Ballyneety Golf Club announced as Golf Course of the Year 2025 for Great Britain and Ireland

Ballyneety Golf Club announced as Golf Course of the Year 2025 for Great Britain and Ireland. Photo via Golf Course Awards

Ballyneety Golf Club has been unveiled as the Golf Course of the Year for Great Britain & Ireland and scooped the Affordable Excellence Award at the 2025 Golf Course Awards

Ballyneety Golf Club had an immensely successful night at the Golf Course Awards London, where the club was awarded the Affordable Excellence Award, as well as the flagship title of Great Britain & Ireland Golf Course of the Year. 

The Golf Course Awards unveiled the winners of their 2nd edition, celebrating excellence across a diverse range of categories. The Golf Course Awards seek to recognise courses and facilities from right across the golfing ecosystem, challenging existing interpretations of excellence. The awards consider a broad set of criteria, heavily weighted towards improvements or initiatives delivered over the preceding year, recognising innovation, sustainability and accessibility, alongside design and conditioning.

The trophy – a beautifully hand-carved stone sculpture – was presented by Chris Lomas, chief executive of Worplesdon Golf Club, last year’s winner; and Ballyneety Golf Club General Manager, John Leamy described the award as the “proudest moment” of his career.

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He said, “I’m speechless, this is the proudest moment of my career in golf. Ballyneety is a movement, made up of dedicated people, tireless volunteers and the entire community. People who love the game, who love their community, and love one another. It is a tribute to everyone associated with the club, we’ve all been in it together since the beginning, and I’m immensely proud to accept this award on behalf of everyone at Ballyneety.”

The Golf Course Awards judging panel, chaired by Nick Dougherty, former tour professional and current Sky Sports Golf presenter, reflected on Ballyneety’s success. They said, “They are a course and a club that has enjoyed an exceptional year or two, delivering transformative upgrades across the board, including a successful overhaul of all 50 bunkers. Perhaps more importantly, Ballyneety are the very definition of a community-led club, with a dedicated team of volunteers ensuring the course and club continue to punch way above their weight. Their constant drive to move the bar, to create, and to inspire is hugely motivational – they are a great role model for all golf clubs looking to provide a wonderful experience, whilst supporting the community that houses it.”

Chair of Judges Nick Dougherty reflected on the judging process, saying, “As judges, we looked for courses and facilities that met every criteria point – courses that have recently improved the playing experience, as well as the overall property, but also courses and clubs that sought a role in their local communities and ran programmes and initiatives to create a more inclusive environment. Ultimately, all our winners have succeeded in delivering a first-class experience on and off the course.”

The awards capped off an incredible year for Ballyneety Golf Club, which also saw them announced as host venue of the 2027 Junior Ryder Cup.

European Tour representative Edward Kitson commented, “Ballyneety Golf Club will be a magnificent host for the 2027 Junior Ryder Cup. The venue offers one of the finest parkland golfing experiences in Ireland, and the next generation of golfing superstars will relish the opportunity to compete on the champion-standard layout.”