Ryder Cup captains in Limerick hope to 'inspire' juniors

The captains of the European and US Ryder Cup teams have visited a Limerick golf course where the focus is firmly on the next generation, as the countdown to next year's tournament at Adare Manor continues.

Luke Donald and Jim Furyk were at Rathbane Golf Course, in one of Limerick city’s regeneration areas, to meet young golfers and highlight the opportunities the sport can offer beyond the elite level.

While Adare Manor will host the world’s best players next September, Rathbane has spent almost three decades making golf accessible and affordable to people of all ages and abilities.

Thousands have taken their first steps into the sport on the fairways of the municipal course, and the hope is that the Ryder Cup will inspire many more to follow.

European captain Luke Donald said major events like the Ryder Cup had an important role to play in encouraging young people to take up the game.

"This is how you grow the game and inspire juniors to love the game like I did. I certainly watched some Ryder Cups when I was growing up and that was very inspirational for me. Now it’s our opportunity to inspire the next generation."

US captain Jim Furyk also highlighted the importance of making golf more accessible. He said professional golfers were fortunate to make a living from the sport, but recognised the positive impact tournaments can have on the communities around them.

"I think it’s really important for the game of golf in general to get our youth involved and in this case, trying to make it more accessible to as many kids as possible."

The visit comes as preparations gather pace for the Ryder Cup, which will bring a huge international audience to Limerick next September.

Businessman JP McManus, a driving force behind bringing the tournament to Adare Manor, said the benefits would be felt well beyond the event itself.

He said the welcome extended to visitors would be important, but he believes the economic and reputational impact could continue for decades.

"Ireland Plc will benefit over many years as a result of the Ryder Cup. You can’t quantify next year alone and say it was worth so much to the economy, but I think over decades to come, having the Ryder Cup in Ireland will benefit everybody," he said.

For Rathbane, the ambition is to ensure that legacy is measured not only in visitor numbers or international attention, but in the opportunities created for local people to take up golf.

Junior golfer Jess Sutton believes Limerick people in particular will get into the swing of golf with all the excitement of the Ryder Cup.

"A lot of people that watch it are not golfers and like my friends, they'll say do you want to go for a round, and they'll just get into it," she said.

There will also be a familiar face among the spectators if US President Donald Trump follows through on a commitment he made during his recent visit to Ireland, when he said he would "absolutely" return to Ireland for the tournament.

Richard Atkinson, the European Tour Group’s Chief Ryder Cup Officer, said organisers would be prepared for a presidential appearance.

"We have a rich history in welcoming people from the political world, sport, entertainment. This time is no different and we’ll see if he turns up."

Asked whether a presidential visit could overshadow the tournament, Mr Atkinson said organisers were not concerned, pointing to the event’s history of welcoming former presidents.

For now, however, the focus of the Ryder Cup build-up is also on what happens away from the championship course - and whether the biggest golf event ever staged in Limerick can leave a lasting legacy in communities such as Rathbane.