Hailing from London, home to the monarchy of the United Kingdom, John and Conor Gough are Royals in more ways than one. Royal blood courses through their veins but not in the conventional sense since their associations are closer to the High Kings of Tara than they are to King Charles.
From Dunderry to Kilmessan, Athboy to Navan, Royal Tara to Headfort, the Gough brothers of England have family ties all across the county of Meath.
This means that the Irish Challenge at Killeen Castle which runs from Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th of August will be essentially a home event for the brothers whose father Paddy originates from Dunderry, a small village southwest of Navan.
Although they were raised just outside the English capital, John always looks forward to coming back to his home away from home and, of course, enjoying the bit of craic and a pint of the black stuff in the family pub, Fergie’s of Kilmessan, which is owned by his aunt and uncle and should become a hub during the week.
John is also the touring ambassador for Killeen Castle Golf Club, so his links to Ireland are still very strong, and on top of this, he won the 2023 Irish Amateur Open at The Island to add to his 2021 Amateur Championship title.
“Every time I come back, I go out in Trim. There are some good tracks around there. My uncle and cousin are Headfort members,” says Gough, whose mother comes from Newry.
“We go back a couple of times a year. My mum and dad moved over to England before they had my brother and I.”
Despite hailing from Stoke Park and possessing a strong English accent, there is still plenty of GAA blood in the 27-year-old.
“I love being out in the country. A lot of my family live out in the sticks as they call it. I love it because it’s a break away from living near London. When I’d go over, I used to ride dirt bikes with my cousins, go to poc fadas… It brings out my countryside side.
“I’ve played Gaelic football a couple of times. My mum’s brother-in-law runs a junior team in Northern Ireland and I played a few games for them when they were short of a few players. I need a bit more practice. I’m not as good at that as I am at golf!”
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Gough, who turned down a LIV contract, came close to earning a DP World Tour card via the HotelPlanner Tour last year and would dearly love for the Irish Challenge to be the catalyst for a late-summer charge towards the top 15 on the Road to Mallorca.
As would his brother Conor, the 2019 Amateur champion. Now aged 23, he has had injury issues over the last 12 months.
Killeen Castle, host of the 2011 Solheim Cup, has proven itself to be a tour venue fit for a king and there will be plenty of Irish hopefuls vying for one of two prizes at the Jack Nicklaus-designed venue.
Everyone will want to win the title, but the consolation for the leading Irishman will also be the Christy O’Connor trophy and an invite to September’s Amgen Irish Open in Doonbeg, which again could be a priceless opportunity.
In terms of prestige, Killeen Castle is a cut above on the HotelPlanner Tour with its demanding layout requiring a top-level tour game, where length is a huge benefit.
Galway’s Liam Nolan was the man in form heading into last year’s tournament and, after two top-10 finishes in a row recently, he is trending in the right direction again.
“I love it. In terms of courses we play on the Challenge Tour it is right up there as one of the best,” said the former Walker Cup star.
“Great test off the tee, you have to hit it far and you have to be really precise into the greens which are really sloping with a lot of run-offs, so it will be a really good test. I’m really looking forward to seeing what scores are set over the tournament.
“I don’t think it really matters what course I play; I will always be a plotter. Picking precise targets, getting the best angle into greens that I can, so even though there will be a lot more drivers out here than usual you still need to be smart about where you leave yourself in the fairway to give yourself the best chance of creating birdie opportunities.”
Kilkenny man Mark Power, a Walker Cup teammate of both Nolan and John Gough, has a strong relationship with the Irish Challenge. Power won the Christy O’Connor trophy in 2024 to give himself an Irish Open start at Royal County Down. The Irish Open at The K Club 12 months earlier was his first professional start where he won north of €30,000.
The 26-year-old has shown glimpses of his potential on the HotelPlanner Tour this season but has frustratingly not been able to put four rounds together. Killeen Castle being a bombers’ paradise is right up his alley and perhaps it is the Meath venue which can truly ignite him.
“It’s fantastic; it’s a proper championship course with plenty of length in it. It’s not too dissimilar to Mount Juliet, my home course, where I base myself. Plenty of length and a couple of tee shots with water you need to avoid. Really nice green surfaces, and I’m sure everyone will enjoy it.
“I enjoy that type of golf course where you need to hit it and don’t feel the golf course is taking the driver out of your hands. Nowadays, a lot of the courses are tight and you need to squirm a hybrid or long-iron down there, but when you get courses where you need a driver and another good iron… I like that kind of golf.
“In the last couple of years, everyone has really enjoyed the event. Last year it was a great set-up with the players’ lounge and courses we’ve gone to. I’m sure this year will be no different.”
There will be a strong Irish presence at the event so there will be plenty of interest across the tournament days with Conor Purcell, Mark Power, Cormac Sharvin, Rob Brazill, Daniel Mulligan, John Doyle, Ronan Mullarney, Gary Hurley, Robert Moran, JR Galbraith, Max Kennedy, Brandon St. John and Dermot McElroy all in the field and hopefully we’ll see strong runs from some of them.
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