Normally the transition from Boy’s golf to Men’s golf can take a few years, but this season Cathal Butler proved the jump can happen very quickly. The Kinsale golfer started his first season after Boy’s golf with three big wins. In March he won the Fota Island Senior Scratch Cup, shooting an impressive 67 on the two-time Irish Open course, and what’s more impressive is that he finished five clear of a strong field. He followed that in May by winning the Munster strokeplay, beating Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty on the second hole of a sudden death play-off. After being selected for the Munster Interprovincial team, Cathal rounded off the summer with a win in the Killarney Senior Scratch Cup. Outside of the scratch cups, Butler had several good performances in the national championships. He made it through to the last 16 in the West, and the last 32 in the East. He also finished tied for Continue reading
Month: December 2016
2016 Review of the Year, Part 4
October
John Hickey (CIT) and Chloe Ryan (UCD) winners of the Irish Intervarsity Championship, Lahinch Golf Club, Clare, Ireland. 21/10/2016 Picture: Golffile | Fran Caffrey All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Fran Caffrey)
John Hickey won the Inter-Varsity Championship at Lahinch. An opening 73 was followed by an impressive 68. He kept the best for last however and a six under par 66 followed on the final day and Hickey won his first national championship by one stroke. John Murphy enjoyed a great weekend in Portugal thanks to the Darren Clarke Foundation, the Kinsale golfer was selected after his win in the Munster Boys.
Sara Byrne, Mairead Martin, Rachel Thompson and Valerie Clancy were all named on ILGU high performance panels for the off season, while Kinsale’s Cathal Butler and John Murphy were both named on GUI national panels. David Ryan shared the honours at the opening event of the Munster PGA winter series, he shot a 70 on a testing day in Dooks.
Fernhill members were dealt a blow when course owner Michael Bowes informed them that he would not be renewing memberships in 2017. The was a huge disappointment for the 400+ members which had steadily built over the previous five years. With no alternative Continue reading
2016 Review of the Year, Part 3
July
Castlemartyr formally launched their Ladies club and after a lot of hard work from the officers and from Brady Sherwood, they commenced club and open qualifying competitions. The ladies club was the final piece of the jigsaw for the East Cork resort as earlier in 2016 that launched a junior club. Muskerry claimed another AIG Jimmy Bruen pennant after some dramatic golf in Douglas. While Mickelson and Stenson did battle in Troon, Muskerry survived a scare against Killarney and booked their place in the final on the third tie hole of the semi-final. In the final they faced Nenagh, and after a shaky start they bounced back like true champions. Muskerry’s Michael O’Callaghan and Jack Taylor closed out the match on the 17th green in front of a huge Muskerry crowd Continue reading
Wedding Pics
This was the handiest way to do it.
Starting with pics on the balcony or Maria at the hotel entrance and I’ll shoot from the balcony:
You’re better off jumping into my car to go down, it’s still a bit of a walk from the edge of the car park. I’ll have my car ready and a parking space reserved:
Wind above all else will decide indoor or outdoor, they’ll make that call on Thurs morning but we’ll assume it’s outdoor. Places for pics of the two of you (plus kids in some pics:
The beach is pretty inaccessible, there’s a stream on the left side and steep steps on the right. It’s no big issue going there, just that it will take 5-10 mins to get down, the same to get up and the beach will be busy. On the plus side it will be low tide to there will be plenty of sand.
Might be as well to do family pics inside, nice area here with great lighting, it’s a lobby before you get into the function room, nice drawing room and couple of nice spots for some couple photo’s too:
2016 Review of the Year, Part 2
April
The final round of the Munster Youths took place at Monkstown on the 1st April with Mallow’s James Sugrue chasing his second title. Torrential rain however forced the abandonment of the final round meaning that second round leader Jack McDonnell was declared winner. James Sugrue continued his good form and won the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup, the first of a four week swing of senior competitions. Colm Campbell Jnr won the 54 hole EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup
the following week, Ian Spillane (Mallow) was Continue reading
2016 – The golfing year in 2 minutes
2016 Review of the Year, Part 1
January
Weather was the main talking point for January as persistent rain hampered the start of the golfing year. The Munster PGA were already playing catch-up from November and December, and they had three events planned for January but only one took place.
That was in Adare and it marked the final competition on the Robert Trent Jones Jnr designed course as it closed for major renovations. The winner on the day was Cian McNamara who shot an impressive 68 to take the win. McNamara credited his work with coach Eddie Doyle and Peter O’Keeffe’s TPI training programme as the keys reasons why his game was so good.
Niall Turner made a positive start to his season as a full card holder on the Asian Tour. He finished his first event in Singapore in 23rd place Continue reading
Clubs support latest CGI Networking Event
The lastest CGI Networking Seminar took place in Cork GC a few weeks ago and the event was a great success with full house present for the two hour session. 17 clubs from all over the county were represented, with managers, staff, captains, presidents and Officers making up the audience. The CGI’s Gordon Campbell facilitated the interactive session and he brought a number of topics out for discussion. Gordon gave several personal experiences from life before the CGI, as well an ideas collected from other sessions. Feedback from the clubs was positive with many ready to workshop and implement some of the ideas that were discussed. Gordon was delighted with Continue reading
Cork win Munster Club of the Year Award
Cork Golf Club were recently awarded the Munster Club of the Year award from Munster Golf. The club that was first founded in 1888 has been central to Cork and Munster golf for over 125 years and while the tradition creates a legacy, the club has continually evolved and developed to remain at the forefront of the sport. The Club moved to its present site in 1897, and in 1924 the world famous designer Dr. Alister MacKenzie redesigned the course. In 2010 – 2012 major alterations were carried out under Martin Hawtree to restore the MacKenzie design. Over the years the Club has hosted many major Amateur and Professional Championships over the years. Graeme McDowell won the Irish Youths in 1999. Shane Lowry won the Irish Close in 2007. The Club has won 14 national pennants and in 2016 won Continue reading
Staff the key for Cork GC
Anthony Gillis receiving a presentation after 50 years service at Cork Golf Club
One of the keys behind the success of Cork Golf Club has been the staff. Cork has had a tradition of being a great place to work with many staff members holding long service at the Little Island club. General Manager Matt Sands came from Dublin close to 30 years ago to take up the role in Cork. Matt isn’t the only employee with long service. Anthony Gillis has worked in Cork for the past 52 years, moving through various roles to become the Course Superintendent, Matt himself has been in Cork for 28 years while Gerry Kenneally has run the restaurant and kitchen for 27 years. PGA Professional Peter Hickey has also worked in the famous course for over 20 years.
“I enjoy my role as General Manager in Cork Golf Club” said Matt. “I have worked here for nearly 29 years and can honestly say I have enjoyed every minute of my time here. The esteem in which the club is held is evident when you travel away and also when you hear comments from the many guests who visit the club. The course has had major renovations carried out over the last number of years, it is always presented in good condition and very enjoyable to play. It is often called a hidden gem and having been designed by Alister MacKenzie the layout deserves the many accolades it receives.” According to Matt, the award capped off a great year for Cork that also saw them claim a coveted Munster Pennant. “Being named Club of the Year for 2016 at the recent meeting of Munster Golf has given everyone in the club a great boost. We have a team of 20 employed in the club, many with long service. 2017 will again see us hosting the Munster Stroke Play Championship, Our Pro Am and will also welcome many local, overseas visitors and Corporate events.”
Cork Golf News 