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