Jim Long elected Golf Ireland President

March 29, 2023April 12, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Jim Long pictured with Monkstown members after he was elected President of Golf Ireland

Monkstown’s Jim Long was last weekend appointed the new Golf Ireland President at the 2023 AGM. Long has served in many different roles in golf’s administration, and his succession as President follows two decades of work at local and national level. Jim served as Honorary Secretary for the Munster Branch until he moved to the position of Chairman in 2017 where he served for three years. With the incorporation of Golf Ireland, Jim served as the Chairman of the Munster Regional Executive before being elected as Golf Ireland President Elect in 2022.

As well as his involvement as an Continue reading →

Lee Valley set for 20th Scratch Cup

March 23, 2023April 12, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Gary O’Flaherty is a four time winner of the Lee Valley Scratch Cup. Picture: Niall O’Shea

The 20^th staging of the Lee Valley Scratch Cup takes place in April and the Ovens club is planning for another bumper event. Already it looks like a top class field will be competing including the holder Gary O’Flaherty. The Cork Golf Club member has taken a shine to the event, last year was his fourth time winning the scratch cup since his first win in 2012.

Lee Valley Captain Liam Power is looking forward to the return of the two day competition. “As the 2023 Captain and like all other previous Captains you’re excited to put your calendar together for the year ahead with annual Lee Valley Senior Scratch being high on the list to lock in dates. As Captain, I’m really looking forward to seeing the best amateurs test their skills against Lee Valley course. I’ve played in a few of them and can testify the challenge that faces the lads.”

Power is hoping for a home win, the first since 2011. Given the success of the Lee Valley Senior Cup team last year there’s every chance that the home side will challenge. “We came close last year with local member Ian Bohane in the last group with a great chance of winning but unfortunately it wasn’t to be Ian’s day. Not being biased, it would be Continue reading →

Cope Alliance launch 46th season

March 17, 2023April 12, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

One of Cork’s most impressive golfing groups have finalised plans for their 2023 season. The Cope Golf Alliance is now in it’s 46^th year and the group plan to have another busy year where as well as plenty of golf, they’ll also continue to raise funds for Cope Foundation. Since the late 1970’s the alliance has raised over €1.7million and this year they expect to add over €40,000 to that total.

Mens Captain James Doolan is looking forward to the season, his 20^th year as a member. “Everyone involved with the Cope Golf Alliance is looking forward to the 2023 season, which kicks off for the Ladies on April 3rd at Cork G.C., and on April 24th for the Men, at Monkstown. The Alliance members are drawn from Cork, Douglas, Monkstown and Muskerry Golf Clubs. Because the four clubs give their courses free of charge for Alliance competitions, the entire amount collected from members (€75 each), goes to the COPE Foundation. We also have generous, long-standing sponsors who take care of the prizes for each outing, and at our recent AGM, we presented a cheque for €43,500 to the Cope Foundation.” Continue reading →

Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy Returns

March 11, 2023March 11, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Thomas Hughes (Fota Island), 2022 Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy winner.

The Muskerry Junior Scratch returns later this month with the two day qualifier. The event usually marks the start of the competitive season in Cork and over 300 golfers are expected to play over the two days. 32 golfers will qualify from each day, and they will then go forward to the match play stage in Muskerry which will be held over Easter. Starting on Good Friday, six rounds of match play will follow over three days with the two finalists playing the sixth round on East Sunday afternoon. The handicap range for entries is 2.5 – 10.5 and entries can Continue reading →

Rice wins Munster PGA in Cork

March 8, 2023March 8, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Tim Rice chalked up another win on the Munster PGA, he shot a three under par 69 at Cork Golf Club on Monday to lead the field by two strokes.

On a breezy day with firm, dry conditions and rolling greens, scoring conditions were tricky at Cork GC. Tim Rice lead the way with a fine 69 consisting of an outward half of 37 with a birdie on the 2nd, drop shots on the 6th and 8th and followed up with a fine inward half of 32 shots with 5 birdies on the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th, offset by a bogey on the 16th. David Higgins, who played in the company of his 80 year old father Liam and brother Brian, had an outward half of 33 with birdies on 3, 4 and 5 and an inward half of 38 with bogies on 14 and 15.

David Ryan had two nines of 36 with birdies on 2, 8 and 9 with a double bogey on 5 and bogey on 7, the inward nine had birdies on 11 and 16 with bogies on 12 and 18. Great to see Marian Riordan of Dundrum in the prizes with a fine 2 over par score. Another great highlight of the day was the coming together of the famous Higgins golfing clan who regaled all with their stories of growing up and playing golf in Little Island.

Winter Series for PGA Professionals in Munster, Cork GC 6th March 2023 Par 72

1st Tim Rice – Limerick 69

2nd David Higgins – Waterville 71

3rd David Ryan – East Cork 72

4th Marian Riordan – Dundrum 74, Padraig Dooley – Drive Golf Performance 74

6th David Barry – Douglas GC 75, Jack Howard Fota Island Resort 75

Next event is Monday the 13th of March with a Fourball in Ceann Sibeal

Cork golfers into the swing of the action in Europe and Egypt

March 3, 2023April 17, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

John Murphy

THE stretch in the evenings is now clear to see for all golfers and now that we’re into March golf courses around Cork are much busier.

The ground has also firmed up and thoughts are turning to qualifying competitions and championships which will get underway later this month. There are a large number of tournaments and events scheduled to take place in Cork over the next eight months, and the first event on the schedule is the Cork Women’s Scratch Cup which takes place in Cork Golf Club on Saturday week. Continue reading →

Early Season Action for 2023

March 2, 2023March 3, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

James Sugrue and Rob Brazill pictured during the 2022 Irish Challenge at the Palmer South course at the K Club. Pic: Niall O’Shea

The stretch in the evenings is now clear to see for all golfers and now that we’re into March golf courses around Cork are much busier. The ground has also firmed up and thoughts are turning to qualifying competitions and championships which will get underway later this month. There are a large numbers tournaments and events scheduled to take place in Cork over the next eight months, and the first event on the schedule is the Cork Women’s Scratch Cup which takes place in Cork Golf Club on Saturday 11^th March.

In April Monkstown will host the Munster Women’s Senior and Junior Championships and at the end of April the Munster Men’s Amateur Open will be hosted by Cork. This is the new name for the Munster Strokeplay which incorporates the Cork Scratch Cup, the oldest scratch cup in the Country. This year marks the centenary of the Cork Scratch Cup and in a nod to the original format, a match play Continue reading →