Carrigaline based PGA Professional Wayne O’Callaghan has recently set up a new base in Raffeen Creek Golf Club. The popular instructor has moved from his previous base in Fernhill where he had worked for the past four years. Wayne qualified as a PGA Professional almost twenty years ago having served his apprenticeship under Bandon’s Paddy O’Boyle. From 1998 to 2012 he worked from the busy Carrigdhoun Golf Range and in 2012 he moved to Fernhill Golf Course. Over the past four years Wayne developed a very strong junior programme, which incorporated quite a bit of on-course work which complimented the range and putting green aspect of the programme. Although his time on the PGA Irish Region Tour has been limited due to his teaching commitments, Wayne did feature in the top ten a number of times this year. Having left Fernhill in October, Wayne wasted no time in setting up a new base. “I have now Continue reading
Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com
Harbour Shield goes from strength to strength
2014 Winners Mahon
The inaugural Shield was held in 2009 and it that year there were just four clubs involved. Over the years it grew to six clubs and then eight, and this year there were ten clubs involved. Although there is no handicap limit and the age limit is under 18, clubs have used the competition for their developing golfers as an introduction to inter-club competition. Although there is a huge amount of merit in winning the pennant, over the past eight years, clubs have respected the spirit of the competition. In almost all circumstances, clubs have selected the younger golfers in their junior golf programme, and those who often have high handicaps.
Mahon’s Matt Bennett and Pat Bradley were Continue reading
Douglas win Harbour Shield
The presentation of the Harbour Shield took place recently when Cobh Golf Club hosted a competition for the ten participating clubs. The final took place a few weeks previously and it was contested by Kinsale and Douglas who were both looking for their first title. After a closely fought final it was Douglas who won despite conceding home advantage to Kinsale. It was a long trip to the final for the young Douglas golfers. In the league section they came up against Kinsale, Cork, Blarney and East Cork, winning all of their matches. In the semi-final they beat Mahon to qualify for the final and a rematch against Kinsale.
The final was a real nail-biter with four of the six matches going all the way to the 18th hole. In the first foursomes match Douglas were two down with two to play, but there was a great comeback by the Hill brothers, Bryan and Mark. They fought Continue reading
Nominations finalised for Munster Branch
For the first time in many years there will be a three way election for the post of Chairman of the Munster Branch. The Annual delegates meeting takes place later this month and the election will see two Munster Branch Officers and a former Officer contest the election. There is one nomination for each of the other Officer posts and there are 21 nominees for the 17 places on the Provincial Council.
The election for Chairman takes place as current Chairman John Moloughney vacates the position to take up the role of Deputy President of the Golfing Union of Ireland. Although a nomination process takes place annually, the incumbent usually holds the post for 4 years and an election is rare even when the Chairman Continue reading
Killarney win for Davey Barry, Munster PGA Winter Series
Enter Munster PGA Captain Stephen Hayes presents Davey Barry withfirst prize at the Titliest Munster PGA event at Killarney, also included is Comac Flannery from Killareny Golf & Fishing Club
Davey Barry won today’s second Munster PGA event in Killarney when he shot level par on the Killeen course. This was Davey’s first win at a Munster PGA event and tops off a good season where he also won on the PGA Irish Region in Rosslare. Davey had a great start and turned on two under par after recording birdies on the 7th and 9th. He had a mixed back nine, bogeying the 10th but getting a shot back on the par five 11th. He dropped shots on the 12th and 13th but got back under par on the short 14th. A late bogey on the 18th didn’t damage his position at the top of the leaderboard, and his level par 72 was good enough for a one shot win over the field.
Killeen was in great condition for the Titliest sponsored event. Although there was a short delay while the frost cleared, the course came in for great praise from all of the PGA professionals. Many commented on the firm fairways while everyone was Continue reading
Castlemartyr Drives Ahead with Ladies Offer
After the official launch of the ladies club in Castlemartyr earlier this year, the five star resort has launched a very attractive membership offer for the year ahead. The normal membership fee has been slashed to just €599 as the new club makes a play to attract ladies to the club. Castlemartyrs’ PGA Professional Brady Sherwood has worked hard for the past two years to build and develop the ladies side of their membership packages. “There has always been a demand for a ladies club in Castlemartyr Golf Club.” Said Sherwood. “Due to our golf course originally being so busy with green fee players in the opening years, there was never really a clear focus on the ladies membership until now. This inland Links style golf course is easy to walk and not too long or over challenging. It’s also a resort style set up, so it’s always prepared and set up beautifully for enjoyable golf. The feedback we get from lady golfers is extremely positive and they love the fact being sand based you can twelve months of the year in great condition, the majority of the new lady members that have joined Castlemartyr for the simple fact of accessing the seven-day full membership Continue reading
O’Donovan well placed after opening round in PGA Tour China event
Bandon native Brian O’Donovan shot an opening round of 69 to finish in the top 20 at the Clearwater Bay Open in Hong Kong. O’Donovan is competing in his first PGA Tour China event this season and is very well placed in the field of 120 golfers. He’s three shots off the lead on one under par. The Mission Hills senior instructor had two bogies and three birdies on the front nine and he followed that with nine pars on the way back.
Brian’s senior teaching role at the Dongguan Academy in Million Hills means that he’s had very little time to play golf this season, but he took advantage of this opportunity and finished third in Monday’s qualifier to make it into the tournament.
Scoring: Clearwater Bay Open, PGA Tour China
GUI Podcast #1
In the first podcast Alan and Brendan speak to Neil Manchip about coaching; Duncan Weir from The R&A talk to us about 9 hole golf; We discuss Ready Golf and Pace of Play and Belvoir Park Golf Club feature their Club Marshal scheme.
Murphy Enjoys Portugal Weekend, Darren Clarke Champions Weekend
Kinsale’s John Murphy had a pretty special bank holiday weekend, Murphy was in Portugal for the Darren Clarke Champions Weekend. As winner of the Munster Youths in August, Murphy was invited to take part in the event which was hosted by the Amendoeira Golf Resort in the Algarve. The 18 winners from the top youths, boys and girls competitions in 2016 invited for the three day trip. Rachel Thompson, Mairead Martin and Valerie Clancy also earned invitations after their performances this year. After a 4am start in Dublin airport on Friday morning, the golfers met Clarke on arrival at the golf club and played golf with the Ryder Cup Captain three times over the two days. Although vastly experienced at top level national and international boys golf, Murphy admitted that it was a pretty special experience. “We went over to the golf club and Darren introduced himself to us. It was kind of weird at the start, but I got used to it after a few hours” said Murphy who is now a student in Maynooth. “We played 18 holes with Darren playing with us and watching us, pointing Continue reading
Changes ahead for Fernhill members
The members of Fernhill Golf Club in Carrigaline received a shock last week when they were informed that the owners would not be renewing club memberships in January 2017. Having confirmed 2017 membership terms only a few weeks ago, the latest from the owners is that they can no longer fund the ongoing losses. It’s unclear if the course will close from January or if it will revert to a pay and play facility. In recent years the owners developed a covered driving range and short game area.
This is second time that the club is facing closure. At the outset of planning for the N28 over a decade ago, the owner decided not to renew the arrangement with the club members. At that stage there was speculation that the course may be used for development, but it continued to operate as a pay and play facility. In 2007 the club was re-established and it was also re-affiliated with the Golfing Union of Ireland. A ladies club was also established.
The revised route for Continue reading
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