Pictured at the launch of the annual Cope Foundation Golf Classic, sponsored by O’Flynn Exhams Solicitors, at Monkstown Golf Club are Micheal O’Mullain, Partner at O’Flynn Exhams Solicitors, Sean Abbott, Chief Executive at Cope Foundation and Stephen Archer, Munster Rugby prop.
Pic Darragh Kane

Cope Foundation recently launched their annual Golf Classic, which returns to Monkstown Golf Club later this year.  After spending almost two decades in Rathsallagh, the classic returned to Cork in 2015 when Monkstown hosted the first event when it came back to Cork.  After successful events in Douglas and Cork, the popular classic now returns to Monkstown for the 2018 staging.  The event is in its 22nd year, and it raises much needed funds for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism and their families.  Last year’s Golf Classic raised over €40,000, bringing the total funds raised to date to over €1.6 million.  This year’s tournament, which will feature 60 teams, will take place at Monkstown Golf Club on the 28th and 29th of June. To register for the event, visit www.cope-foundation.ie/GolfRegistration. Money raised from the annual event has made a significant contribution towards the essential services Cope Foundation provides to people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism across Cork city and county.  Last year golfers were treated to a great day out in Cork Golf Club.  Fine weather added to the event and there were full time sheets for each of the three scrambles.  The perpetual trophy, given to the leading team from all three starts, went to Donal Denaley’s team from Manlift.  They had been a longtime supporter of the event and he was delighted to add his company’s name to the trophy.

Cope Foundation Chief Executive, Sean Abbott is a golfer himself and he is one of the many golfers who are looking forward to the event.  “The annual Golf Classic continues to be one of the highlights of our fundraising year,” said Abbott,  “and it couldn’t be accomplished without our firm friends, donors and fundraisers.  The funds raised last year by our Golf Classic allowed us to finish works and furnish our new short break/respite house in Skibbereen.  This beautiful house will be opened shortly and will be a fantastic resource used by so many people.  Over 40% of the people we support are aged 40 years and over.  For people with intellectual disabilities, the aging process tends to happen earlier, progress much faster than usual, and can bring about complex needs which we need to be able to meet.  The funds raised from this year’s Golf Classic will enable us to develop and augment services and supports for the older people we support.”  Cope Foundation, which has been one of Cork’s best supported charities for many years continues to make a difference to the lives of both the service users and their families.  From their campus in Montonette and a large number of regional centre, the foundation supports 2,350 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism in their 65 different locations across the county.  The event is again sponsored by O’Flynn Exhams Solicitors, continuing their long tradition of supporting the event.  In addition to being title sponsors, O’Flynn Exhams drove the event in the first decade, convincing businesses form Dublin and Cork to enter teams.  This assistance added to the event and within a few years the classic was one of the biggest on the east coast.

Speaking on their 22 year association with the Golf Classic, Micheál Ó Mulláin, Partner at O’Flynn Exhams said: “At O’Flynn Exhams, we are very proud to continue to support Cope Foundation’s annual Golf Classic.  We hope that this year’s event will enable the organisation to further develop these vital services.  The Golf Classic is always a great day out and we would encourage the business community in Cork to register teams and support this very worthy cause.”  O’Flynn Ehxams, which is based in South Mall employees over 45 people in the Cork office.  The event is again being run as a scramble with three options available over two days.  There will be three tee-off times at 9.30am and 2.30pm on Thursday 28th June and at 9.30am on Friday.  The registration cost for a team of four is €1,000, and all funds raised will go directly to Cope Foundation.  Already there have been plenty of bookings from regular supporters and anyone interested in entering a team can book a team of four by calling Cope Foundation on  021 464 3346.  The four Cork clubs also support Cope through the Cope Alliance.  Cork, Monkstown, Muskerry and Douglas provide their course for eleven events each year, four singles events for ladies and gents, a team event for ladies and gents and a mixed event.  With no charge for the course and generous sponsors covering the prizes this is another way that golfers in Cork support the charity.  In 2017 that contribution amounted to over €35,000.  While the Cope Foundation Classic is one of the biggest in Cork.  There are a few large events but for the most part classics are smaller one day fundraisers for local charities and clubs.  With most golf clubs offering favourable rates for classics, they provide a great way to raise money for the organisers.  Many organisers will put together a great day, including goodie bags, golf, prizes and a meal.  With added support from non-golfers, classics are among the most popular formats offering a less formal and sometimes less competitive  setting.  Several organisers are adding to their events by putting up a valuable hole in one prize.  There was great excitement last September when a golfer won a brand new €40,000 Jaguar when he aced the 9^th hole in Little Island.