Championships

New look as combined teams gather for R&A Home Internationals

The R&A Home Internationals have a fresh look for next week’s matches in Scotland and Ireland, comprising of one combined team of women and men and girls and boys.

The R&A

29 Jul 22

3 mins

The R&A Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals are being played over the Irish links of Ballyliffin from 3-5 August, with the Girls’ and Boys’ Home Internationals being contested at Downfield in Dundee from 2-4 August.

In a historical first, teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – made up of 16 players (seven women and nine men) – will compete for success in the matches played across three days. Over 18 holes, each match consists of seven foursomes games (three women and four men) and 14 singles games (six women and eight men). Team positions will be determined by the highest number of match points.

Excitement for new format

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “We are excited about the new team format of the R&A Home Internationals next week, comprising combined teams for women and men and girls and boys for the first time. “Royal Dornoch recently hosted concurrently both the R&A Women’s and Men’s Senior Amateur Championships for the first time and we are now delighted to see Downfield and Ballyliffin welcoming female and male golfers to compete together for their respective countries. “This highlights our commitment to showcase inclusivity and grow all levels of the sport, especially the women and girls’ game. Golf is the ultimate sport to play together – women, men, girls and boys.”

Reigning Girls' U16 Champion, Grace Crawford, will represent Scotland in this year's Women's and Men's Home Internationals.

Talented teams

The England men’s side includes Sam Bairstow, runner-up at The Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in June, along with fellow St Andrews Trophy winning team-mates John Gough and Arron Edwards-Hill. Last year’s Boys’ Amateur Champion Jack Bigham is also in the side. Maggie Whitehead and Lottie Woad are among those in the English women’s side. Teenager Calum Scott, who secured the winning point for Great Britain and Ireland in their St Andrews Trophy victory over the Continent of Europe in Slovakia earlier this month, is in the Scotland’s men’s side, with R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur Championship winner Grace Crawford in the women’s line-up. Irish players include Walker Cup member Mark Power and Curtis Cup player Lauren Walsh, with Alex James and Ffion Tynan among the Welsh men’s and women’s players. Leading players in the Boys’ and Girls’ Home Internationals include Rosie Bee Kim, the new English Girls’ Under-16 winner, and Ireland’s Roisin Scanlon. Historical trophies will also be presented to the leading country in the women's and men's matches and in the girls' and boys' series of matches. City venue Downfield also hosted the 2019 Girls’ and Women’s Home Internationals and has also staged a number of professional events, while Ballyliffin is also a recognised championship venue and hosted the Irish Open on the DP World Tour in 2018. Ballyliffin also hosts The Amateur Championship in 2024. Girls' and Boys' Teams can be viewed here. Women's and Men's Teams can be viewed here.