LAHINCH WILL become only the third Irish venue to ever host the Walker Cup, the oldest amateur event in world golf.
On Monday, it was confirmed that Lahinch Golf Club will host the fifty first match between Great Britain and Ireland versus the United States of America in the Walker Cup from September 5th to 6th in 2026.
It will be the first time in Lahinch’s history that it will host the international match and it follows Portmarnock (1991) and Royal County Down (2007) as previous Irish venues to host the biennial encounter.
2019 saw Lahinch host the DDF Irish Open when the festival atmosphere in the North-West Clare coastal town demonstrated its ability as a quality venue when Jon Rahm claimed victory.
As part of its preparations for the biggest team event in amateur golf, Lahinch Golf Club will invest €2m in a new wall-to-wall irrigation system this winter before commencing a €2m clubhouse extension project which will have to target of being complete before the summer of 2026.
Chairperson of Lahinch Golf Club, John Gleeson said, “The Walker Cup has long been an iconic fixture at the pinnacle of men’s amateur golf and for Lahinch to be invited to host the matches, following on from St Andrews and Cypress Point in 2025 is a major honour for our Club and links”.
Along with hosting The Irish Open, Lahinch is noted for having the South of Ireland Amateur Championships as a stable event, it first began in 1895, previous winners include Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.
Mark Kennelly, Golf Ireland CEO commented, “Lahinch Golf Club’s reputation as one of Ireland’s premier links courses is well-deserved. Hosting the Walker Cup for the first time in its history, the anticipation among golf enthusiasts will be palpable”. He predicted “a vibrant atmosphere and a fantastic spectator turnout” in three years time.
“Lahinch is widely regarded as being one of the finest links courses in Ireland and so there will be great excitement at the prospect of the Walker Cup being played there for the very first time,” said The R&A Chief Development Officer Phil Anderton.
Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling said it was a big achievement for the county to be hosting “the oldest and most prestigious amateur event in world golf”.
