Lahinch Golf Club is set to welcome a new chapter for women’s amateur golf this weekend as it hosts the inaugural South of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship.
The 54-hole event is the first of four new Golf Ireland championships, alongside the Women’s East, West and North. With World Amateur Golf Ranking points on offer at each event, the regional series represents another significant step forward in strengthening the women’s amateur game in Ireland.
A field of 60 players are set to compete with 36 holes of Stroke Play on Saturday before a cut ahead of Sunday’s final round, where the first champion will be crowned.
Among those teeing it up is Lahinch’s Aideen Walsh, who is looking forward to competing on home soil following another impressive campaign that saw her claim her first Bridgestone Order of Merit title while also enjoying success at both the Women’s Home Internationals and European Mid-Amateur Team Championships.
“It was an enjoyable year. The Order of Merit was something I was waiting to tick off for a while, so it was nice to tick that off and being part of the Home International team, it’s always a highlight, and the women’s team, we won that week, so that was special,” said Walsh.
“You quickly turn to this year. It’s funny, I haven’t reflected on last year in a while. It’s all focused on 2026 now.”
Walsh has also played a key role in establishing this new quartet of events, having been part of the Golf Ireland Working Group that helped develop the revamped championship structure.
“There was a group of six of us and Golf Ireland wanted a player’s point of view, so I came on from that aspect,” said Walsh.
“If you win or come second, you might get enough points to get on to WAGR, so I think it’s all really positive and it’s all going in the right direction.”
The field includes a host of current and former champions, including Walsh herself, reigning AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close Champion Anna Dawson (Tramore), Irish Mid-Amateur Women’s Open Champion Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) and Irish Senior Women’s Amateur Close Champion Deirdre Smith (County Louth).
“I’d say it’s as strong a field as you’ll get in the middle of April in Ireland. Everyone who’s at home is playing and again, a huge part of that is because of the venue,” said Walsh.
“I probably sound biased, but we are very lucky to be playing a championship in Lahinch.”
Often referred to as the St Andrews of Ireland, the Old Course at Lahinch is expected to provide a stern test, with the County Clare links set to ask questions of every aspect of a player’s game.
“I think the course is going to ask everything of you. That’s why it’s such a brilliant course,” said Walsh.
“Everyone in the field should just to go and enjoy it. It’s my favourite golf course I’ve ever played, and it’s my favourite place in the world.”
“Lucky for me that the South is on in Lahinch, but lucky for everyone really, what a venue.”
For Walsh, competing on home soil in an event that she has helped bring to life adds an extra layer of significance, but as the opening round draws near, her focus remains firmly on her process rather than the outcome.
“I think I know how to get the best out of myself at this stage, but I won’t be thinking too much about winning until hopefully it happens,” said Walsh.
“I’m just going to put together a plan for myself and if I do those things well, I’ll be happy and if that means I’m the winner, I’ll be even more happy but if I’m not, as long as I do what I set out to do, I’ll be happy with that.”
Play gets underway at 9.00am on Saturday with a shotgun start for the opening two rounds before the field is cut ahead of Sunday’s final round where the inaugural South of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Champion will be crowned and their name etched on the famed Vaughan Trophy.
View tee times and scoring here
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