Cork Golf Club

Byrne set for Irish pro debut

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Sara Byrne 

Sara Byrne will tee it up for the first time as a professional in Ireland this week as she takes part in her second KPMG Irish woman’s open the Douglas golfer is in her first year in the professional ranks having turned pro after the Curtis cup last Sept.  Sara is one of nine professionals and seven amateurs playing in Carton House this week, a record number of Irish golfers to feature at the event.

The event attracted over 34,000 spectators last year in it’s first visit to Carton House and this year’s numbers are likely to be bigger, especially if any of the Irish are still in contention going into the weekend.  Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are just €25 and under 16’s are free with a paying adult.  The KPMG Women’s Irish Open returned in 2022 after a ten year gap, with 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 →

Doyle wins Irish Boys title

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John Doyle (Fota Island) Picture: ©INPHO | Bryan Keane

John Doyle went wire to wire in Cork Golf Club as the Fota Island golfer produced a commanding performance from start to finish on the south coast as he was crowned the 2025 Flogas Irish Boys Amateur Open Champion with a four shot victory.

Having come into the final day with a five-shot lead over his nearest rivals, the 17-year-old showed no signs of letting his advantage slip and although he finished one over par for his final round it was enough to see him take the title in comfortable fashion.

“I’m delighted”, said Doyle.  “I really wanted to win this one ever since it got scheduled that it was on in Cork it was on the list of, I really wanted to win this, and it feels great. It’s kind of sinking in a bit now.”

Doyle opened his championship with a stunning seven under par 65 from the back tees in Little Island.  He followed this with a solid two under par 70 in much tougher conditions on day two, but it was his third and final round where the Cork native showed maturity beyond his years as he plotted his way around the course, opting for the safe play, hitting irons off the tee where required.  Added to his strategic play, Doyle’s power off the tee was also on show, with drives touching almost 350 yards on the 11th and 14th holes.

“Those two days put me in a really good position, kind of took a bit of the stress out of today”, said Doyle on the third day.  “Going in with a bit of a lead you know you can play a little bit more conservative and take a lot of the danger out of some holes.”

William O’Riordan (Greystones) and John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) were Doyle’s closest challengers as the final round got underway but a birdie on the second helped settle any early nerves and extend Continue reading →

Exciting 2025 ahead for Cork Golf

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Cork Golf Club which wil host a number of national events in 2025. Pic: Niall O’Shea

2025 promises to be a busy and exciting year for Cork golfers and Cork golf clubs.  Golf Ireland launched the 2025 calendar recently and four Cork courses will host important events in the months ahead.

Cork Golf Club will host four major events in a busy year for the club.  In addition to the Munster Stroke Play which has been held on the May Bank Holiday weekend for over a decade, the Little Island club will also host the Flogas Irish Boys Amateur Open and the Boys Home Internationals.  The club will also host the Women’s Cork Scratch Cup in early April.

Cork has a habit of being a winning venue for golfers who went on to greatness and with Irish Boys Captain watching over the field, he will be hoping for another winner with star potential when it comes to the Irish Boys.  The last big winner in Cork was Shane Lowry, he  won the Irish Close Championship when it was last held in Cork in 2007.  Lowry beat local favourite Niall Turner in the final to claim his first Irish title.  He went on to win the West and North, and the Mullingar Scratch Cup the following year, before winning the Continue reading →

Exciting 2025 Ahead for Cork Golf Club

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The view back from the 15th green at the famous Alister MacKenzie designed course at Cork Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Next year promises to be a busy one for Cork Golf Club, as the Little Island course will hold several major competitions.

Golf Ireland have launched the 2025 championship schedule and Cork will host three major events.  In addition to the Munster Stroke Play which has been held on the May Bank Holiday weekend for over a decade, the course will also host the Flogas Irish Boys Amateur Open and the Boys Home Internationals.  In addition to these, the club will also host the Women’s Cork Scratch Cup in early April.

Cork has a habit of being a winning venue for golfers who went on to greatness.  Shane Lowry won the Irish Close Championship when it was last held in Cork in 2007.  He beat local favourite Niall Turner in the final to claim his first Irish title.  He went on to win the West and North, and the Mullingar Scratch Cup the following year, before winning the Irish Open in Baltray to Continue reading →

Success for Byrne, Cork, Douglas and Munster Women

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Sara Byrne teeing off the 18th in Lahinch on the final day of the Arnold Palmer Cup

Sara Byrne was one of the stars of the show last weekend as Lahinch hosted the Arnold Palmer Cup.  Byrne, the first Cork player to feature in the annual event which sees 48 top college golfers face off on American and International teams.

Byrne was paired with Max Kennedy for the mixed fourball and mixed foursomes and the pair scored two wins in their matches.  In Sunday’s singles she faced the recent winner of the Women’s Amateur, Melanie Green.  Teeing off from the 1st, there was a huge crowd around the clubhouse to follow Continue reading →

Douglas, Cork and East Cork advance in AIG Senior Cup

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James Walsh (Douglas) in action in the third round of the AIG Irish Senior Cup on Sunday.
Picture: James Doolan

Douglas Golf Club hosted two days of exciting inter-club matches last weekend as two rounds of the AIG Men’s Senior Cup took place.  Eight matches took place on Saturday with the winners coming back in Sunday to play in the next round.

The course in Douglas was in great condition for the event.  Memories of the harsh wet winter and spring faded as golfers played from firm fairways and fast greens.  Both days saw a large number of supporters and spectators out on Continue reading →

Mairead Martin wins Cork Scratch Cup

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Mairead Martin (Kanturk) being presented with the Cork Ladies Scratch Cup trophy by Lady Captain Amanda Welsh and Lady President Nuala Lyden.

Mairead Martin won the Cork Ladies Scratch Cup in style on Saturday, shooting two under par round to win by four strokes.  The Irish International has been in good form recently and that showed in the first wound when she shot a four under par 70.  Martin was delighted with her win, her second of the year.

I really like Cork Golf Club, funnily enough I hadn’t played it very much even being from Cork” said Mairead after her win.  “It’s a challenging course but definitely rewards good approach shots.”

“I played well in round 2, I knew it was important to keep the foot on the accelerator as you never know what can happen.  I started out well with Continue reading →

Cope Alliance rase over €40,000

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The Cope Golf Alliance had another successful year in 2023, and recently held their AGM where the cheque was presented to the Cork charity.  Since the late 1970’s the Alliance has raised over €1.7million, and last year they added another €43,500 to that amount.

The Alliance is in its 47th year, and each year the members raise a huge amount of money.

There are close to 500 members of the Alliance and membership is highly valued by each of the members.  It is limited to 60 men and 60 ladies from each of the four Cork clubs, Cork, Douglas, Monkstown and Muskerry, a rule which dates back to the founding of the alliance in 1977.

The four clubs provide Continue reading →

Cork hosts MacKenzie Society Gathering

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Harry Canning receiving the MacKenzie Gathering trophy from Alan McKinght. Pic: Niall O’Shea

Cork Golf Club celebrated part of their history when the club hosted the 33rd Annual Gathering of the Alister MacKenzie Society.  MacKenzie was the most prolific course architect and designer in the early 1900’s.  MacKenzie is responsible for some of the most famous golf courses from the first half of the last century including Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne.

In 1925 he came to Cork and redeveloped the Little Island links which had been home to Cork since 1897.  MacKenzie also had a hand in designs in Muskerry and Douglas in the 1920’s as well as designing Lahinch’s famous Old Continue reading →