A Mayo golfing year with no shortage of headlines

MAYO clubs enjoyed significant success this year, both on and off the fairways.

And here's some of what made headlines in 2024.

For Castlebar Golf Club, there was to be a historic national title bid after a cliffhanger when they reached the final of the Flogas All-Ireland Mixed Fourball Championship in its first season.

The team sealed their place at Oughterard GC after a dramatic penultimate round triumph over Belvoir Park, Belfast.

Unfortunately, Woodstock had too much for them in the final, but it was a superb showing from the county town club all round.

At the same tournament, Achill Golf Club were also brought to a playoff in their semi-final in the Flogas All-Ireland Mixed Foursomes against Malahide, losing out in heartbreaking fashion.

Nearby seasiders Mulranny Golf Club showed that if at first or second you don’t succeed, keep on trying, as they were crowned Connaught Fred Perry champions in July.

The Mulranny seniors were beaten in the last two Connaught Fred Perry finals but, undaunted, came with renewed vigour and after five gruelling rounds, faced off against Cregmore Park in another provincial decider, going in as underdogs.

The Fergus Rothwell/Christy McDonnell pairing ended up having to win to force a playoff. That they did and, as the nominated pairing, went into playoff mode where they used all their years of experience to safely negotiate the par 5 first hole in regulation to secure a famous win for the nine-hole club.

Other members of the panel included Sean Fitzgerald, Stephen Munnelly, Mick McDonnell, Richie Barry, Tom Duffy, Eugene McCormack and Tony McDonnell.

The club turned it into a double winning season in October when the Jack O’Sullivan team were crowned Connaught champions. Six of the Jack O’Sullivan side were elder statesmen of the Fred Perry.

Ballina Golf Club celebrated a new provincial champion, with Sinead Fox crowned the Golf Ireland Connaught senior ladies champion after playing brilliant golf to beat a very tough field.

Her success came hot on the club's ladies making the Golf Ireland AIG Minor Foursomes All-Ireland semi-finals, where they emerged with bronze.

The team comprised of: Elaine O’Hora, Ann Carrabine, Ann Cawley, Stephanie Stapleton, Marie Forde, Mary Reynolds, Bertha Cooke, Margaret Healy, Michelle Mulligan, Bridie McCormack, Josephine O’Hora, Catherine Smith, Patricia Gaughan and Alice Melody, along with team captain Helena Syron and vice-captain Phil Cronin.

Castlebar also had cause to celebrate its female golfers when Antoinette Starken captured the All-Ireland Women’s Bronze Medal title at Headfort Golf Club in Co. Meath. She emerged victorious from a field of 77 on the old course with a five under par score of 68.

TO THE FORE

Mayo's young golf talent was also to the fore again this year, with Ballyhaunis native John William Burke featuring on the Ireland Under 16 golf team that faced England at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, Somerset, in October.

The Golf Ireland development and high performance panels selected for the upcoming 2025 season feature a number of golfers from Mayo clubs.

The Under 16 boys high performance panel features John William Burke, while the west performance development panels includes two Mayo golfers at Under 17 level – Max Humphreys (Ballinrobe) and Mary Kate Lonergan (Westport).

During the year, Castlebar's Junior Foursomes team won their third Connaught title in a row – an unbelievable achievement for the club's Under 18s.

Away from the courses, awards and developments were aplenty. In April, Carne Golf Links in north Mayo won the Best Employer – Golf Award at Fáilte Ireland’s Employer Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate businesses who have demonstrated their commitment to making the tourism industry an appealing and rewarding place to work through their participation in Fáilte Ireland’s Employer Excellence programme.

Later in the summer, the club was the focus of big screen attention when renowned actor and filmmaker Edward Burns, best known for his role as Private Richard Reiben in Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, arrived in Ireland to direct his new film, Finnegan’s Foursome, with filming taking place at Carne Golf Links.

Carne was one of two local golf clubs that celebrated wins at the Irish Golf Tourism Operators Association annual awards.

Gerry Maguire, chairman of the Belmullet club, was a hugely popular winner of the Service Excellence Award at the IGTOA event in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo. Meanwhile, Enniscrone Golf Club general manager Keith O’Neill was awarded Manager of the Year at the awards.

Swinford Golf Club was awarded the Gold Standard in the Women in Golf Charter by Golf Ireland in recognition of the club's commitment to promoting gender inclusivity and balance in golf.

In a statement, the club said: “This accolade underscores our efforts towards creating an environment that values and nurtures the participation of women and girls in golf. It affirms our dedication to the principles of inclusivity, participation and equal opportunities within our club and the broader golfing community.”

Claremorris Golf Club celebrated a significant investment in its future with the launch of a new state-of-the-art practice area. The facility is a big boost for beginners starting out and more seasoned golfers looking to improve their game.

Finally, Ballinrobe Golf Club rounded off the year's accolades when it was again named the Best Parkland Golf Course in Connaught for 2025 in December. Receiving the award were outgoing lady captain Mary Nalty and incoming lady captain Antoinette O'Connor.