Father & Son
A wonderful tradition that brings together generations of golfers.
Information
The Father & Son is an open foursomes competition that takes place each year between two weekends in June/July. It features qualifying rounds (stroke play) on the first weekend, followed by match play rounds throughout the week, culminating in the final on the second weekend. Please click here for 2025 competition conditions.
History
The tradition of the Father & Son golf competition at Castle Golf Club dates to 1961 when a group of enthusiastic juveniles came up with a plan to create a Saturday competition that they could play in. Gerry Garland, the day's Captain, suggested a father-and-son foursomes format, beginning a golfing legacy.
It started as a modest affair for Castle members and saw Dick and Tom Lenehan emerge as the inaugural champions after a challenging 18-hole stroke play round. Over the years, the competition evolved and in 1964, the format was changed to the match-play format that we know today. Davy and Brian Knott were first to clinch the title under the new format, setting the stage for generations of passionate golfers to follow suit.
As enthusiasm for the event soared, a qualifying round was introduced to accommodate the increasing field of competitors. The competition became so popular that tee times began at the crack of dawn and extended into Sunday.
Information
The Father & Son is an open foursomes competition that takes place each year between two weekends in June/July. It features qualifying rounds (stroke play) on the first weekend, followed by match play rounds throughout the week, culminating in the final on the second weekend. Please click here for 2025 competition conditions.
History
The tradition of the Father & Son golf competition at Castle Golf Club dates to 1961 when a group of enthusiastic juveniles came up with a plan to create a Saturday competition that they could play in. Gerry Garland, the day's Captain, suggested a father-and-son foursomes format, beginning a golfing legacy.
It started as a modest affair for Castle members and saw Dick and Tom Lenehan emerge as the inaugural champions after a challenging 18-hole stroke play round. Over the years, the competition evolved and in 1964, the format was changed to the match-play format that we know today. Davy and Brian Knott were first to clinch the title under the new format, setting the stage for generations of passionate golfers to follow suit.
As enthusiasm for the event soared, a qualifying round was introduced to accommodate the increasing field of competitors. The competition became so popular that tee times began at the crack of dawn and extended into Sunday.
Past Winners
Notable Irish golfers, including Mark Bloom, Jody Fanagan, and Tom Craddock, have participated. The late Joe Carr and son Roddy won out in 1967. President Patrick J. Hillery and his son John were regular participants, though they never qualified for the match play. Apart from COVID-19 and a bomb scare incident in the 1973 qualifying round, which necessitated a 3-hour pause, the competition has endured for over 60 years. Please click here for the honour roll of past winners.
Notable Irish golfers, including Mark Bloom, Jody Fanagan, and Tom Craddock, have participated. The late Joe Carr and son Roddy won out in 1967. President Patrick J. Hillery and his son John were regular participants, though they never qualified for the match play. Apart from COVID-19 and a bomb scare incident in the 1973 qualifying round, which necessitated a 3-hour pause, the competition has endured for over 60 years. Please click here for the honour roll of past winners.
