Golf Ireland launches celebrity campaign
Golf Ireland has unveiled a new campaign featuring three female celebrities, designed to inspire women and girls to take up golf.
The governing body will follow Lorraine Keane, a broadcaster and journalist, and radio presenters Pamela Joyce and Valerie Wheeler on their journey from relative beginners to confident golfers in a six-part video series on YouTube.
‘The First Tee, Journey to Dromoland’ – which will show how golf can be a social and fun activity – will culminate with the three women playing in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open Pro-Am at Dromoland Castle on 30 August.
“Some of my girlfriends have taken (golf) up recently and I have had a bit of FOMO,” says Keane.
“We go on lovely nights away together and they go down earlier and play a round of golf. They come back totally exhilarated and just full of fun and stories; bad shots, good shots and just enjoying the game.
“I like the idea of being in the fresh air. You are able to have a bit of craic, catch up, have chats and also the mental health benefits of being out and about and the exercise benefits. You can burn 450 calories on nine holes of golf. So that’s nearly 1,000 calories on a full game, it’s win-win.”
Joyce played golf as a junior before her interest in performing arts took over, but has rediscovered her love for the game.
“I did Get into Golf last year in Rathfarnham Golf Club and that revived my love for it and reminded me, actually you know what, this is good fun,” she says.
“It’s a fabulous social sport because you are not legging around the place, you are not really out of breath. You have time, you are spending hours with people on the course. Unsurprisingly I like to talk, I talk for a living so I think it’s a fabulous way to meet people and it’s a gorgeous sport.”
Wheeler, who reports on sport for The Sunday Game and is dating a professional golfer, took part in last year’s Women’s Irish Open Pro-Am but hopes to improve on that showing this year.
“Last year I went to the driving range the night before just to give myself a chance on the day of the Pro-Am,” she says. “
I’d say I will be very nervous but I hope the 12 weeks here with Golf Ireland and my coach will be able to help me out and my nerves.”