As we tee off in this latest episode, you'll walk the fairways of triumph and perseverance with James Fox, who emerged victorious at the North of Ireland Championship, illustrating the relentless spirit of Irish amateur golf. Revelations unfold from Aine Donegan's unforgettable US Women's Open journey at Pebble Beach, where her saga of lost clubs and a broken driver met with commendable poise under the media glare. This is a narrative of grit and grace, capturing golf's true essence through our players' eyes, complete with the highs and celebrations that have defined their paths.
Shifting our focus to the collegiate greens, we celebrate the ascension of Paul Conroy to the high-performance team and relive Matt McLean's astonishing display at the Masters. The storied grounds of St. Andrew's echo through our discussion as we recollect the Walker Cup's electric atmosphere, where Irish pride was on full display as Liam Nolan, Alex McGuire, Matt McLean, and Mark Power honored their country. These moments go beyond the scorecards, encapsulating the emotional journey and the profound heritage that envelopes the game of golf.
We round out this episode with an exploration of Rob Moore's victory at the Irish Close, followed by his step into the professional sphere, signifying an evolving chapter for the sport. Behind the leaderboard, we mull over the amateur events that have captured our hearts, suggesting changes that could enhance the beloved Sligo tournament. And before we sign off, we pause to commend the consistency of David Shields and pledge to continue bringing our community together with more tales that resonate with enthusiasts and fairway dreamers alike. Join us as we keep the conversation swinging, and the memories of another spectacular year in Irish amateur golf alive.
As we tee off in this latest episode, you'll walk the fairways of triumph and perseverance with James Fox, who emerged victorious at the North of Ireland Championship, illustrating the relentless spirit of Irish amateur golf. Revelations unfold from Aine Donegan's unforgettable US Women's Open journey at Pebble Beach, where her saga of lost clubs and a broken driver met with commendable poise under the media glare. This is a narrative of grit and grace, capturing golf's true essence through our players' eyes, complete with the highs and celebrations that have defined their paths.
Shifting our focus to the collegiate greens, we celebrate the ascension of Paul Conroy to the high-performance team and relive Matt McLean's astonishing display at the Masters. The storied grounds of St. Andrew's echo through our discussion as we recollect the Walker Cup's electric atmosphere, where Irish pride was on full display as Liam Nolan, Alex McGuire, Matt McLean, and Mark Power honored their country. These moments go beyond the scorecards, encapsulating the emotional journey and the profound heritage that envelopes the game of golf.
We round out this episode with an exploration of Rob Moore's victory at the Irish Close, followed by his step into the professional sphere, signifying an evolving chapter for the sport. Behind the leaderboard, we mull over the amateur events that have captured our hearts, suggesting changes that could enhance the beloved Sligo tournament. And before we sign off, we pause to commend the consistency of David Shields and pledge to continue bringing our community together with more tales that resonate with enthusiasts and fairway dreamers alike. Join us as we keep the conversation swinging, and the memories of another spectacular year in Irish amateur golf alive.
Okay, welcome back to the Irish Amp Podcast. Just before we get underway with this week's episode, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you all for pressing play in the previous episodes, if you have, and also for anyone that's interacted in my pages over the last number of years, and particularly in 2023. I'm something that helps the page. An awful lot is just interaction, so, whether you like, share, retweet, just general kind of engagement in the page is something that really helps me promote the page and, in turn, by promoting the page, we get the ultimate goal, which is promoting amateur golf and getting a team boy as wide an audience as we can. Since I started, all of this, that's kind of been the main goal. For me is just to get as many eyeballs on amateur golf as possible and ultimately, without your support and help, that's not possible. So thank you all for the support in 2023. I really hope you enjoyed your Christmas and are looking forward to a healthy and happy 2024. So this episode is a slightly different one. I'm not going to be interviewing, I guess, and this one we're just going to recap some of the things that happened in 2023. I'm not going to necessarily be following the calendar, so we're not going to start from the start and go through them. I just picked out a couple of points that pretty much come to mind and we'll kind of chat them a little bit. So we'll actually start at the end of the year. I think it's a good place to start.
