Pictured left to right: Larry Smith (Calor Gas); Lynn McCool, Director of Golf, Glasson Lakehouse; Grainne Cornally (Failte Ireland, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands); Tom Browne (Medel Healthcare); and Daniel O'Connor, Golf Coordinator, Glasson Lakehouse.

International King's Cup returns to Midlands venue

Kayley Hardiman

Published: Mon 30 Jan 2023, 5:21 PM

Glasson Golf Club will be the venue for the 2023 International King’s Cup, one of the most anticipated amateur golf tournaments of the year.

Team USA and Team Ireland will stay at Glasson Lakehouse from Monday, June 26 to Friday, June 29.

One of the most anticipated amateur golf tournaments for 2023 is here with the launch of the International King's Cup and organisers announce that venues have now been selected to run qualifiers across Ireland.

Director of Golf for Glasson Golf Club, Lynn Mc Cool, said: “It’s great to be able to take this event across Ireland and we are very much looking forward to the International King’s Cup at the magnificent Glasson Golf Club which has recently undergone a 1.5 mil redevelopment. In 2019, the venue for the International King’s Cup was at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida. We are very excited to be returning and staging the International King’s Cup within Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.

“We are delighted to have Calor Gas, Medel Healthcare, My Daily Choice, Hidden Heartlands, Sportstalk and BAGBOY as our event partners for 2023.”

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Regional Sales Manager, Calor Ireland, Larry Smith, said:

“Calor Ireland is delighted to be announced as one of the main sponsors of the International King’s Cup Tournament. We are aware of how much effort goes into hosting such a prestigious event like this and we look forward to playing a part in this year’s tournament. Calor has worked with Glasson Lakehouse for 30 years and we are thrilled to support the team throughout the competition. We look forward to welcoming golfers and supporters to Westmeath, for what we know will be an incredible experience.”

Grainne Cornally, Fáilte Ireland, Irelands Hidden Heartlands, stated:

“Ireland is world renowned for our high-quality golf products, including the wonderful parkland courses in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. We are delighted to be sponsoring International King’s Cup for the second year. This event builds not only awareness of the wonderful courses here in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, both domestically and internationally, but raises awareness of the destination as a whole. Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands provides the golf tourist with a breadth of genuine, authentic experiences and attractions both on land and on water and we hope the golfers attending International Kings Cup will have the opportunity to visit some of them.”

The International King’s Cup, a three-day 54-hole amateur match play pairs tournament structured like the Ryder Cup, was formed in 2016 and is played in honour of golf’s greatest ambassador Mr Arnold Palmer.

Tournament US Golf Challenge Director, Bob Butte said: “The event is played in honour of Arnold Palmer. Mr Palmer did much for golf, and we are very proud to take this event across Ireland playing it in his honour. I encourage every level of golfer to find a partner and enter one of the qualifiers as this will be an ultimate golf experience. The format is Fourball Betterball Net at the first stage qualifier and at the National Final Fourball Betterball Gross. Only four teams will compete within each flight at the National Final. To have age brackets of Open age 18 + and a senior 55+ and four flights (categories) means there is a chance for everyone who has a Golf Ireland Handicap to qualify. It’s fantastic and we anticipate every qualifier to have a full field, so golfers need to book early.”

The event is open to both men and women and any Combination. Simply find a partner with max eight of your h/cap index and play in our betterball format event.

There is a Limit of 36 Playing Index for Ladies and 24 Max Playing Index for Gents. Those whose index are above the limits may drop down.

Finding a partner within eight shots of your handicap will determine which flight golfers fall into. There are 4 flights. On the day you only play against those in the same flight and same age bracket. Whoever makes the team will get to stay at Glasson Lakehouse for the duration of the event. Each player will be presented with uniforms for each day of play and each one given bespoke BagBoy Golf Bags.

Qualifiers are now available to book and will take place in four different venues across the country in March and April. The National Qualifier event will be held at Glasson Golf Club on Monday, May 8. To find out more about the International King's Cup Qualifiers Rules and Format visit usgolfchallenge.com/ireland