Donal McSweeney
Head PGA FELLOW PROFESSIONAL
Donal McSweeney is an accomplished PGA Professional with over 25 years of experience in coaching, club fitting, and golf retail. A highly respected figure in Irish golf, Donal has represented Munster at the Interprovincial level, won the British Universities Team Championship, and secured victories on the Irish PGA Tour, including a career-low round of 63 (-8).
Currently, Donal is the PGA Professional at Lahinch Golf Club while also overseeing operations at Ballyneety. His expertise and dedication to the sport were recognized in 2019 when he was awarded PGA Fellow Professional status—an achievement held by only six professionals in Ireland.
A former elite player, Donal turned professional in 1996 after a successful amateur career. He earned a degree in Sports Management from Kingston University in London and has continually expanded his knowledge through coaching seminars worldwide. He has also attended the PGA Golf Show on eight occasions, staying at the forefront of golf technology and instruction.
Donal’s excellence in club fitting has earned him prestigious accolades, including the UK & Ireland PING Custom Fitter of the Year (2022) and TaylorMade Fitter of the Year (2023). In 2024, he played a key role on the committee that successfully secured the 2027 Junior Ryder Cup for Ballyneety.
A passionate coach, Donal has worked extensively with the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU) and the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) from 2002 to 2012 until the Range and Lahinch too his time. His commitment to innovation in golf instruction led to the development of the state-of-the-art Indoor/Outdoor Trackman Studio at which opened in 2024.
While Donal spends most of his time at Lahinch and overseeing Ballyneety, the Ballyneety teaching team is led by PGA Professionals Gavin Young and David Carroll, ensuring world-class instruction for all members.
“The technology we use here is first class and makes a lesson an exceptional experience for the customer”.
Gavin Young
HEAD PGA COACH & FITTING PGA PROFESSIONAL
Gavin joined the team in 2020. Gavin joined us from Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort and has been working in the golf industry for over the last 12 years previous to Adare Gavin worked in Birr Golf Shop.
During his time in the golf industry he dealt with assisting customers in the shop, teaching ,custom fitting and has experience of caddying on main European Golf Tours for an Irish Professional. He reached a golfing handicap of +2 and played in all our national golf championships.
Gavin's reputation in the Golf industry has grown massively and he looks forward to learning more and continuing his growth as a coach while helping as many people play better golf and have them enjoy their golf more. He takes as much pride in coaching his professional clients as he does beginners and everyone in between.
Gavins coaching style is very simple, he wants you to play your best golf possible by making the golf swing easy to understand and turning his knowledge into easy to understand instruction proven to help lower your scores.
DAVID CARROLL
PGA COACH & FITTING PROFESSIONAL, CLUB REPAIR EXPERT
As a dedicated PGA Professional, Dave brings 5 year’s experience and passion to every aspect of the game, helping golfers of all levels elevate their skills and enjoy the sport to its fullest. Specializing in coaching, custom club fitting, and club repairs, Dave offers a comprehensive approach to improving both performance and equipment for an unparalleled golfing experience.
Understanding that every golfer is unique, Dave leverages advanced fitting technology and 5 years of expertise to tailor clubs to match individual swing dynamics, physical attributes, and playing style. From drivers to putters, Dave ensures that each piece of equipment is optimized for maximum performance and comfort.
As a skilled club repair specialist, whether it’s re-gripping, re-shafting, adjusting loft and lie angles, or fixing damaged clubs, Dave delivers precision craftsmanship to keep clubs performing at their best and most repairs are completed within 24 hours.
WALTER DOYLE
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Walter began playing golf aged 21 in Thurles Golf Club and represented the club in the Munster Final of the Barton Shield (2007/2009) and the Senior Cup (2008).
Walter went on to join the Professional Golfers Association in 2011 while playing off a scratch handicap. He trained in Cahir Park Golf Club under David Ryan. Walter holds a number of academic professional qualifications from Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). These include a National Diploma in Business Studies in Recreation and Leisure; a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Management and a Master of Arts in Sports Studies (Research). Walter is an avid sports enthusiast especially GAA, golf, kayaking, running and swimming.
AOIFE KENNY
ASSISTANT PGA PROFESSIONAL
Aoife entered the PGA Training in 2024 and no doubt she will be a very successful PGA Professional.
Hailing from Carlow, Aoife began her golf journey at Mount Wolseley Golf Club, where her passion for the sport was first ignited. Over the years, she has gained invaluable experience in the golf industry, working at some of Ireland's most prestigious golf establishments, including Adare Manor and Castletroy Golf Club. Aoife further expanded her expertise as the Assistant Manager of McGuirks Golf in Limerick, where she honed her skills in retail, sales, and customer service.
Aoife brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her career, with a strong background in golf operations, sales, event management, and merchandising. Her hands-on experience in running successful golf businesses and her dedication to the sport make her a rising star in the industry.
In 2024, Aoife took her passion to the next level by entering the PGA Training Programme. Combining her deep understanding of the game with her commitment to learning and development, Aoife is on the path to becoming a highly accomplished PGA Professional.
With her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and love for the game, Aoife is poised to make a significant impact in the golfing world. Whether on the course, in the pro shop, or managing golf operations, she is dedicated to enhancing the experience for golfers and contributing to the growth of the sport.