Speaker 1:
So James Fox won the Nautavialen Championship in late September and again, something I've been saying for a long time and I see that a lot of championships is ultimate actors and an awful lot of people with the capabilities and abilities to win championships that haven't either got the breaks or things just haven't went their way and they haven't got it done. So James got it done this year and like something to look at. Like James has been playing championships for the best part of 20 years Summer in the region of about 80 championships played before he got his first major win and it wasn't an easy one, in fairness. So the Nautavialen used to be a match play event and it's got into the straw play and like with a lot of the straw play stuff in Ireland and James had to face 36 holes on the final day and again a Runeport Rush, one of the one of the nicest golf courses that they play on. It's also one of the strongest tests and they got met by some high, high wins. It was a point actually, at half play I was going to be suspended myself, so it was a real grinding kind of a day. James hung on, so, coming down the stretch with a bit tight and James hangs on, he gets into a playoff. But Rob won again a bit of a tough one. So but yeah, like one of the shots of the year, james actually played in the second hole of the playoff and another one of the shots of the year Rob had played just before him. So but let's miss the green light and the pear tree. Rob hit the grey chart from a real tight light to about four or five feet and James is just short to the bunker. He kind of has to come around the side of the bunker and again, like pretty much knows he needs to hit this tight in order to keep the game going. And he does hit the grey chip and ultimately has the arena going down. So the championship ended up finishing in complete darkness, under the lights of some of the main turns. Buggies and James rolled in the pot from about three or four feet to pick up the win, him take home a trophy at the back end of the year. So, yeah, a massive point for James and great to see. So that's kind of one of the ones that kind of, I suppose, was being ripped at the last championship I was at. It pretty much comes to mind first and but yeah, so really good to see another highlight of one another.
Speaker 1:
One of the highlights from this year was an event I wasn't at but on. A Danagin got to tee it up in the US women's open at Pebble Beach and a bit of a whirlwind week, in fairness, where suppose she arrives on site with her clubs last and ends up having to get some clubs just for a practice round and then when her clubs arrive she discovers her driver and her drivers broke and so I had to put a new driver in the bag. Pretty much on one of the biggest weeks of your career to now tee it up with a new club. But she found the club to be going well in practice, so luckily it didn't. Again, great story on. You kind of got a lot of coverage over there, handled it really well and actually don't know walk and talk as well. So that was the great to see, but like it was a very good buzz around a lot and great to see there, I suppose, one of the Irish arms getting such a highlighted on such a big stage and it was great to see how she handled it. And I had a real solid year, played some good golf when she came back from college here as I also held to LSU to a number of wins. So that change to LSU has really kind of kicked on you on a little bit and I suppose I had her on the part of a while back and she kind of you know she felt the same, that kind of that change into that environment with a really strong team or something that's going to want to help her progress through her amateur career and, I'm guessing, ultimately into the pro ranks if that's where she wants to go. But really, um, yeah, really good performance, really good to see um again just for me I just like seeing amateur golfers getting recognition and that week I don't think she could have asked for more um, real, I played really well. Uh, dealt with the media stuff because when the driver thing kicked off and the last bag and stuff got a lot of traction, I suppose media attention came and she handled that really well and, looking back on it, I would imagine for her it's probably going to be the highlight of her year and you know, again, just just it was. It was really good to see. So, yeah, a real strong year for Anjan and I know she'd be looking to push on again in 2024.
