Gough brothers coming 'home' to play in Challenge Tour

The Gough brothers are ready to take on Kileen Castle this week in the Challenge Tour

Two brothers with Dunderry origins will this week compete in the Irish leg of the Challenge Tour, which takes place at Killeen Castle from Thursday.

John and Conor Gough's father, Paddy, originates from Dunderry, but the brothers grew up in the UK as Paddy and his wife Fidelma raised their two kids just outside London.

Both John, who is 26, and Conor, who is 23, are already decorated golfers. Conor won the British Amateur Championship in 2019, and John also won it in 2021. In 2023, John won the Irish equivalent. Both John and Conor have also had appearances in the Walker Cup.

Paddy spoke to the Meath Chronicle this week and gave an insight into where the golf journey started for his two lads.

"We were never into golf ourselves. We had a child minder who actually got them into golf at a young age. She bought them a set of plastic golf clubs. John started hitting balls, and it started from there. Her husband played a bit of golf and recognised that John had a talented swing. We brought them to group lessons and they started showing a bit of potential in them."

Paddy and his wife Fidelma were never massively into golf so it was extraordinary for them when they began to realise just how good their two sons were at the game. Paddy also told us about some of the ups and downs that the lads have had over the years.

"It is absolutely extraordinary, they have broken a lot of records and we didn't really understand the magnitude of what they were doing but they're the only two brothers since 1922 to both win the British Amateur." said Paddy.

"Conor has had a rough time of it and he missed out on a lot of golf due to injuries. He had a bad back injury and missed six months of golf as a result. There was lads that he had beaten in the British Amateur playing in the Masters last year. That was tough for him to watch but thankfully, he is back on his feet now."

"John was offered a contract with LIV but turned it down because he wanted to stay on good terms with the European Tour. Two years ago he became affiliated with Killeen Castle and we were absolutely delighted with that. We are very much looking forward to the two lads playing there this week in the Irish Challenge.

"It's so hard of a life. You are missing the cut and you have to get yourself ready for the next event. You don't know where you are going. In something like the GAA, you always have got people around you and there is a community feel to it. Golf is a very lonely sport and if you are playing bad you have to ride out the storm. Thats the way it is.

"The two boys are great lads and they put a lot into the sport. We are privileged as parents to have two boys that are just representing themselves brilliantly at the top level of the sport. It is really inspiring for us and for other kids.

"John is a very small slight lad and when he was playing golf as a young lad, on shots that other lads were hitting seven irons in, John was trying to cut in a three wood. I think that made him a stronger person."

Killeen Castle Director of Golf & Hospitality Operations, Cormac Ryan, is very much looking forward to the event and said that the team at the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course has been hard at work in preparation for the tournament.

"The team has been flat out in preparing for it. All things this season in our diary have been tailored and geared around getting ready to present the property in as good a condition as we possibly can." said Ryan

“Our goal is quite simple in that we’re fully intent – as we were all year – in getting ready for this week and to set ourselves apart as one of, if not the best venue that the players and fans are going to visit in any event this year. That’s still our goal and we’re on track for that.”