Pictures from the Munster Branch Awards and Annual Delegates Meeting, 24th November 2015: Continue reading
Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com
Muskerry Lead the Charge for New Members
Muskerry are one of the early birds looking at 2016, they have put in place a very attractive offer for new members under the age of 35. Munster clubs have seen membership drop by over 20% in the past five years, that’s over 7,400 members between the 86 clubs. Nationally the game has lost almost 50,000 members so many clubs are now looking at new ways to attract and retain members. In addition to the membership loss, clubs are also having to manage an aging profile. This has an impact on revenue and in many clubs, older members qualify for discounts or reduced membership fees. At a recent EGM, Muskerry approved a new scheme that will see new members pay €520 in their first year of membership. They then graduate to €700 in the second year and €900 in the third year. After the third year Continue reading
Super 63 from Ryan to win Munster PGA Opener
Munster PGA Captain David O’Sullivan presenting the winners prize to David Ryan who shot a 63 at the opening PGB Munster PGA event. The comeptition was held at Fota Island Resort and was sponsoted by Titleist & Footjoy. Also included is Stephen Hayes, Munster PGA.
Cahir Park’s David Ryan shot a sensational eight under par 63 to win the first PGB Winter Series event at Fota Island Resort. The event was in the new pro-am format and was sponsored by Titleist & Footjoy. Marian Riordan and Davey Barry were tied in second place on 69 and Tim Rice shot a 70 to take fourth place. Killarney’s Dan Sugrue was fifth with a level par 71 while newcomer Conor Coyne was among those tied for 6th place in his first PGA event.
Unsurprisingly David Ryan also took the pro-am prize, he partnered with his Dad Ellis to score a winning 46 points. Marian Riordan and Colm Riordan were second with 44 points. Tommy Higgins won the amateur category with 41 points. David O’Donovan and Colm Riordan were tied for second with 39 points. The next PGB winter series event will take place in Killarney Golf Club on Monday 30th November and this will also be a Continue reading
Marymount Benefits from Fota Ladies
Fota Island Ladies recently presented a cheque for over €3,000 to Marymount Hospice. The large donation was the proceeds from their annual charity open day which took place a few weeks ago. Fota Island Lady Captain Anne Horgan was delighted to present Marymount’s Miriam Dennehy with the proceeds and she explained how they raised the funds: ““The money raised was as a result of a recent semi open competition held in Fota Island. It was a four person team event and each team had a Fota member playing with guests. The prizes were again sponsored Continue reading
Castlemartyr Launches Race to Old Thorns
Castlemartyr’s 4th hole Picture: Jamie Gibson.
Not satisfied with another very strong golfing season, Castlemartyr are running another open qualifier series, running all the way into December. The popular links style course was the venue for open competitions right through the peak season and now they have a top quality prize on offer for their November and December events. The series winner will win a trip for two to the Old Thorns golf estate in southern England. The Shaw family from Old Thorns recently completed the purchase of the five star resort in Castlemartyr and this is the first sign of collaboration between both venues. The qualifiers were very popular during the summer with up to 200 golfers competing weekly, obviously it’s a different time of the year but we’re still expecting a lot of interest. We’ve harvested a Continue reading
4 Cork Golfers Included in National Panels
Kinsale’s Cathal Butler
The GUI national panels were announced today and four Cork golfers have made the training panels. Kinsale’s Cathal Butler made his return to competitive golf this week in Rosslare and he has been added to the Men’s Development Panel. Butler’s Kinsale stablemate John Murphy has gone straight into the Boy’s Panel while Sean Desmond (Monkstown) made it into the Boy’s Development Panel. Mallow’s Ed Walsh is the 4th Cork golfer to get the call up, he is on the Boy’s Under 16 Panel. Continue reading
Sugrue leads Maynooth in Waterville
Mallow’s James Sugrue the individual winner as Maynooth University captured the inaugural Jerry Murray/Notre Dame Invitational at Waterville Golf Links. The reigning Irish Senior Cup champions finished 12 strokes ahead of Texas A&M at the famous County Kerry Links with UNC Wilmington a further 16 strokes behind in third.
The Mallow teenager made a very positive start to his stint with the Harrington Scholars team at Maynooth University, and it was no doubt a welcome return to form after a frustrating summer which was hampered by injuries. Sugrue shot a final 73 to capture the individual title by three strokes from team mate Eugene Smith, who closed with a 72, on three over par 219. Connor Black (78-78-72) was the best of the visitors alongside his Texas A&M’s team mate Ben Crancer (72-81-75) in third and fourth respectively on 12 over par 228 with Notre Dame’s Miguel Delgado (75-79-76) fifth on 230.
Cork Winter Golf Alliance
Unfortunately the Alliance outing planned for November is not going ahead. Bookings for the event were too low to proceed. Apologies to those people who booked and paid, refunds will go out tomorrow morning so please allow 1-3 days for it to appear in your PayPal account.
Many thanks to those who did book in and to those who paid, and thanks to Brady and Alan in Castlemartyr who were very helpful in organising the competition.
We will look into the possibility of running a competition over Christmas but demand will ultimately decide if the Alliance gets off the ground. Continue reading
Turner takes 5th in Macau
Niall Turner produced his best performance in over a year this weekend when he carder three consecutive rounds in the 60’s to take 5th place in the Venetian Macau Open. Turner took a huge step to retaining his full playing rights on the Asian Tour, he jumped over 70 places to get into the top 50.
The Muskerry man had a four under par 67 to maintain his top ten place and in the end he took home $41,000 from his 5th place finish. Unlike earlier rounds, Turner had a quiet front nine but he did birdie the 7th and 9th. On the back nine he had four birdies and two bogies, before parring the last three holes and signing for a 67.
This is Turner’s fifth year in Asia and it’s another one where he has struggled with injury. He bounced back last week, making his first cut of the season and a top 15 finish. Turner scored his first win as a professional last year when he won the Linc Group Jakarta Classic on the Asian Development Tour, although the $10,000 he won there pales when compared with the much larger purses on the main tour. Turners high placed finish should strengthen his chances of getting into the UBS Hong Kong Open next week.
Turner in Top 10 in Macau
Niall Turner shot a four under par 67 overnight to jump up to 8th spot in the Venetian Macau Open on the Asian Tour. That’s three under par rounds for Turner in the event where he has made the cut for a second successive week. Going into the third round the Muskerry man was in 19th place on four under. Another good round tomorrow should see him earn a sizeable cheque and improve his chances of retaining his full tour card.
Niall Turner
Turner had an opening bogey followed by two birdies, and he followed that with another bogey in an eventful four holes. He added four birdies in the remaining holes to sign for a 67. Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney missed the cut after two successive 73’s.
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