Speaker 1:
Then, recently enough, again in September with Sean Keelan. So Sean's after a real strong year again. So Sean is one of the stronger junior golfers in the country. He was ranked second in Europe at the moment, um, but Sean played junior right of cups so I think pretty sure he's like the fourth only ever Irish person to do so. Um, and they went on and won it. Um, and again, sean played a real key part in that um, some really good performances over there and had a real strong year. So has won a pro event earlier in the year um and the European pro golf tour won some junior events as well, as well as like being a member of the boys home international team win as well. So, like Sean's really strong young player um simply going in one direction really interesting, since we're getting better year on year and has recently committed to Texas Tech as well. So, looking at a slightly different path to what he would have had lined up before. But again, just one of them guys I supposed to really keep an eye on and I think going forward he'll just kind of continue to hear more and more about him. So, yeah, really good year for Sean.
Speaker 1:
Another one of them is Liam Nolan, who had a real strong start at the year and ultimately ended up playing walk of cup. But Liam won or the solo American amateur and also won Brab. So Brab is on um, one of the ones that they are marked for the GB in Islads. Um real big, really strong field and them two wins. Ultimately, along with just some steady play over the last number of years, earned Liam a spot in the walk of cup team, me touching walk of cup a little bit on its own, but yeah, so like a really good year for Liam, but two real big wins again, just, I suppose, progression in his, his gulf. Um threw out and Leames really good driver the golf ball and I suppose that's good. It's good to see the hard work that goes on in the background. This was paying off.
Speaker 1:
Another one of them is Alex McGuire. So there was a new series brought in this year, the open series it was called. So it was basically to do with St Andrews links, the amateur championship and the European. So Alex had made a schedule before this was announced and had decided he wasn't going to play in European now. So he wins St Andrews links and has a real deep run in the amateur championship as well, so put himself in a really strong position but had to sit at home where the amateur was going on and where the European was going on and clearly his fate was in somebody else's hand, but ultimately get a spot in the open championship because of it. But I suppose before we get there, like, alex won St Andrews links, as I said, and shot like 20 under around St Andrews for 54 holes, like some clinical golf and fairness, and picking up a massive win. And he'd also defended the East Aver in title this year, so which again got him onto the Walker Cup as well as multiple other teams. And Alex has since turned pro in the last number of weeks, which is pretty much not surprised anybody, but signed off his amateur career with a really, really strong year. So again kind of standing out with strong results and wish him all the best as he goes forward in his pro career.
Speaker 1:
Another recent guest actually was Sarah Burn, who was on the pod not so long ago. We were chatting about she'd won the Irish close and she then went down and played world team world amateur team championships for Ireland. That team won announced at the time, but I think it was kind of obvious she was getting that one. But something that we discussed was her continuous improvement in college and ultimately a couple of weeks after the pod and Sarah would go back to back wins individually with also helping Miami to win in Miami actually. But again she would set the scoring record and it's not really really impressive golf and something I know Sarah was looking at as a goal pretty much for the back end of this year already 2024, was to get that collegiate win because she'd a really strong start of the year like a lot of hop tens, and got herself into the NCAA championships as an individual, which isn't the easiest thing to do, so being playing really good golf all year and ultimately has been rewarded now with a three win season and it was also the low am at the Irish women's amateur or the Irish women's open and again made her pro debut and the elite access to her this year pro debut as an amateur but and had two top 20s, I believe. So like really strong year for Sarah. So some some real positive golf to be taken away from from this year for her, no doubt.
Speaker 1:
And another collegiate player that has had another strong year is Paul Conroy. So Paul is part of the chat in the week I think it's called the team, but they've had a number of wins, again this year and Paul is, and again last year, and Paul has been a very strong part of that team. He's generally out number one or number two and Paul also picked up an individual win this year and as a row, as rewards for all that, also got his first Irish cap and has since been named on the high performance team for next year and but yeah, seems to be a really strong part of that team. And then another lad that likes to go low and I think it was early in the year and, oh, I don't have in front to me but shot some crazy low numbers in a couple of events in a row. So yeah, he's had a couple of individual wins and helped his team to a couple of wins as well. So really strong year for him and, looking at that one to progress going forward. I think Paul is a very bright future and so yeah, so big, a big year coming up for him, I believe.
