Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com

Saturday Showdown in Muskerry

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Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Launch 2019

Muskerry Captain Diarmuid Linehan pictured with the holder Fionn Hickey and Michael O’Connor from Investec at the launch of the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup.

Excitement is building for the first major golf competition for 2019, the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday.  With new sponsors Investec on board, the club put renewed effort into the famous event.  They reaped the rewards with a strong field of entries which includes two Irish internationals and several Munster interprovincial players.  Peter O’Keeffe and James Sugrue lead the field in terms of handicaps, both golfers are past winners, Sugrue won in 2016 while O’Keeffe’s win came ten years earlier in 2006 will be looking to add to his growing haul of titles.  Both golfers have been busy in the off-season.  Sugrue was at the Irish training camp in South Africa which incorporated two top level international events, while O’Keeffe made an appearance at an Alps tour event and has been focused on practice in the recent weeks.

Draw: Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup

Munster golfers Gary O’Flaherty, Cathal Butler and Andrew McCormack were among the early entries and there is currently a standby list in place as over 80 golfers have entered the event.  The original limit of 66 players has been moved to Continue reading →

Busy start to the season for Lee Valley

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Dell EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup, Lee Valley Golf Club, Saturday 22nd April 2017

Gary O’Flaherty who will be aiming for three in a row at Lee Valley next month

A major new open competition, big plans for the senior scratch cup, and a new indoor practice room all add up to a busy few months for the Lee Valley committee.  With the golf season now ready to get into top gear, the next few months will be busy in the Ovens club.  “April will be a busy month with Boyle Sports kindly sponsoring two large competitions for us” explained Club Captain Chris O’Sullivan.  “First on April the 13th we have the Boyle Sports Open Four ball with prizes including a VIP trip to the Irish Grand National, this is followed two weeks later by our Boyle Sports Senior Scratch Cup.  This has become a firm fixture for the top amateurs all over the country with world ranking amateur points on offer to competitors.  We are delighted to have Boyle Sports sponsorship and support.  They took over sponsorship last year and have supported our club further this year with their sponsorship again.  Without which, we would struggle to host the competition to the standard that we now have it under the stewardship of Vincent Drinan who continues to look after this event.  It is a tournament that has had winners including Shane Lowry. However, the Continue reading →

Bank Holiday Opens to Kick Start Season

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Liam Burns

Liam Burns from Youghal reports that the course is in great condition

St Patrick’s weekend always marks the start of the golfing season, and this weekend a large number of Cork clubs are kicking off their season with the start of the open competitions.  Youghal is one of those clubs, they are holding a three person champagne scramble over Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  Youghal kept all 18 holes open through the winter but with members playing 14 or 15 hole competitions it meant that several holes were rested allowing for winter maintenance.  A sanding programme was completed over the winter and the greens have been running true and quick over the past few weeks.  The club recently concluded their spring league which ran over four weeks, and open and counting competitions will return for members and guests.  The entry fee this weekend is just €20 and bookings can be made through Liam Burns in the Pro Shop on 024 92590.

Fermoy have brought a nice twist to their champagne scramble on Monday, the winning team will receive magnums of champagne.  And with an entry fee of just €15 per person it offers some great value on the bank holiday.  On Saturday Fermoy have an open singles competition for €20, and on Sunday you can play in the open two ball scramble for €20, and that includes a meal.  Bookings can be made by calling the club on 025 31472.  Fota Island have open events running over four days.  From tomorrow through to Sunday you can experience the tour quality course and the famous clubhouse burger for €55 per person.  On Monday there’s an open singles on the Deerpark Continue reading →

Alex set for Sawgrass

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Alex Newehham Mar 2019

Alex Newenham

Alex Newenham from Douglas has landed one of the biggest “busman’s holidays” in golf, as he has been selected to work as part of the course team for The Players Championship at Sawgrass in Florida next week.  While many golfers would love the chance to attend a tour event, Alex will get an inside the ropes experience at the event that’s known as the fifth major.  John Deere, the machinery providers in Sawgrass have worked with the greenkeeping bodies in England and Ireland (GCSAI) to give seven greenkeepers an opportunity to work at the showpiece tour event.  Alex, who has worked in Douglas Golf Club for the past 14 years, was selected following an application and interview process completed late last year.  His reward is a 13 day trip to Florida, taking in eight days at the Players.  “This is the sixth year of this partnership and is open to all members of the GCSAI to apply” explained Alex.  “I applied last October and was fortunate enough to be shortlisted along with three others for interview in November.  I was so delighted later on that day to receive word that I had in fact been chosen to represent the GCSAI this year in Sawgrass.”  Alex is one Continue reading →

Sugrue in 5th place entering final day at SA Strokeplay

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Munster Strokeplay Championship Cork Golf Club Sunday 6th May 2018It was another solid performance from Mallow’s James Sugrue yesterday as he carded a one under par 71 at the third round of the South African Strokeplay Championship.  After earlier rounds of -5 and -3, yesterday’s one under was more modest, but he maintained his position on the leaderboard.  Two bogies and three birdies meant that Sugrue finished on -1 and an aggregate of -9 for his 54 holes.

