Scratch Social Bonus Episode - The Irish Golfing Calendar For 2026!

In this episode, Eimear McManus and Padraig Lynch delve into the exciting Irish golfing calendar for 2026, covering both amateur and professional events. They discuss key tournaments, highlight the importance of women's golf, and share personal anecdotes about their golfing experiences. The conversation also touches on optimizing holidays to attend these events and the significance of music in their golfing journeys.

Takeaways

The Irish golfing calendar for 2026 is packed with exciting events.

Amateur golf is gaining popularity, thanks to figures like Gary Cork.

The West of Ireland Men's Amateur Championship is a highlight in April.

Women's amateur events are expanding, with new championships added.

The KPMG Women's Irish Open is a key event in the women's golf calendar.

The Walker Cup will be held in Ireland, attracting top talent.

Optimizing holidays can enhance the experience of attending golf events.

Music plays a significant role in the golfing experience for both hosts.

The Legends Tour offers a relaxed atmosphere with seasoned players.

Engagement with young fans is a priority at women's golf events.

Titles

Exploring the 2026 Irish Golfing Calendar

Amateur vs. Professional Golf: What's New in 2026?

Sound bites

"What a place, what a venue!"

"It's a super event!"

"I love the Legends Tour!"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Irish Golfing Calendar 2026

01:33 Highlighting Amateur Golf Events

05:05 Women's Amateur Golf Championships

09:06 Mid-Amateur Championships and Personal Goals

10:22 Upcoming Major Tournaments

12:54 The Arnold Palmer Cup and Future Stars

17:26 Historic Tournaments and Family Connections

21:21 The Walker Cup and Its Significance

22:25 Collecting Golf Memorabilia

25:42 Exciting Women's Golf Events in Ireland

31:03 Men's Golf Tournaments and the PGA Cup

33:34 The Legends Tour and Its Unique Appeal

37:50 Optimising Your Golf Calendar

42:06 Musical Tastes and Golfing Adventures

Happy New Year and welcome to Scratch Social for 2026.

We kick off the new golf year by looking at what’s new, what’s evolving and what still matters most in the game.

The episode opens with a catch-up on the holidays before diving deep into TGL, golf’s bold new team format. Paddy breaks down how the league actually works, why it’s watchable for European audiences, and why Boston Common might be the team to watch this season.

We also share one of our favourite listener stories of the year — “The Real Portmarnock” mix-up — a reminder that even the best-laid golf plans can go hilariously wrong.

The episode then launches a brand-new January series: Scratch Social’s 2026 Irish Bucket List Courses, starting with two must-play destinations that represent Irish golf at its best.

To round things out, we highlight a golf course under €50, an underrated Irish links, and finish with Up & Down of the Week as 2026 gets underway.

• 🏌️ TGL explained
• 🎄 Justin Rose, Scotty Cameron & golf nostalgia
• 😂 The “Real Portmarnock” story
• 🇮🇪 2026 Irish Bucket List Courses (Part 1)
• 💶 Golf course under €50
• 🔎 Underrated Irish golf course
• 📈 Up & Down of the Week

🌐 Website: scratchsocialhq.com
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @scratchsocialhq
▶️ YouTube: @scratchsocialhq
📩 Contact: podcast@scratchsocialhq.com

Welcome back to Scratch Social and welcome to our final episode of the year. In this special year-in-review episode, hosts Eimear McManus and Padraig Lynch look back on the moments, stories, shots and conversations that defined golf in 2025 both on tour and closer to home.

No rankings for the sake of it. No forced hot takes. Just honest reflection, great golf stories, and a look at where the game is heading next.

In this episode:

🏆 Scratch Social Moments of the Year

🎙️ Listener Moments

⛳ Shot of the Year

📈 Breakthrough Player of the Year

🏌️ Most Underrated Things in Golf (2025)

🔮 One Thing We Want Golf to Do Better in 2026

Whether you’ve listened from episode one, sent us a message, or just dipped in we genuinely appreciate it.

We’ll be back in the new year with more episodes, more voices, and more golf conversations worth having.

