Huge year of golf in the Mid-West kicks off with Walker Cup

THE USA Walker Cup have landed at Shannon Airport ahead of the amateur golf competition this weekend.

The two-day competition where the top American amateur golfers take on their counterparts from Great Britain & Ireland will start on Saturday in Lahinch.

Tullamore's Stuart Grehan is the sole Irish player playing at the Co Clare venue.

“It was a pleasure to welcome the USA Walker Cup Team on their arrival at Shannon Airport ahead of this weekend's tournament in Co Clare," said Vanessa McTigue, Commercial Director of The Shannon Airport Group.

"As Ireland's Gateway to Golf, we're proud to welcome players, supporters and golf fans from around the world as the Mid-West prepares to host a remarkable run of major golfing events over the coming year.

"It's already been a busy summer for golf tourism, with enthusiasts arriving through Shannon to enjoy the almost 40 golf courses within a 90-minute drive of the airport, including some of the highest-ranked courses in the world."

Susan Simpson, Head of Amateur Championships at The R&A, the organisers of the Walker Cup said: “Shannon Airport offers excellent connectivity from key cities in North America and across Europe, meaning players, officials and spectators can be on the ground and at the venue in just over an hour.

"That level of convenience, together with the quality of the golf and the welcome players and visitors receive on Ireland's west coast, makes Lahinch a fantastic setting for the Walker Cup and we’re really looking forward to the weekend ahead."

Walker Cup 2026 is the first of two major golfing events taking place on Shannon Airport's doorstep in September, with the Amgen Irish Open following at Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg from September 9.

The one-year countdown to Ryder Cup 2027 at Adare Manor in Limerick also kicks off next month, marking the beginning of a 12-month period during which the region will be firmly in the global golfing spotlight.