Three Cork clubs host National Pitch and Putt Championships

Rocklodge is one of the three Cork pitch and putt venues hosting this weekend's national championships.

Three Cork venues will host this weekend's Irish Pitch and Putt National Matchplay Championships, bringing together the strongest field in the game at all grades. 

There is free entry for spectators as some of the best players in the world competed from Saturday through to Bank Holiday Monday.

The championships will be centred around the Rocklodge club in Inniscarra, which hosts the National Ladies and Gents Matchplay Championships, an event that has been played for over 50 years. Play begins on Saturday from 10am through to 5.30pm, with two rounds scheduled, followed by a similar programme on Sunday. 

The event concludes on Bank Holiday Monday when players from all grades converge on Rocklodge for the semi-finals and finals.

The Intermediate and Junior Gents competitions will be staged in Bishopstown, at Murphy's Farm, with an early start on Saturday at 8.30am and play continuing through a full day until 9pm, followed by Sunday rounds from 10am to 6pm. 

The Ladies Intermediate and Junior events take place in Ranges, with play on both Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm.

There's strong field led by defending champion Kieran Earls of Bruff, Limerick, while Ray Murphy of St Anne’s will have local support and brings significant course knowledge as a Rocklodge specialist. 

St Anne's Ray Murphy, a seven-time Pitch and Putt National Matchplay Champion.

John Walsh of Collins, a member of recent Irish teams, is another strong local contender. Damien Fleming of Deerpark, Kerry is also expected to challenge, alongside Leinster Champion Stephen Murray from Dublin. 

In the Ladies Championship, defending champion Chrissy Sheedy of Kildare will be aiming to retain her title. 

Amy Galvin of Tullamore, Offaly, the current Leinster Champion, is among the leading challengers, while local favourite Mary Murray of Rocklodge will look to use home advantage.

STANDARD-BEARERS

Pitch and Putt continues to stand out as one of the most inclusive and accessible sports in Ireland, while maintaining a consistently high competitive standard. Originating in Cork in the 1940s, the game has grown into a sport with genuine international reach, where Irish players continue to dominate. 

Ireland are current European and world champions in the ladies and gents categories, and many of those players will be in action across the weekend. 

Ireland's pitch and putt team at the European Championships.

The sport remains cost-effective, fast, and engaging, offering a level of competition and entertainment that appeals across all age groups from young players through to those well into later life.

Further information and live updates throughout the weekend are available at http://www.irishpitchandputt.ie