The Women in Sport Scramble took place at the stunning Druids Glen Golf Club in Wicklow yesterday and if there was more smiles and laughter at any event anywhere in Ireland it must have been hilarious.

The third annual event, backed again by AIG, saw 60 golfers tee it up alongside host Jacqui Hurley.

The field consisted of golfers from ten different sporting backgrounds along with representatives from the media, NGBs and Sport Ireland at the Wicklow resort.

Hurley hosted the pilot event in 2022 and following its success over 60 golfers attended last year alongside Irish LPGA star Leona Maguire.

“There shouldn’t be anybody who is feeling like a duck out of water,” said Hurley.

That was the case yesterday as the shotgun start got us underway.

Sinéad Aherne, Nicci Daly, Lynne Cantwell, Lisa Clancy, Niamh Briggs, Cliona O’Leary, Ger McTavish, Anne McCormack, Nora Stapleton, Róisín Upton, Sarah Kelly, Derval O’Rourke, Aisling O’Reilly, Hannah Craig, Jenny Egan and a host of stars from across sport teed it up, many for the first time but as the round progressed there was a visible biting of the golf bug.

“We should be trying to create events for our sportswomen to bring the community together because we are all supporting each other,” said Hurley.

“You see it when you go to the RDS, you go to the Aviva, you watch some of the team sports, you’ll watch the Olympics this summer.”

“We’re all sports mad and want to support each other but getting to know each other really helps. Golf is great because being able to walk the course and have the chats is so important in building relationships.”

Golf Ireland are determined to get more women and girls involved in golf, and new initiatives like Ireland’s first women’s social golf community, Chip&Chat, have looked to bridge the gap.

Hurley picked up golf for the first time during the Covid-19 pandemic when she joined a local society in Leopardstown. She subsequently approached Golf Ireland to create this event.

“It just keeps growing and growing every year and I hope we’ll be able to do this for a long time to come because it is probably my favourite event of the year. Golf Ireland do a great job trying to make it easy for people.

They certainly did yesterday with Sinéad McHugh, Brian Quinn, Sarah Rose Shelley and a team of guides and players bringing the day and the sport to life.

Tracey Bunyan who joined as Chief Operating Officer last year showed how she was a winner with a chip that was in line to land the Nearest the Pin trophy.

A brilliant day with a brilliant group willing to learn and laugh.

 

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