Now entering its 9thh year, Founder PGA Professional Gordon Smyth is unstinting in his desire to keep the KPMG Irish Kids Golf Tour growing.
The KPMG Irish Kids Golf Tour was established in 2017 to provide competitive golf to junior players and their families. Those who take part are treated to professionally conducted competitions which can serve as developmental progress for budding young players both on and off the golf course.
Co-founders, PGA Professional Gordon Smyth and Ciaran Cahill, have put in trojan work in developing children from the ages of six to thirteen before they progress into the Golf Ireland Championships at U14 level.
The benefits of the tour have been evident, with many of the children going on to represent Ireland at international level. In recent years, Sean Keeling, Adam Challoner, John William Burke, Fionn Dobbin, Charlie Smyth, Adam Fahy, Sean Cooper, John Doyle, Eoin Burrows, Evan Monaghan, Scott McCabe, Calum Duane and Olivia Costello are amongst those who have come through the KPMG Irish Kids Golf Tour system.
“The blueprint for me initially was about developing players,” said Smyth. “As a coach I wanted to start something to get players playing competitively earlier, thinking it would be cool to see them starting here in the system and going on to win big.
“There was nothing as age appropriate for kids from 6-13 in Ireland at the time. Most of Golf Ireland‘s championships would have started at under-14 level with my thought process being that there is an appetite from parents who wanted competitive and fun golf for their younger children. We never wanted to interfere with Golf Ireland, so we stopped at 13 years old which has worked well.
“To that end the KPMG Irish Kids Golf Tour is open to both boys and girls aged 13 and under and they don’t need any specific qualifications to participate in any event, which includes holding a golf club membership.”
Over the years the Tour has visited Fota Island, The K Club, PGA National Slieve Russell, Headfort, County Sligo GC, Galway Bay GC, Strandhill, Royal County Down, Carton House, Dun Laoghaire and Killeen Castle, and Smyth heaped praise on the golf clubs for accommodating the children and providing them with first-class venues.
“We decided to pick courses the kids generally wouldn’t get the opportunity to play,” added Smyth.
“The support of the golf clubs has been fantastic. We have remained in Fota Island & Slieve Russell from the very start and next year we will play our all-Ireland event in Carton House.
“The kids are playing places that have held events like Irish Opens, Ryder Cups, Solheim Cups & Curtis Cups. Kudos to the clubs for allowing us to play & sample these fantastic venues.”
Like most events, this endeavour wouldn’t be possible without the help of sponsors and Smyth admits that this golf tour is no different and wouldn’t be viable without them.
“KPMG came on as the title sponsor from the start and they have been brilliant for us. It’s a good fit for them and if we didn’t have them, it wouldn’t be viable to do it. Their support from the start has been instrumental.
The success of the Tour is there for all to see. The path of progression for players to the Golf Ireland fold is important but even just getting kids to participate and compete in the environment is a level of success that the developers can be proud of.
“When we open our competitions every year they instantly fill. You can see the appetite is there for it, we get 100 kids at an event. I think being able to be competitive with kids their own age and having the chance to shoot scores they generally wouldn’t shoot will grow the game.
“I think ultimately myself and Ciaran will always look to keep developing and progressing the tour but with the help of the sponsors and partners. As long as we have their support and appetite, we will keep going we will continue to do it.”
