With the 2025 Irish PGA Championship set to take place in August, Monkstown Golf Club is making its final preparations to host the prestigious event for the first time in its history.
The club, which has undergone a large scale bunker redevelopment and significant upgrades to its practice facilities, is ensuring that players will experience championship-level conditions when competition begins on August 5th.
Last week the PGA announced Brown & Brown, one of the country’s leading insurance brokerages, has announced that it is the new title sponsor of the 115th Irish PGA Championship.
The tournament, now named The Brown & Brown Irish PGA Championship, marks the event’s return to Munster for the first time since 1997, bringing together Ireland’s top PGA club professionals in a battle for a large prize fund.
The tournament returns to Munster for the first time since 1997, when Paul McGinley claimed victory at Fota Island, and the former Ryder Cup Captain was delighted to see Brown & Brown getting involved.
“I’m thrilled to see Brown & Brown backing Irish golf. It’s a proud and exciting moment for the sport. Having met Diarmuid and the Brown & Brown team through my long-term association with Allianz, I know this is a company that truly puts people and community at the heart of what it does.”
Speaking about the sponsorship, Brown & Brown (Ireland) CEO Diarmuid Nolan highlighted the company’s commitment to the sport and the community.
“We are a company that cares deeply about the communities we serve. We are proud to support events such as the Brown & Brown Irish PGA Championship, which have a positive impact on our communities throughout Ireland.
“This sponsorship is about creating moments that matter, for our customers, our teammates, and the public.”
Conor Dillon, Manager of The PGA in Ireland, emphasized how such partnerships strengthen the future of Irish golf.
“Brown & Brown’s support sends a powerful message about the role businesses can play in supporting Ireland’s sporting future.
“We are thrilled to welcome them as title sponsor and look forward to delivering a successful Championship together.”
The Irish PGA Championship Pro Am takes place on Monday 4th with the Championship itself starting the following day.
Three rounds of golf will face anyone hoping to claim the 115th staging of the famous tournament. Holder Niall Kearney along with David Higgins, Damien McGrane Simon Thornton and others will be hoping for success on the edge of Cork Harbour.
Monkstown was announced as the host venue back in February, but there was one potential complication when the PGA first began their conversation with the club.
Monkstown GM David O’Sullivan realised that the PGA Championship would finish the day prior to the President’s Prize, one of Monkstown’s most important events of the year.
President Martin Stuart came in quickly to support the PGA Championship, meaning that it will be a very busy week for Monkstown in mid-August.
O’Sullivan joined Monkstown as General Manager in November having spent over 20 years in a number of roles as a PGA Professional.
David was key to the PGA selecting Monkstown and is delighted that the course and the club has the opportunity to showcase itself on a big stage.
“Over the last number of years due to very progressive and ambitious management committees, the club set off on enhancing and allowing the golf course to above to meet modern day requirements for both members and visitors,” explained O’Sullivan.
“Breaking the bunker programme down into two phases nine holes at a time, it’s just completed this year and tying in the short game academy and also the driving range and academy to facilitate our PGA Professionals with their tuition and custom fitting.”
And the work isn’t over according the O’Sullivan.
“In terms of course upgrades the heavy lifting is done but already there is a clear view on continual progression.
“There’s no there’s no talk of standing still it’s just all continual progression basically to provide the best golfing experience for our members and our visitors.
“There’s lots of pride in the history of Monkstown and lots of pride in the journey that Monkstown is on and everybody is happy to be to be a part of the club.”
O’Sullivan, who competed in several PGA Championships hasn’t indicated if he’ll play in this event but it’s very likely that Monkstown will be well represented with club professional Cian McNamara and assistants Shane Irwin and Shane Livesey likely to play.
It has been over forty years since Liam Higgins was the last Cork winner, maybe 2025 will change that.