Stay Connected

🌐 Website: scratchsocialhq.com
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @scratchsocialhq
▶️ YouTube: @scratchsocialhq
📩 Contact: podcast@scratchsocialhq.com

Welcome back to Scratch Social, your weekly dive into Irish golf, global golf stories, community questions, and the moments that make the game more than just a scorecard. Hosted by Eimear McManus and Padraig Lynch, each episode blends insight, humour, and real-world golf experiences, from tour-level headlines to everyday rounds.

In this episode:

We break down the biggest stories in golf this week, starting with Mito Pereira’s decision to retire from professional golf at just 30.

We also celebrate a major milestone for Irish women’s golf, as Áine Donegan secures her Ladies European Tour card for 2026 after a standout performance at LET Q-School in Morocco.

The news round wraps up with a recap of the PNC Championship in Orlando, a family-focused event that delivered standout moments

The Scratch Social community takes centre stage as we respond to our first-ever listener email, answering beginner golf questions around:

• How to get an official Golf Ireland handicap (club membership vs iGolf)
• Whether the handicap system really operates on an “honour system”
• What to expect when booking tee times as a single golfer
• Practical gym and mobility advice to help your golf game

We also share our weekly course picks:

• Underrated Course of the Week
• Quality Golf Under €50

We finish with the Up & Down of the Week, featuring heartwarming family golf moments, festive chaos, and the small wins and losses every golfer can relate to.

Whether you’re new to the game, following Irish golf closely, or just here for the stories, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and community.

Stay Connected:
🌐 scratchsocialhq.com
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @scratchsocialhq
▶️ YouTube: @scratchsocialhq

Welcome back to Scratch Social your weekly dive into Irish golf, must-play courses, golf travel, and the stories and characters that make the game what it is. Hosted by Eimear McManus and Padraig Lynch, each episode blends sharp opinions, cultural moments, and real insight from across the Irish golf scene and beyond.

This week, we bring you:

• News of the Week:
  We break down the IGWA Awards and the Grant Thornton Invitational, the continued strength of Irish golf with Aine Donegan topping LET Q-School qualifying, alongside Irish players chasing 2026 tour cards.
  
  Keep up to date with LET Q-School here: https://ladieseuropeantour.com/reports-page?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.ladieseuropeantour.com%2Ftic%2Ftmscores.cgi%3Ftourn%3DQB24~season%3D2025~params%3DP%2a1SRC01~&id=2025&code=QB24&title=Round%201%20Scores%20Only
  
• The Social Round:
  Our weekly Golf Course Under €50 and One Course Everyone Should Play at least once in their lives and why the golf experience goes far beyond the scorecard.
• Interview: Lauren Walsh (LPGA Tour 2026):
  We’re joined by Lauren Walsh, fresh off earning her LPGA Tour card. Lauren chats about the mental grind of Q-School, representing Ireland on the world stage, life on tour, and what’s next as Irish women’s golf continues its upward momentum plus a few fun rapid-fire segments.
• Up & Down of the Week:
  From heartwarming moments to podcast bloopers and everyday golf-life mishaps.

Whether you’re following Irish golf closely, planning your next golf trip, or just love the stories behind the sport, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and inspiration.

🌐 Website: scratchsocialhq.com
📸 Instagram: @scratchsocialhq
🎵 TikTok: @scratchsocialhq
▶️ YouTube: @scratchsocialhq

Welcome back to Scratch Social! 🏌️‍♂️🎙️

In this episode, Padraig Lynch and Eimear McManus soak up the excitement of launching the podcast while diving into the biggest talking points in Irish and global golf.

From celebrating Lauren Walsh securing her LPGA Tour card to shining a light on Ballyneety Golf Club’s growing international recognition, we explore what these moments mean for the game at home. We also dig into accessibility in golf, the cost of equipment, and why value for money has never mattered more.

Along the way, we share listener feedback, fact-check a bold stat from last week, debate whether 18 holes of golf is still fit for the modern game, and highlight some brilliant golf courses you can play for under €50.

