{"id":331547,"date":"2025-12-23T13:07:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T13:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/331547\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T13:07:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T13:07:10","slug":"paul-mcginley-gets-the-nod-to-drive-elite-vision-for-donegal-links-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/331547\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul McGinley gets the nod to drive elite vision for Donegal links \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Ryder Cup<\/a> captain Paul McGinley<\/a> has received the approval of the membership at Donegal Golf Club to complete the masterplan for the continued upgrading of the links at Murvagh.<\/p>\n

McGinley and Joe Bedford, the director and project co-ordinator at McGinley Design, recently gave a 90-minute presentation to the club members which outlined their vision for the course.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe membership has shown strong support for Paul McGinley\u2019s design philosophy, which honours Eddie Hackett\u2019s original vision while incorporating modern standards of execution made possible by today\u2019s resources and techniques,\u201d said John Neary, chairperson of Donegal Golf Club. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis approach is clearly reflected in the proposed changes to the sixth hole \u2013 a concept originally identified by Hackett himself, but one he was unable to fully realise at the time, armed only with a Massey 135 and a link box.”<\/p>\n

Neary was referring to the construction of a new sixth green on a site originally proposed by Hackett.<\/p>\n

To date, two phases of work have been successfully completed. Phase one delivered the 16th, 17th and 18th holes in 2023, followed by phase two in 2024, which included the second, third, fourth, and fifth holes. Key future proposals include the new sixth green, alongside a newly-sculpted par-five eighth hole. This would take full advantage of a striking new green setting within the natural dune landscape.<\/p>\n

The works also propose a reorientation of the latter part of the 10th hole, introducing a new green complex positioned to the right and seamlessly integrated into the existing links topography. <\/p>\n

In preparing the masterplan, extensive research was undertaken into the design history of Murvagh Links since its opening in 1971. The strategy prioritises the protection of the existing routing, recognising width, angles and course set-up as the foundations of authentic links golf.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe past doesn\u2019t limit us \u2013 it informs us,\u201c said McGinley. \u201dWe\u2019re very conscious, just like the members, that we\u2019re only temporary custodians. Everything we do is about respecting the past, improving it where we can and making sure the course is considered among the very best of links courses that our country has to offer.”<\/p>\n

\"GeorgiaGeorgia Hall and partner Paul Dunne, who also caddies for her, are expecting their first child. Photograph: Warren Little\/Getty Images Parenthood part of busy 2026 for Dunne and Hall<\/p>\n

Exciting times for golfing couple Paul Dunne and Georgia Hall, who are expecting their first child early in 2026. Hall is targeting a return to the circuit in late June, with a focus on being ready for the AIG Women\u2019s Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes on July 29th to August 2nd. Hall won this competition at Royal Lytham back in 2018.<\/p>\n

Dunne, from Greystones, Co Wicklow, is a past winner of the British Masters on the DP World Tour in 2017. More recently, he has caddied for fiancee Hall on the LPGA Tour.<\/p>\n

Hall finished tied for 19th in the British Open at Royal Porthcawl in August \u2013 then put her clubs away for the remainder of the season. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor me to come back where I won in 2018, at Royal Lytham and St Annes, it\u2019s very special,\u201d said Hall on the R&A\u2019s Women\u2019s Open website. \u201cI don\u2019t want to miss it for numerous reasons. That\u2019s been my main focus of why I\u2019m coming back so soon and obviously [I] have a lot more support on the sidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Word of Mouth<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re coming back next year, we\u2019re going to double down . . . we just need to be better with our wedges.\u201d \u2013 P\u00e1draig Harrington<\/a> after finishing tied-seventh with son Paddy at the PNC Championship in Florida<\/a>, which was won by Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron. The event is a two-player team event confined to Major champions and a family member.<\/p>\n

By the Numbers: 46<\/p>\n

Ryan Gerard\u2019s 16,000km round trip to Mauritius was well worth his while, with a runner-up finish to Jayden Schaper in the Mauritius Open. The South African<\/a> won in a playoff to claim back-to-back wins on the DP World Tour, moving him from 57th to 46th in the official world rankings. By jumping into the top 50 for the end-of-year standings, he earned an invitation into the Masters at Augusta National next April.<\/p>\n

\"IrishIrish golfer \u00c1ine Donegan has moved on from the amateur ranks to the Ladies European Tour circuit. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo\/Inpho Social Swing<\/p>\n

\u201cElite company. \u00c1ine Donegan and Hannah Darling become the latest members of the 2024 winning Curtis Cup team to join the Ladies European Tour\u201d \u2013 the official Ladies European Tour social media heralding Donegan\u2019s progression after earning her full tour card at the final qualifying in Morocco at the weekend. Lahinch golfer Donegan is the latest Irish player to move on from the amateur ranks to the European Tour circuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing pretty well!! Rehab coming along slowly but surely … still a bit away from hitting any balls. Listening to protocols and how I\u2019m feeling is just as\/more important than the surgery itself.\u201d \u2013 Justin Thomas providing an update on his recent microdiscectomy to alleviate hip pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst time watching some of the early broadcast and I gotta say … it\u2019s really cool seeing myself on the freaking MASTERS Sunday broadcast.\u201d \u2013 Michael Kim reacting to the final round of the 2025 Masters, which is now available in its entirety on the Masters YouTube channel for those who want a complete recap of Rory McIlroy\u2019s win.<\/p>\n

In the Bag: Jayden Schaper (Mauritius Open)<\/p>\n

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (9 degrees)<\/p>\n

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)<\/p>\n

Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi35 (19 degrees)<\/p>\n

Irons: TaylorMade P\u00b77MC (4-6), TaylorMade P\u00b77MB (7-PW)<\/p>\n

Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (50, 56 and 60 degrees)<\/p>\n

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Z<\/p>\n

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x <\/p>\n

Know the Rules<\/p>\n

Q: Player B\u2019s ball was lying badly in deep rough. Player A said to player B: \u201cYou have no shot at all. If I were you, I would declare the ball unplayable.\u201d What is the ruling?<\/p>\n

A: As player A\u2019s advice could have influenced player B in determining his play, A gets two penalty strokes. Player B is not penalised. (Such a situation is covered under Rule 10.2a and Clarification Advice\/1: Such a comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play the hole.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has received the approval of the membership at Donegal Golf Club to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":331548,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[5904,17106,69535,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-331547","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-golf","9":"tag-padraig-harrington","10":"tag-paul-mcginley","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=331547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/331548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=331547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=331547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=331547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}