Glasson Golf Club to host International King's Cup

Glasson Golf Club in Westmeath will be the venue for the 2022 International King’s Cup, a much anticipated amateur golf tournament.

Team USA and Team Ireland will stay at Glasson Lakehouse adjacent to the golf course near Athlone from Sunday, June 21 to June 24.

“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 million redevelopment," said Lynn Mc Cool, Director of Golf at Glasson Golf Club.

"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 staging the International King’s Cup within Ireland Hidden Heartlands,” Lynn continued.

Participants need to find a partner within eight shots of their handicap, and this will determine which flight each contestant falls into.

There are four flights (categories). On the day participants only play against those in the same flight and same age bracket. Open to 18 year-olds and upwards or seniors over 55. A senior may play in the open age category as long as their partner aged 54 and under.

Glasson Golf Club is delighted to be staging the qualifiers alongside partners SportsTalk, Medel Healthcare, Entegro, BagBoy, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and Glenmuir.

Whoever makes the team will get to stay at Glasson Lakehouse for the duration of the event (four nights). Each player will be presented with Glenmuir uniforms for each day of play and each one will be given bespoke BagBoy golf bags.

“It is a tremendous experience for both teams to play at Glasson Golf Club and to get to experience the Glasson Lakehouse. Mr Arnold Palmer did so 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," said Tournament US Golf Challenge Director, Bob Butte.

"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,” he continued.

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

The first three Cups have been won by Team Ireland. In 2019 at the prestigious Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida Team USA clinched victory for the very first time. 2021 saw the Americans clinch victory for the very first time on Irish soil.

Organisers are now looking to recruit Team Ireland players for this unique 16-person team event. Open to male/female golfers – any combination. So, whether you are a scratch golfer or a 24 handicap golfer, you have equal opportunity to qualify to represent Ireland. Pairs teams must not exceed more than a difference of eight between each of their handicaps.

Qualifiers will now take place across the island of Ireland. Qualifiers are now available to book (format: fourball betterball).

Stage 1 – qualifiers

Castlewarden Golf Club: Friday, March 25th.

Donegal Golf Club (Murvagh): Friday, April 1st.

Castlerock Golf Club : Tuesday, April 8th.

Dundrum House GC: Monday, April 25th.

*Entries must be made directly through club websites.

Stage 2

National Qualifier: Glasson Golf Club – Monday, May 9th.

For further information ,contact Lynn Mc Cool (email: lynn@glassonlakehouse.ie or phone: 086 023 8838).