Claregolf has provided a very successful junior competitions structure in Co Clare for up-and-coming junior golfers since 2007.

This structure provides fun events for juniors as young as eight years, playing a nine-hole short course series on measured, age-appropriate courses. When these juniors reach the age of 13, they then graduate to play in the Parkland, Links, and County Matchplay Championships, which are played on standard-length courses.

The purpose of these County competitions is to provide competitive experience and confidence for young Clare golfers, boys and girls, whose future ambitions are to take part in various Golf Ireland junior and adult championships and Inter Club matches.

This year alone, 16 juniors from Co Clare travelled around the country to take part in these events, as well as in our Claregolf events.

The final event of this year's calendar was the County Matchplay Championships which took place at Dromoland Castle over the bank holiday weekend.

Qualification to take part in this event was as a result of finishing first and second within the age groups U13, U14, U16, and U18 in the Parkland Championships which took place earlier in the year at East Clare Golf Club.

The Matchplay finals were played in great spirit and the two top matches went down the 18th and 19th holes in order to decide the winners.

All members of Clare clubs, and others with interest in these matches, were able to stay informed on the progress, and final results of all matches, by viewing the live scoring page on the Claregolf website, a new initiative introduced this year.

Claregolf wishes to thank everyone from volunteers, parents, guardians, sponsors, host clubs and junior golfers for making the 2022 Claregolf Championships season the most successful so far.

The 2022 Matchplay winners were:

• U13 — MJ Hehir, Spanish Point

• U14 — Donnacha Halpin, Shannon

• U16 — Niall Melody, Dromoland Castle

• U18 — Tom Clancy, Kilrush.

  https://www.claregolf.ie