Speaker 1:
And another point I have down here is Walker Cup, also in 2023. We had an Irish amateur leading the Masters for a little bit. So Matt McLean, after his US mid-am win last year in 2022, got an invoits to the US open and the Masters and again, matt is an extremely solid, solid player. So over the course of the year he's had a couple of top 10s again and like again kind of kicking on and they're talking about like levels and matters seem to be progressing every year and I part of the time with him. He was talking about a four or five year plan and even this year I wasn't part of that plan, but the golf has been so good at amateur level I suppose that plan gets extended. But yeah, I know Matt got the tier up in Augusta, which I'm guessing must have been an absolute dream for him. Well, I know it was even chatting to him and again in the US open and well, just get to see where you are at that level and trying to figure out. And he's a top three and I think he's semi-final in the in the Western Am, which is one of the deepest fields in amateur golf, and again in Pine Valley. He's had another strong week. So Matt tends to kind of he shows up a lot where his game seems to travel and just again a really solid year.
Speaker 1:
And again another one of the team or another one of the Irish lads that ended up on the Wacacup team and I suppose that's Wacacup for a minute. So we had four Irish on it this year. Very strong argument for potentially five with him going. I think Raph might have been a bit understandably upset about not being selected but we ended up with four. We ended up with Liam Nolan, as I said earlier, alex McGuire, matt McLean and Mark Power and something that I traveled to.
Speaker 1:
So it was on and saying Andrews, and I said I'd travel over something I wanted to see for myself personally doing what I do, you talk to a lot of players and I suppose you hear a lot of things and as Wacacup talk was building, particularly in the last year or so, since I've been kind of so invested in all of this stuff with amateur golf and I was kind of struggling not struggling but it was kind of very hard for me to understand what the the massive lore was about. To walk a cup like I'd follow amateur golf for a long time and I understood it was kind of something that everybody's strive to do and while I get it, it's like you want to be one of the top people in GB. You know you're in America, depending on where you're playing for it's. I knew there had to be more so, yeah, I went with this year it was on and that St Andrew, the Home of Golf and maybe that all over kind of grows for me just because of the setting it was set on. It was my first time seeing St Andrew's as well and I just kind of found it extremely special as a spectator and I know if I'm talking to all the lads since they've played that it's something that they'll never forget. But very early on I've been there and I kind of understood why they all try so hard for it.
Speaker 1:
Yes, there's the recognition of being one of the top players, but it's the lore of the event, it's the magic of the event. It's just extremely, extremely special, like even though I remember saying it to one of the lads that I had no plans on going to the Oatman ceremony like I money pretty much there to kind of cover it as much as I can through social media. But I was hanging around so I said I'd go down and probably the best decision I made it a week and just to see the lads being paraded up through the fairway of the first fairway of St Andrew's and the fighter jet flying overhead, how much spect and admiration there was for all the players, a lot of past players. There are some of the greats of amateur golf sitting across the way from the lads as their names are being called out, and Mark Power got a massive honour of raising the Irish flag and it was just massive pride and massive emotion to go with it. Like I remember watching the lads and you could see them all bursting with pride and like the whole event was just magnified and I found it very interesting as a topic.
Speaker 1:
And then I suppose it took me over the next couple of days just watching the lads play golf in front of I suppose at points there was five or six thousand people walking along the place and the chairs and the roars like it's kind of I suppose it's the right of a couple of amateur golf and like people got behind it there was Americans over and they were chanting USA and there was people here from GB and I and you could hear the roars left and right and you could just see the passion in the lads faces about wanting to win it and going up against one of the probably the strongest ever American teams and certainly, as in relation to their miles, they'll be still being amateur and look, there'll be a number of players in that US team that will go on to great teams, I have no doubt, and potentially some of the boys from GB and I as well. So I think the lads knew that they were up against the going in but again, they don't fear anybody and they took an early lead in day one and they just built the buzz and the whole thing about it was just a massive, massive couple of days for the lads, but they listened to the lads talking about how well they were treated and how everything was kind of laid out for them and it was a massive reward for a lot of hard work and this was something that they all appreciated. They all kind of they found very, very worthwhile, I suppose, and it's just great to go up and see it. It was great to go up and see these guys that I've kind of followed for a number of years now and kind of I've seen how they've got on the team. I've been around for a lot of the events that they've played in, so it was great to see the reward for all their hard work and, yeah, so I really enjoyed that part of it as well. So a really good couple of days over in St Andrews, so, yeah. So there's some of the kind of real talk and points of 2023.
