The Penny Kerry Cup is the world’s premier amateur golf invitational event that aspires to reach the finest golf courses across the entire Planet Earth. Since its inauguration in 1932, when the event was open to only the residents of County Kerry in Ireland, the PKC has now become a truly global event attracting the finest players from all corners of the globe who embody the tournament’s values of friendship, camaraderie and fair play.
Whilst the PKC now relishes the opportunity to host tournaments all over the world, it will never forget its history and its traditional home of Ireland and the famed links of Ballybunion Old. The tournament is dedicated to the legend of Penny Kerry who tragically died on the green at Ballybunion Old’s famous 11th hole in 1932.
At just 20 years of age at the time of her death, this remarkable talent was known only to her fellow residents in the County Ciarrai. In order to pay their respects, the inaugural Penny Kerry Cup was staged in 1932, when Seamus Kerry, the late Penny’s brother, presented the trophy and proclaimed “In Her Memory, the Tradition Will Continue!”
The death of Penny Kerry had a profound effect on the residents of Ciarrai and following her post-mortem, the county was changed from its traditional Gaelic name to what we now know it as “Kerry”. Indeed the world famous “Ring of Kerry” is named after this remarkable woman and shares close ties with the PKC tournament.
Unfortunately, there is no historical data available of PKC results in the 1930s and with the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the PKC tournament was suspended when Seamus was contracted to serve in the British army due to his expertise in Guerilla warfare. After his tragic death in the Siege of Tobruk in 1941, there were no further attempts to revive the tournament in the 20th century. When the story resurfaced in 2008, a PKC committee was formed to revive this great tournament and return it to the famed links of Ballybunion Old. In 2009, the modern era of the PKC was born.
Penny Kerry, who was born on 11 November, 1911 (11/11/11) had a lifelong assocation with the number and as a result of the history, the number 11 is synonymous with PKC play. The PKC tournament returns to its traditional home every 11 years where the final round is always played at the famed links of Ballybunion Old. Already the tournament has travelled from the Irish links to the purest courses on Continental Europe, including the Spanish meccas of Finca de Cortensin and Valderrama and then back to the home of Golf in Scotland where the famed Open courses of Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal Troon and St Andrews Old provided the sternest test of links golf.
In 2012, the PKC made an historic move outside of Europe for the first time in its 80-year history. PKC IV, staged in Phuket Thailand, featured the two Asian meccas of Blue Canyon Country Club and the newly crowned jewel - Red Mountain Golf Club.
In 2013, the PKC continued its expansion into a new region that has emerged as a true global golfing destination. Dubai & Abu Dhabi hosted PKC V on some of the most exciting and challenging courses we have seen to date with Yas Links and Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course being the highlights.
In 2014, the PKC finally entered the true mecca of golf in the United States with the PKC VI 'West Coast Swing'. Following the opening of the tournament at the highly acclaimed Bandon Dunes resort, the tournament winded down the west coast to the Monterey Peninusula and culminated at the famed Spyglass Hill and the links of Pebble Beach.
In 2015, PKC VII saw the tournament move to the Oceanic region for the first time with the north island of New Zealand playing host. Kauri Cliffs, Kinloch and Cape Kidnappers among others were incredible highlights with a record number of competitors in attendance.
In 2016, PKC VIII saw the tournament move to the continent of Australia for the first time, at Melbourne's famed sand belt courses. Highlights included Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne's West course.
In 2017, PKC IX moved the acclaimed courses of Adelaide in South Australia. Kooyonga and Royal Adelaide were the highlights of the itinerary.
“In Her Memory the Tradition Continues”