Irish Golf Events - Great Amateur Events
Did you know that all four of Ireland’s current major champions – Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke – won the Irish Close Championship during their amateur careers?
This is just one of a number of excellent amateur golf tournaments that take place in Ireland every year and see the country’s top amateur golfers in action.
These events offer a chance to observe potential stars in the making and walk every inch of some of Ireland’s courses with them.
For example, the aforementioned Irish Close Championship takes place in May 2013 at Royal Dublin’s links in Clontarf. Started in 1885, this is the second oldest golf club in Ireland.
The South of Ireland Golf Championship is the country’s oldest provincial golf championship and takes place at Lahinch. Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell have their names etched on this trophy while the West of Ireland Championships boasts winners like a teenage Rory McIlroy. The venue for this competition is Co Sligo Golf Club (Rosses Point), which was described by famous commentator Peter Alliss as “a tremendous test for the highest quality player and great fun for the modest competitor”.
And don’t forget about the Annual Father & Son Tournament, the Home Internationals, the Inter Provincial Championship, the Irish Amateur Open Championship, the Irish Professional Matchplay Championship, the All Ireland Cups & Shields Finals, the West Coast Challenge, the Women’s Home International Matches, the Irish Senior Women's Open Strokeplay and Senior Ladies' Home International Matches.