Speaker 1:
I suppose a couple of notable things I'd like to throw in as well is really good to see Rob Moore and get his Irish Cross win above in Milan this year and I'd have seen Rob play a lot of golf over the last number of years and again turning pro this year at the back end of this season, so to pick off a big win was very good to see. Yeah, and there's plenty more to look at and I'm going to forget something. So I suppose we can kind of start naming one or two more and I'm going to forget somebody, and the more, the deeper I go down this list, the more chance I have of forgetting something else and probably getting trouble for that too. So look what we're going to call, I suppose, that the highlight reel. We'll kind of leave it at that. I don't want this pod to go on for too long either, but I put something up in socials today and, just if anyone had any questions, I'd get back to them. We got one on you on Twitter, so we'll answer that one first and we'll get her, I suppose, out of the way because I don't have an answer for it. So I wondered what it was. Do I think Sligo's going to 24 next year or is there any decision on it? Actually, I think is the question, and well, I haven't heard if there is, but I certainly believe it's something that they should really be considering.
Speaker 1:
An event that early in the year, in the conditions that you can get the West in, I think the 54 hole 16 doesn't really work. I think you need to go 36 and 64, and I know a lot of these changes into a kind of more straw play environment has been designed for the elite how much I got for? But there's a lot of players outside of that bracket and, to be honest with you, even with the West, in general, I think the elite players would prefer to go back to the 64. I just think it's a priority in the season. It's a very challenging event with weather conditions and stuff. So it'd be interesting to see what decision they do make. But I believe a lot of the feedback that they have gotten is that the players want to see you go back to 64 and it was a two year trial. That trial finished last year.
Speaker 1:
So just waiting on that announcement to be made, so yeah, so another question then was what do I think is the best men's amateur event to go one. So there was a couple of questions that kind of similar. So one was what do I think is the best event? The second one is what would I go and watch if I hadn't watched golf initially? So I can wrap them into kind of the same question really, and for me watching events, the south and the east tend to be. I found them very enjoyable, I think the south, the match player format for it. So again for the person asking me, what event should they go at, that, depending on your time schedules, I think if you had a couple of days, I think the south is really enjoyable, like the match player, the business end of the match player, something doesn't matter, a lot of players, on course, you can get to kind of really feel what's happening in the tournament and you can see the tournament being decided. So if that's kind of what your interest is, I would say that and again in the same vein as that one with the south, I'd probably put the.
Speaker 1:
If you're looking to go at the women's golf, I think and it's something that I would highly recommend to a lot of people is maybe the Irish class and again see them in the match player bracket. So yeah, I suppose you can kind of really get a feel for who's winning because it's a match and if we're talking stroke play on the men's side, again for best event, I think the east I don't know just the years I've been there it seems to have delivered and there's always been drama coming down the stretch. I think the way I can't be allowed to set up and really lends itself to an exciting finish. So the last couple of holes there there's just birdie chances everywhere, but there's also loads of mistakes to potentially be made and pressure will do very strange things to people. So I think that's something that I've enjoyed.
Speaker 1:
The east it's on the June Bank holiday weekend, so you have a chance of getting decent weather as well. And, yeah, the courses. The courses are maclet like. In terms of condition wise, I think company load is generally in the best condition of all of them. It's just spectacular. And the Hinch is a festival of golf that week and I really enjoy that.
