Athlone's Cathal to play a round of golf at Sawgrass
Athlone's Cathal Joyce has been chosen to play a round of golf at the renowned Sawgrass course in Florida, USA.
Cathal was chosen for this honour by the Round Of A Lifetime Foundation and he will be play his round at TPC Sawgrass on Saturday, April 11.
Back in September 2015, Cathal had a near death experience at the age of 25. He suffered a cardiac arrest on the Cusack Park pitch when warming up with the Athlone GAA squad for a Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship semi-final against Rosemount.
Cathal’s older brother, James, was on duty as a physiotherapist with Athlone GAA that day and the efforts of James, aided by Rosemount footballer Patrick Boland (a medical doctor) and Stacy Egan (a nurse), managed to save Cathal's life.
This writer was in attendance at that game and can still vividly recall the deep and grave concern of many people who genuinely feared that a young life had been lost.
Cathal was subsequently diagnosed with a condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and an implantable cardiac device (ICD) was placed in his chest to prevent further such attacks. Thankfully, he made a full recovery and continues to lead an active life.
The Round Of A Lifetime Foundation was established in 2010 to preserve the memory of Andrew Maciey, who passed away from a congenital heart defect at the age of 24.
The purpose of the foundation is to provide the opportunity for those suffering from congenital heart disease and their loved ones to play an unforgettable round of golf at a world-class course with all expenses paid.
The foundation has sent 23 recipients to courses around the world to play their 'round of a lifetime', in such venues as Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits and Carnoustie, Scotland.
Cathal's story struck a chord with the foundation, which also took into account his mission to get more people certified in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and he has been selected as the 24th recipient.
Cathal has created awareness about cardiac arrest issues by speaking publicly about his own experiences and he has highlighted the importance of defibrillators for local communities.
A member of Athlone Golf Club, Cathal enjoyed Connacht title success as part of the club's Pierce Purcell team in 2024. He will be joined for his round of golf in Sawgrass by his brother James and two friends.
Cathal has a keen interest in many sports including horse racing, having been an amateur jockey. In addition to Gaelic football, he has played soccer with Monksland United, where he has also done some coaching. Cathal is a son of Rosemary and Gerry Joyce, who is well known for his work as a physiotherapist with various local teams.
The Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass (TPC Sawgrass) golf course is located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, south east of Jacksonville. It is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and hosts The Players Championship, one of the PGA Tour's signature events held annually in March.
This year's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, which concluded last weekend, was delayed after two people were shot and killed less than a mile from the tournament's main parking area.