 16 of the South of Ireland on Saturday, and in doing he looks to have earned selection on the Irish team for the upcoming Home Internationals.

Howard, who won his first major event in Baltray last month at the East of Ireland, backed up his impressive stroke play performance with six positive rounds in Lahinch.  The 26 year old opened with a lack lustre 75, the three over par round put him outside the top 80 with a second 18 holes to come.  The round could have been worse – after 10 holes Howard was five over but two late birdies gave him something to fight for.

Howard returned on Thursday afternoon and things didn’t improve when he was one over after nine.  The back nine again proved critical as Continue reading →

Clodagh Coughlan wins Ulster title

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Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) with the Ulster Senior Championship trophy at Belvoir Park
Photo: Leah Scholes/INPHO

Clodagh Coughlan was crowned Ulster Women’s Senior Champion in Belvoir Park on Sunday.  Originally scheduled as a 36 hole competition, the searing temperatures meant the Senior tournament was reduced to one round on Sunday.  It was Coughlan who coped best in the heat to claim her first title at national level.  The Douglas golfer has been challenging at all levels for the past few years evidenced by her selection for Munster and Irish teams.  Coughlan has seen plenty of success including winning the Plate compe Continue reading →

Strong Performance from Howard in Seapoint

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David Howard

David Howard put another good top level performance in the bank last week with a top ten finish in the Flogas Irish Amateur at Seapoint.  The Fota Island golfer has been in good form this year and his -10 score for four rounds at the Co Louth links included rounds of 70, 68, 72 and a final round 68.

Although he was five shots off the winner, Howard had an impressive haul of 20 birdies which highlights how effective his tee to green game is.  Howard played almost all of the Irish Championships and his efforts were rewarded Continue reading →

Doyle Conquers Cork Again

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John Doyle conquered Cork Golf Club for the second time in two weeks as he came from behind to win the C2O Group sponsored Munster Stroke Play.  Fresh from his win at the Irish Boys, Doyle is now two from two in Little Island.

It was a super weekend for golf in Cork, a strong field took on the Alister MacKenzie signature course which was in great condition.  The 75 strong field including West of Ireland Champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Champion John Doyle (Fota Island) and the recently returning Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth).  Holder Paul Coughlan and previous winners Karl Bornemann and Barry Anderson were also in the field.

John Doyle (Fota Island) receiving the Munster Stroke Play trophy from Paul Buckley from C2O Group, sponsors of the tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

From the initial field at the Little Island course on Saturday, just 33 remained by Sunday morning and it was an ever changing leaderboard.  Cork’s Jonathan O’Sullivan led after the opening round with an impressive 69 in windy conditions.  By Saturday afternoon there was a three way tie for the lead, Keith Egan TJ Ford and James O’Rourke were out in front.  Egan in particular impressed with a five under par 67 after a great display of putting.

In the final round it was the 17-year-old Mitchelstown native who would battle his way to the top, taking a one-shot victory in what would be one of the tightest finishes the championship had seen for many years.

Doyle would finish his third-round level par for the tournament, rounds of 72, 71 and 73 leaving him in a Continue reading →

McGrath wins Munster Championship

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Macroom’s Bernie McGrath won the Munster Women’s Senior Championship in Shannon last week.  McGrath scored 42 points to finish two clear of the field.  The 16 handicapper went out with 22 points, thanks in part to two four pointers on the 4th and 5th holes.  McGrath had another two 4 pointers on the back nine that helped her to a back nine score of 20 points.  She had just two one pointers in the 18 holes which help her to the winning score.  Sylvie Kenneally from Kinsale was second on 40 points and Shannon’s Jean Murphy was third with 38 points.  Rose Beamish from Fota Island took the over 65 prize with 37 points.

Douglas golfer Shannon Burke got her 2025 season underway in Continue reading →