The Cope Golf Alliance had another successful year in 2023, and recently held their AGM where the cheque was presented to the Cork charity.  Since the late 1970’s the Alliance has raised over €1.7million, and last year they added another €43,500 to that amount.

The Alliance is in its 47^th year, and each year the members raise a huge amount of money.

There are close to 500 members of the Alliance and membership is highly valued by each of the members.  It is limited to 60 men and 60 ladies from each of the four Cork clubs, Cork, Douglas, Monkstown and Muskerry, a rule which dates back to the founding of the alliance in 1977.

The four clubs provide their courses free of charge for the Alliance outings, meaning the entire amount collected from 480 members (€75 each), goes to Cope Foundation.  While the members benefit from the use of the four host clubs, there are also a number of sponsors who support the alliance by providing prizes for each of the 11 annual events.

The 2024 sponsors include Hitchmough Kinnear & Co, Sean Keane Fencing Ltd, AOS & Sons Co Ltd, Allied Irish Bank, Keanes Jewellers, Phelans Pharmacy, Dr. Ted Murphy & the late Tessa Murphy, Ecco Shoes, Hanley’s Home & Garden Centre, Liam Ryan SuperValu and Provest.

The golfer of the year awards for 2023 were given out recently.  The Ladies Golfer of the Year was Lynne Harvey from Monkstown and the Mens Golfer of the Year was Barry O’ Brien from Muskerry.  The Club of the Year award went to Muskerry.

In addition to four singles competitions in each of the clubs, the Alliance also holds a gents team event, a ladies team event and a mixed event at the end of the season.  The 2024 season gets underway next month when Cork hosts the ladies singles and Monkstown hosts the mens singles.

The Officers elected for 2024 are President Mr. Donagh Russell (Cork), Lady President Ms. Ann Rose (Douglas), Captain Mr. John Harte (Monkstown), Lady Captain Ms. Daphne O’Mahony (Muskerry).

In a letter to the Alliance, Cope’s Communications Manager Elaine Murphy thanked the Alliance and explained where the money goes.  “Each year, we aim to raise €1 million through fundraising to help our organisation deliver more for the 2,800 people we support throughout Cork city and county.  Fundraised income helps us to achieve so much – it helps us to purchase houses so that people can live more independent lives in their community; develop person-centred assistive technology projects which promote independence, control and choice; fund activities and experiences so that people can try new things, visit new places and make connections; as well as purchase much-needed resources and equipment for our day and residential centres.”

The Golf Ireland championship season gets underway this weekend with the traditional Easter date for the West of Ireland.  There’s a really big Cork presence in Co Sligo this week with Peter O’Keeffe, Dean O’Riordan, Robbie Walsh, David Howard, Sean Deasy and James Walsh already confirmed in the championship which begins tomorrow.  Today will see the qualifier take place with 18 spots on offer for the main event. James Murray, Charlie Flavin, Paddy Quill, Jack O’Flynn, Conor Madigan, Thomas Healy, Daniel Dolan, Ryan Lyons and  Gavin Sloane are all in action and they will be hoping to book a place for Friday and Saturday’s stroke play rounds.  After 36 holes the top 64 golfers will go forward to the matchplay stage with the eventual winner crowned on Tuesday after six rounds of golf.

The first senior scratch cup will take place in Lee Valley in April.  The 54 hole WAGR counting event has already attracted a large number of Ireland’s top amateurs.  Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty and Eoin Murphy are both confirmed to return, as is former winner Tiernan McLarnon.  Naas have a few golfers travelling including Robert Brazill who is showing impressive form.  2023 winner Robbie Walsh leads an impressive list of local entries, and the host club will also be in the mix with an impressive line up of Senior Cup golfers.

Entries are still open for the event and anyone interest in playing can register online or contact the club.

Unfortunately, Muskerry’s Junior Scratch Trophy, which usually takes place over the East weekend, has been postponed.  Persistent bad weather and heavy rain meant that the qualifier scheduled for two weeks ago had to be postponed.  Instead the two day qualifier will take place over tomorrow and Saturday, with the three days of matchplay scheduled for April.  Golf courses in Cork have suffered from unusually heavy and persistent rain in February and March.  It’s likely that many courses will continue to play under preferred lies until ground conditions improve in what has been one of the wettest starts to the year for many golfers.