Darren Clarke Foundation to relaunch Champions Weekend at the Abaco Club in February 2024
Joshua Hill and Luke O'Neill at the 2019 weekend
Darren Clarke will host the Champions Weekend for up-and-coming Irish golfing talent at the Abaco Club in the Bahamas early next year as he looks to give Irish golf’s future stars a trip to remember.
The event has not been held since the coronavirus pandemic but following discussions with Golf Ireland, the Darren Clarke Foundation is relaunching the popular Champions Weekend in February 2024.
First staged in 2002, the event has given dozens and boys and girls a chance to rub shoulders with the 2011 Open champion and pick his brains.
The weekend was put on hold due to COVID-19 and Clarke’s busy schedule on the Champion’s Tour but the Bahamas-based star is looking forward to getting it going again next year.
Clarke recently indicated that he will take a week off from his Champions Tour schedule to host the Champions Weekend at the Abaco Club in the Bahamas in February 2024, coinciding with the school mid-term break.
Speaking after the dramatic European victory in the Ryder Cup, Clarke said: '' It was just fantastic to see the Irish involvement in the Solheim Cup ten days ago and last weekend in the Ryder Cup.
“Leona, Rory and Shane all participated in the Champions Weekend during their formative years, and we are keen to continue to foster and support Junior Golf in Ireland in partnership with Golf Ireland.
“We want to help the current generation of young Irish golfers in their endeavours to become winners of Major Championships and achieve selection on amateur and professional representative teams. Who knows where or when the next Rory McIlroy will emerge in Irish golf.''
Initial conversations have taken place between Dougie Heather, Chief Executive of the Foundation and James Corcoran of Golf Ireland and details are being worked on and will hopefully be finalised in the coming weeks.
The current plan is to invite 10 young Irish golfers (five boys and five girls) to travel to the Bahamas for a four-day coaching and mentoring session with Darren, winner of the Open Championship in 2011 and the Seniors Open Championship in 2022.
Two representatives of Golf Ireland will accompany the group.
Shane Lowry, Olivia Mehaffey, James Sugrue, Tom McKibbin and John Murphy have all also taken part in a weekend that sees the golfers enjoy long and short game clinics and play a few holes with Clarke.
Players are treated to golf equipment and apparel while there is traditionally a dinner on Saturday night followed by a lunch and presentation on Sunday.
