Golf Ireland

Douglas Golf Club do the double in AIG Senior Cup

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Douglas receiving their AIG Women’s Senior Cup pennant from Dave Prendergast, Golf Ireland. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Once again Douglas Golf Club did the double last weekend.   They won the AIG Senior Cup in Women’s and Men’s in Kinsale Golf Club.  The Farrangalway course was busy with 85 individual matches taking place over the weekend.

It was an inter-club double for the men as the previous week they won the AIG Barton Shield in Tipperary.   After waiting over 30 years for a Senior Cup or Barton Shield pennant, Douglas now have won three in just over 12 months.

Douglas men were up against Clonakilty in their first match on Saturday morning, and the team was made up of Wayne O’Callaghan, Jack Continue reading →

Howard targets Munster glory before Open debut

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David Howard tees off at the Men’s and Women’s Interprovincial Championship at Knightsbrook in 2025 Photo: Inpho | Andrew Conan

Munster are setting their sights on a first Men’s Interprovincial Championship win in eight years, with David Howard hoping victory at Knightsbrook could provide the perfect send-off before making his Open Championship debut at Royal Birkdale next week.

The Fota Island golfer earned his ticket to The Open Championship after coming through final qualifying at Dundonald Links, and the week since has been a whirlwind for the 27-year-old with the prospect of teeing up alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry still not fully setting in. Continue reading →

Jason Law claims 3rd Munster Title

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Jason Law (Fota Island)

Fota Island’s Jason Law put two great rounds together in Bandon last week to win the Munster Senior Championship.  Law had a three-shot margin of victory over the field and he was the only player in the field to go under par.  An opening 72 (+1) had him in the lead going into the second round, one shot ahead of Bandon’s Dave McCarthy.

On the second day, The Island’s Eoin O’Sullivan posted an early level-par round to hold the clubhouse lead. There was a long wait for Law to finish his round as he was in the second-last group, and when the cards were checked, he Continue reading →

2nd Cork Scratch Cup for Coughlan

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Munster Stroke Play winner Paul Coughlan pictured with Sean Barry from sponsors C2O Group and Dave Prendergast from Golf Ireland.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Paul Coughlan became the 100th name on the famous Cork Scratch Cup after he won the C2O Group Munster Men’s Stroke Play Amateur Open Championship at Cork Golf Club.

The Castleknock golfer produced two impressive rounds of golf on Sunday to overturn a five-shot deficit after Saturday’s two rounds.  The Westmeath native, who also won in 2024 was playing in the penultimate group on Sunday morning and set about his task from the opening hole with a birdie.

“I said go out and make a few early birdies here with the way the course sets up” said Coughlan after his win.  “It was kind of Continue reading →

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 →