Speaker 1:
But ultimately, like a couple of people asked me, they were kind of saying that they haven't been to events and where should they go? Anytime you're free, just take a, just just head to the one the slowest yeah, doesn't really matter, I don't think it will be overly disappointed and the quality of golf generally throughout the field and then go back to the very start of the pod with the James Foxting where, like he played large amputation before he won wonders. The calibre of Galfers is very good and the fields are a lot deeper than people think. Yes, you're going to have your elite at the top of it, but again, a lot, all of these lads can play Galf at a level that is very impressive to watch. Another thing I got asked is who did I see as the most improved player? Yeah, I think it's.
Speaker 1:
Um, I think you'd have to go with the the men's order and mirror at David Shields in terms of improvement. So like it's been kind of going to championships now for only a couple years and has been getting better. But this year there was seemed to be a real kick on in this game. Um just seemed to become very consistent um, and again I'm guessing something that he's going to work on over the winter is kind of getting a bit more consistent again and looking for the big win next year. But yeah, he won the other mirror this year so I think it would be very hard to look past him.
Speaker 1:
Um. I think on the on the lady side you're probably talking again the same thing. The other mirror winner at MF Lemon pretty much dominated the scratch, the scratch cup circuit for the women. Um, shooting some crazy lower scores. Um, some very impressive galfender um. So I think MF's summer in the region of about 18 I think maybe 19 could be getting that all wrong, but that's kind of the bracket I put her in anyway. But again on the high performance team, again going forward next year, and something that looks like it's going to improve again next year and potentially get better. So yeah, I think that's something that uh could or she's somebody that could uh really kick on um. So we'll have to wait and see how that one goes best round of the year.
Speaker 1:
Um, there's a couple and again for different reasons, um, so let's talk to NART, because there was a couple of them at NART and I suppose if I was to, if I was to look at like score in relation to the average score on the day, I'd say, oh, and Murphy's 100 in the final round of the NART would be hard to beat. Um, it just wasn't there and the pair was not there that that course played so hard. So again, 36 hole final day. You're going to be tired playing the first 18 in strong conditions, strong win conditions, um, and one shot, one under um in the second round, like so, so impressive, and I just I don't think I've seen that score there. To be honest and I'd say score in relation to the average score he's probably five, six shots better, maybe, maybe even more than that. So, yeah, very impressive round that one. And again, james Fox, as I mentioned, then Rob Moran, who was in a playoff for the Mating sport. Their runs on the day were very impressive, considering that they ended up in a playoff and they had to do a lot of hanging on, and so, yeah, they were probably three very impressive ones.
Speaker 1:
Um, I think Jessica Ross in the second round of Ulster stroke play shot eight or nine under above and Clen Devine and pretty much put the tournament out of sight. Um, yeah, and I seen, I was at that and I seen a fair bit of that round and I think she was six hundred for her last six holes. Um, with a pair Eagle 18. Um, yeah, very, very impressive. And Jessica looks like she's playing a lot more golf in the last year or so, um, and looks a very impressive golf or so, again, I think someone that potentially have a bit more to do next round. Or she played golf earlier and was successful too, but took a little bit of a break and seems to be back at it again. So, um, yeah, someone that looks to have a lot of potential going forward. Um, again, and this was another one that sticks out to me, just even thinking about it um, kali shot six or seven under in the semi final of the south um in public ill rain against Park Auckland. I think he was six hundred through ten and won his match six and five. So, yeah, some very, very impressive stuff there.
Speaker 1:
Um, so they'd be kind of the the rounds of the year that would come to another one I got is um handicap cutoffs. Something I get asked a lot actually is like what's the general cutoff for a championship and stuff like that? And um rule at home at the moment is kind of plus 1.9 for men's golf. Um, the Irish arm is generally going to be the lowest. That usually starts at about plus three. With Whitworth drawls that might go to 2.5, but like you'd want to be that of them and they want to be comfortable, everything else about 1.6 to 1.9 got in um. So depending on where you're heading, kind of want to be in that bracket. Um, that's come down a bit on the year before.