The episode wraps up with our golfing goals for 2026, community contributions from listeners, and our Up & Down of the Week — the highs, lows, and moments that defined the past few days on and off the course.

⛳ This Week on the Podcast:

🗞️ Trending Golf Stories: Lauren Walsh’s LPGA breakthrough & Ballyneety on the global stage

🌍 The Social Round: Top golf courses under €50 and why value golf matters

📊 Golf Myths & Fact Checks: Listeners set the record straight on links golf worldwide

🗣️ Debate of the Week: Is 18 holes too much in today’s game?

📘 Rule of the Week: A famous rules mistake with massive consequences

🎯 Goals for 2026: Handicaps, wins, trips & capturing more memories

⬆️⬇️ Up & Down of the Week: The good, the bad, and the funny

🔔 Stay Connected:

🌐 Website: scratchsocialhq.com

📸 Instagram: @scratchsocialhq

🎵 TikTok: @scratchsocialhq

▶️ YouTube: @scratchsocialhq

📩 Share your stories or questions: podcast@scratchsocialhq.com

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction & Launch Excitement

00:34 Celebrating Lauren Walsh’s Achievement

03:12 Ballyneety Golf Club’s Recognition

05:18 Accessibility & Golf Equipment

06:07 Listener Feedback & Stat Fact Checks

08:22 Favourite Golf Courses Under €50

12:07 Is 18 Holes Too Much?

16:02 Rule of the Week

18:53 Golfing Goals for 2026

23:06 Community Contributions & Listener Goals

25:54 Up & Down of the Week

👍 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment with your thoughts on 18 holes are you team 9 holes or team 18 holes?

Welcome back to Scratch Social your weekly dive into Irish golf, must-play courses, golf travel, and the stories and characters that make the game what it is. Hosted by Eimear McManus and Padraig Lynch, each episode blends sharp opinions, cultural moments, and practical insights for golfers at home and abroad.

This week, we bring you:

• Trending & Quirky Golf Stories: From a viral or unusual story in the golf world to stories and updates from the golf world.
• The Social Round: Aa quick dive into WHS stories shaping the game never hurt anyone right?
• This or That in Golf: We settle the debate on classic golf dilemmas. Driver or 3-wood, walk or ride, early tee time or twilight round, and many more. Join us as we compare, argue, and sometimes agree on the quirks of the game we love.
• Up & Down of the Week: The highs, the lows, and the little moments that make golf life so entertaining from wins to lighthearted fails.

Whether you’re discovering new courses, planning a trip to Ireland, or just obsessed with golf culture, this episode is packed with laughs, insights, and opinion-driven discussion guaranteed to get you talking.

🌐 Website: scratchsocialhq.com
📸 Instagram: @scratchsocialhq
🎵 TikTok: @scratchsocialhq
▶️ YouTube: @scratchsocialhq

Welcome back to Scratch Social your weekly dive into Irish golf, must-play courses, golf travel, and the stories that make the game what it is. Each episode blends sharp opinions, cultural moments, and practical insights for golfers at home and abroad.

This week, we bring you:

• News of the Week: Eimear takes the mic to share the latest trends and talking points in the golf world.
• The Social Round: Funny, relatable stories from our audience and guests. This week’s theme: Three Things Every Great Golf Day Has. Paddy and Eimear share their top picks, compare notes, and dive into why a snack, group chat, weather, or a favourite bar can make or break a round.
• A Silly Hill We’ll Die On About Golf: From “Walking > buggies” to “Every course needs at least one drivable par-4,” the hosts share opinions guaranteed to spark debate.
• Up & Down of the Week: The highs, the lows, and the moments that made our week on and off the course from wins to lighthearted fails.

Whether you’re discovering new courses, planning a trip to Ireland, or just obsessed with golf culture, this episode is full of laughs, insights, and stories to keep you connected to the game.

🌐 Website: scratchsocialhq.com
📸 Instagram: @scratchsocialhq
🎵 TikTok: @scratchsocialhq
▶️ YouTube: @scratchsocialhq