Sugrue is now seven shots off the lead, meaning a win is probably out of reach, but a top ten finish will add to Sugrue’s very positive start to the season and it will have a positive impact on his WAGR ranking.  He’s also the best of the strong Continue reading →

March date for Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup

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Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Launch 2019Muskerry Golf Club launched their 2019 Senior Scratch Cup last week, and with a new sponsor and increased prize fund the competition is sure to attract a top class field.  The 36 strokeplay competition takes place on Saturday 30th March and bookings are now open.  The event will be limited to 66 golfers with lunch and refreshments included.  Investec are coming on board as main sponsors, build o their strong presence in Cork and their support of amateur and professional golf nationally.  “We are delighted to be associated with a leading global brand like Investec and are look forward to building this event into the leading 36 hole scratch cup in the country over the next few years” said Muskerry Captain Diarmuid Linehan.  “Investec are the new sponsors, and they allow us to have an increased prize fund of €1,500 this year, but many thanks must go to our previous sponsors such as the Shine family and the Sadler family who have kept this competition alive through the years.”

This is the 46th staging of the competition, it dates back to 1974 when Youghal’s Denis Clifford was the inaugural winner.  Needless to say the cup hold the names of the good and the great from Cork golf over that time, with more than a fair share of winners from Cork Golf Club represented on the famous trophy.  Denis O’Sullivan, Pat Lyons, Tom Cleary and more recently John Hickey were all multiple winners.  Cleary won the first of his six Muskerry titles in 1976, then representing Fermoy.  He also won in 77, 79, 93 and 94, and then in 2010 he rolled back the years to claim a sixth title.  Denis O’Sullivan was a prolific winner at the time, and Muskerry accounts for four of his haul of titles, stretching from 1981 to 1991.  Douglas golfers have also featured regularly, John McHenry won back to back titles in 1983 and 1984 while Karl Bornemann won four titles between 2000 and 2007.  Peter O’Keeffe also won in Douglas colours in 2006.  The home club are well represented, Harry Shine was the first home winner in 1978, Jim McKenna won in 1982, Niall Turner won in 2003 while Dave O’Donovan claimed two titles in Continue reading →

Sugrue best of the Irish – Day 1 South African Strokeplay

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AIG Senior Cup Area Semi Finals 2018 Cork Golf Club Sunday 24th June 2018

James Sugrue had another good start to a tournament when he shot a 5 under par round on the first day of the Southern African Amateur Strokeplay.  Although an opening birdie was followed by a bogey, Sugrue was back in the red on -3 at the turn. He added another three birdies on the second nine but a bogey on his final hole meant that he signed for 5 under to finish best of the Irish in fourth place. That score leaves him just one shot off the lead which is held by three golfers.

Rob Brazill was the next best of the Irish, finishing the top ten. He had a memorable ace on the par three 16th, but unfortunately for Rob he had a triple bogey 8 on the next hole.  Ronan Mullarney, Mark Power and Conor Purcell are Continue reading →

Busy Times at Douglas Pro Shop

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Douglas Pro Shop Feb 2019_2

Stephen Hayes and Shane Livesey

There’s quite a bit going on in Douglas Golf Club at the moment, from new members to course developments, and changes to personnel it’s a busy place.  The Pro Shop run by club professional Stephen Hayes is also a busy spot with a new member of staff and a new teaching facility now up and running.  Stephen, who has been the Club Professional in Douglas since 2010 had a fitting bay at the range for several years until the extreme weather got the better of it.  “Unfortunately the old bay got blown down in Storm Ophelia in late 2017” explained Stephen.  “I had built this teaching bay with my brother in law and Dad when I was Club Professional in Kilkea Castle in 2009.  We had it loaded onto lorry in 2010 and transported to Douglas when I took up position so it’s fair to say it served me well for nine years.  The new teaching/fitting bay is addition to the indoor bay.  The new bay has Continue reading →

Shane settled in Douglas

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Douglas Pro Shop Feb 2019_2

Stephen Hayes pictured with Shane Livesey who is the latest member of the Pro Shop team at Douglas Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Shane Livesey is the newest member of the pro shop team in Douglas, the 21 year old joined Stephen last year and has enrolled in the three year PGA Professional programme.  Shane, who played Senior Cup with Monkstown and previously worked with David O’Sullivan in Cobh, is enjoying his new role in Douglas.  “I have settled in very well since joining Douglas Golf Club as an PGA assistant Pro last August thanks to the help and support of both Steve and Dave” said Shane.  “It is great to have the opportunity to work in such an established golf club, the members have given me a great welcome and are very supportive and interested as to how my PGA training is going.”  Mixing the full time role in Douglas with his studies can be a challenge as he explained.  “My PGA training started in October 18 and since then there was been a big change as now I have to balance working in the pro shop, assist in coaching the juniors, studying, and also trying to practice. The lectures and assignments are all Continue reading →