Ardee Part Of International golf event as five Louth clubs unite
By ArdeePost Reporter
Ardee Part Of International golf event as five Louth clubs unite
Five of County Louth’s leading golf clubs have come together to launch an exciting new junior championship that organisers hope will attract talented young golfers from across the county and beyond.
The inaugural Louth County Close Junior Championships, supported by the World Amateur Golf Ranking(WAGR), will see young players compete across multiple venues including Ardee Golf Club.
The pioneering championship has been developed through a collaboration between five clubs: Ardee Golf Club, County Louth Golf Club, Dundalk Golf Club, Greenore Golf Club, and Seapoint Golf Links.
Organisers say the initiative represents a major step forward for junior golf development in County Louth and reflects the strong cooperation between clubs across the region.
Championship format designed to maximise participation
The championship will be played over 54 holes across five venues, with each club providing four hours of dedicated tee times.
This format allows organisers to maximise participation while minimising disruption to regular tee times during the busy summer golf season.
Up to 187 competitors are expected to take part across four divisions:
- U19 Boys – Greenore (Round 1) and Ardee (Round 2)
- U20 Girls – Dundalk (Round 1) and Seapoint (Round 2)
- U16 Girls – Dundalk (Round 1) and Seapoint (Round 2)
- U15 Boys – Dundalk (Round 1) and Seapoint (Round 2)
After 36 holes, a cut will be applied in each division, with the final round taking place at County Louth Golf Club in Baltray, one of Ireland’s most renowned championship courses.
Opportunity for young golfers in Ardee and across Louth
Registration for the championship is now open, with entry set at €30 per competitor.
As this is a County Close Championship, participants must be junior members of one of the five participating clubs.
Entries will close once the available places are filled.
A spokesperson for the organising committee said the event is designed to create more opportunities for young golfers across the county.
“This championship is unique in bringing together five clubs to maximise opportunities for junior golfers across the county. By hosting rounds across multiple venues with dedicated tee times, we hope to give as many eligible players as possible the chance to compete.”
While World Amateur Golf Ranking points will attract some of the county’s most talented players, organisers say the competition is designed to remain inclusive and accessible.
“While WAGR points will attract elite players, the event is designed to be inclusive, with significant prizes also available for nett scores. Keeping the competition local and affordable helps remove barriers and provides a genuine pathway for juniors into championship golf.”
Celebrating Louth’s strong golfing tradition
County Louth has a proud history of producing top amateur golfers, thanks in part to its strong junior development systems.
Recent success stories include Caolan Rafferty of Dundalk, who completed an historic domestic grand slam, and Gavin Tiernan, a Walker Cup player who also emerged from the county’s junior ranks.
In recognition of Rafferty’s achievements, the U15 division of the Louth Boys Close Championship will be named in his honour.
Widely regarded as one of Louth’s greatest amateur golfers, Rafferty’s journey from junior golfer to one of Ireland’s leading amateurs continues to inspire young players across the region.
Strong local support for new championship
The new championship builds on decades of cooperation between golf clubs in the county and represents another important step in strengthening junior golf in Louth.
Organisers say the event would not be possible without the support of club members and local sponsors including:
- Anord Mardix
- Greenore Port
- Remax Elite
- Ping Golf
- Links Landscaping
- Farrell Furniture
- Hanna McDonnell Marketing
- Stephen Murphy
The championship is also supported by golf professionals Brian Kerley, David Carroll, Leslie Walker, Scott Kirkpatrick and Zac Rouiller.
With strong backing from clubs and sponsors, organisers hope the event will become a flagship annual competition for junior golfers in County Louth, helping to nurture the next generation of talent from towns such as Ardee, Dundalk and across the wider region.