Speaker 1:
Now that WHS seems to be settling in a little bit and mangolf Arlen have kind of tried to curtail the number of general player rounds um, which is, I suppose, that one answers its own kind of question, doesn't it? The fact that they had to curtail them and as soon as they did that the handicap bracket came down, um kind of shows that the manipulation was there, um, or certainly people were entering championships off general player rounds and not being able to perform in the competitive environment when all of their golf seems to be played in the casual way, but, yeah, look, that's kind of where we sit. Um, so 1.9 is where that would be. Um, yeah, and that's kind of looked at 2023 in a couple of questions. There's a few more there that I didn't get there, but again, I don't want to keep this one going on for too long.
Speaker 1:
Um, what's the plan for Irish and 2024? Um, currently, we're still working on that one, if I'm to be totally honest, um, trying to kind of figure out ways of making it all work for me and for you going forward, um, which is something I've been doing over the winter, not getting not exactly finished yet. So I suppose if we can kind of wrap that up a little bit, I'd be kind of more comfortable. Um, it can be a challenge to do all of what I do um, while I massively enjoy it. So I just need to kind of put a couple of things in place that will hopefully help me do what's going forward. Um, yeah, so, um, maybe to chat with a couple of people about coming on board with kind of potential partnerships and stuff like that. So, um, hopefully we can get some of the more over the line and take away some of the burden of um, what goes on in the background with that stuff. But, yeah, look, I massively enjoy what I do.
Speaker 1:
So, um, I suppose my year will kick off again pretty much at the west, um, hopefully for a 64 match play on the east of sunday. Um, it's kind of an naive plan to be up there and then we shall see where we kind of start going from there the Irish Amazon back up there, and I am actually looking forward to hopefully getting a bit better weather but seeing it kind of full straw play event around County Slago, because they have massively involved in amateur golf, they do a lot for amateur golf and they have two championships. So to give up their course for that into time is not easy and not a lot of clubs would do it. And I suppose Slago deserve a very, very special mention for that because it's something that I think is so sometimes goes a bit unnoticed by people or actually look at his weather. But like courses of the magnitude of Slago, county, loud, royalport, rush these places giving up their course. The hint is the same Every year, some of them in peak season losing a lot of revenue to like to help out the amateur game. That there was a lot of back history with it, something that I think the courses need to be commended for. So yeah, that's where they are and kind of schedule looks kind of similar and with hopefully swapping out Walker Cup with potentially Cortes Cup. But that's September, so we'll kind of figure that one out as we go along.
Speaker 1:
The two Irish Ams are on and out in next year as well, so it makes me a little bit busier. If anybody knows how to clone somebody, I could do with it just for the month of June. And I think you have the Irish, you have the, the men's am, the women's am the women's am, which are open, irish amateur open. There's something else and also straw play, I think, is on and something else that's not. There's another one, I think, on in the middle of it. So yeah, I don't know, we don't want to do with them. We'll have to kind of probably be sacrificed a little bit or we'll have to spend less time at some of them, and but we'll try and fit in what we can, as always.
Speaker 1:
So yeah, thank you all for your support and so far, if you've got this far and you're not sticking listening to me, would you mind hitting the follow button on whatever platform you're listening to this on it does massively help and plan for the pod and how many people follow it, how many people listen to it and how many people follow you on Instagram and Twitter and what your engagement number is like. And followers are great and some numbers are lovely, but I suppose they want to see engagement. They want to see the people actually interact with posts and the podcast. So if you can do it, that would be great. I'll see you all in a fair way very shortly and then we will get back to the normal service of the pod in the next couple of next week. I would say at this point. So yeah, look, I hope you all had a great Christmas and best wishes for 2024 and let's hope it's the best golfing year for you and for me.