Lee Valley Golf Club set for Scratch Cup success

Interest is building in the Lee Valley Scratch Cup which gets underway in Ovens on Saturday morning. 

Similar to the West of Ireland on the national calendar, Lee Valley marks the end of the winter and the start of the competitive scratch cup season. 

Tournament Director Vincent Drinan has been busy managing entries for the past few weeks, and when entries closed last week, he was happy with the interest in the event.

“Again this year we are delighted with the level of interest and the entries we have received. Year after year we have some of the top amateurs in the country returning to play our scratch cup,” said Drinan. 

“Players like David Howard, Dave Reddan Jnr, David Kitt, Eoin Murphy, Andrew McCormack, Jordan Boles, as well as former champions re-entering like Robbie Walsh, Kieran McCarthy, Keith Crowley, Dave O'Donovan and Karl Bornemann. 

"When I look at the entries every year it's great to see players travelling from many golf clubs all around the country, places like Athenry, Dundalk, Royal Dublin, Rosslare, Carlton House, Millicent and Lahinch to name just a few.”

Golf courses and indeed pitches all over the country have suffered from the wet spring, but the dry and warm weather this week will have been welcomed by the course team in Lee Valley. 

Having an important event early in the year is demanding on the course, but the team in Lee Valley have always gone above and beyond to present the course to a championship standard.

And it’s something that Vincent Drinan doesn’t take for granted. 

“I must say every year for a few weeks prior to the event the effort being put in by the Keohane Family and especially James Mulcahy and his staff is immense to get the course ready. 

"This year has been no exception with newly laid tee boxes on holes 8 and 9, and a newly designed bunker on the 9th fairway will be open for the first time. 

"The forecast this week is looking very promising so we will make the course as fair as possible, hoping to see more birdies than bogeys.”

Designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr, the construction of Lee Valley began in 1990 and took three years, turning 150 acres into a championship course featuring a mix of parkland and challenging links-style conditions. 

The club officially opened in 1993 with an exhibition match featuring Christy O'Connor Jnr and major champion Fred Couples. 

The 6,800-yard, par 72 course features water on seven holes and is known for its high-quality greens.

It was said that in the early days of the club you could see the 14th fairway from the clubhouse balcony. 

The planting of additional trees in the past 20 years means that you can’t see much outside of the 18th fairway now.

The scratch cup started over 25 years ago, initially as a 36 hole tournament with Kinsale’s Kieran McCarthy winning the first title. 

McCarthy went on to retain the title the following year. The event moved to a 54 hole format in 2009, and the winner was Shane Lowry. 

The Lee Valley win would be Lowry’s last win in an amateur event, as a few months later he won the Irish Open, turned professional and went on to have a several notable wins including an Open Championship and two Ryder Cups.

Gary O’Flaherty leads the roll of honour in Lee Valley. The Cork Golf Club member won a record four titles, including back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2018. 

Douglas golfers Robbie Walsh and Jack Murphy have shared the last three wins. Walsh picked up his second win last October, when he won a dramatic play-off to edge out Ben Murray after the pair were tied after 54 holes.

The story of the 2026 competition will play out over the coming days. 

David Howard enters the event as a golfer who is in form and has played well in Lee Valley previously. 

The Fota Island member will share the favourite tag with a few others. Dave Reddan and David Kitt are proven performers at this level, while Eoin Murphy from Dundalk has featured in the prizes in his previous two visits to Lee Valley.

With the players lined up, and the course in good order it should make for a very competitive weekend of top class amateur golf. 

As usual the event is offering a top class purse, thanks to sponsors BoyleSports.

“As always the event could not go ahead without the generous sponsorship from our sponsors. 

"Boyle Sports, who have been a long-standing supporter of the event, are on board again this year, with special thanks to Peter Tuite for his multi-year commitment. 

"I would also like to thank McGuirks Golf Carrigtwohill, who have also come on board just last year for their support.”