Kanturk’s Mairead Martin has been hitting the headlines for two years on the golf course, and she’ll be one to watch in 2018 as she play’s what’s likely to be her final full season in Ireland for a few years. The Leaving Cert student is hoping to take up a US college scholarship next year and will be working hard to make another impression. She spent most of the season playing off +1 and had a number of wins and great team performances for club and country. Just six years after first playing golf, Mairead is in the top echelons of the sport. Now the season has ended, Mairead can look back on another successful season. The big win of the year came in Mallow when Mairead claimed a national title. The Irish Girls close was a huge win, especially when it was played Mallow. There was no let up as Mairead went on to win again Continue reading
Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com
New Teaching Facilities in Cobh, David O’Sullivan PGA Professional
Cobh’s PGA Professional David O’Sullivan has recently upgraded his teaching facilities and the investment is another boost for Cobh members. A new swing room, coupled with Trackman technology and analysis has placed O’Sullivan in the premier league when it comes to teaching.
“The swingroom at the practice ground contains Trackman, a golf radar system with slow motion cameras to assist with detailed golf lessons. Trackman can also Continue reading
Lee Valley set to celebrate in 2018
Lee Valley is planning for a bumper 2018 as the friendly club on the western edge of the city celebrates 25 years of golf. Built in the 90’s the early phase of the first boom for golf, the course quickly developed a name as a championship level venue, known for it’s superior greens and friendly welcome. The Christy O’Connor designed course was started in 1990, and over the next three years the 150 acres of fields and woodlands were transformed into a championship golf course. O’Connor was a regular feature during the build phase, and instead of relying on maps and drawings he mainly worked from sight and the plan that he kept in his head. O’Connor died earlier this year, but Lee Valley remains a legacy to the Christy Jnr brand.
Jerry Keohane has been around for most of that journey, having been an investor in the original development. After the course opened in 1993, Jerry Keohane had sold of his share of the business, but in 1999 Jerry bought the course after it went on the market, and Lee Valley quickly became a family business with Peg, Paul and David all playing an active role in the business over the past two decades. Like all courses, it was by no means a finished product and Jerry started on a development that’s lasted the best part of 20 years. Over 18,000 trees were planted, vast areas Continue reading
Rice wins in Killarney, Munster PGA
Tim Rice won his second Munster PGA event of the season when he shot a five under par 67 in Killarney today. Rice knocked in six birdies in an impressive round on Mahonys Point. Close to 30 PGA Professionals played in the event, which was sponsored by John Caulfield from TaylorMade. The scoring was very impressive with 11 golfers shooting par or better. Cian McNamara took second place with and Fota Island’s Jack Howard picked up his first prize as a pro, he shot a 69 to finish tied for 3rd place. Lahinch’s Donal McSweeney was fifth with a two under par 70. The over 45 prize went to David Whyte while the team prize was won by Tin Rice, Alan O’Meara, Jamie O’Sullivan and David Whyte.
Mahony’s Point was in great condition and Munster PGA Captain Cian McNamara thanked Cormac Flannery and David Keating for their help with another great outing. Killeen is currently undergoing some work as a new green is being constructed on the iconic first hole. The new green brings the water into play for the second shot and a large proportion of the work has been completed with an opening due for early next year. The Captain also passed on his best wishes Danny Sugrue, the Dooks professional underwent major surgery last week for an ongoing condition and everyone was delighted to hear that he’s making a good recovery.
The last event of 2017 will take place next Monday in Castletroy and another good turn-out is expected. After that a further four events are planned for early 2018, and the series is scheduled to conclude with a pro-am in Monkstown where the Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy will be played for. The Munster PGA winter series is sponsored by Premium Golf Brands.
Munster PGA Winter Series #3
Killarney (Mahony’s Point)
Sponsored by TaylorMade Golf (John Caulfield)
1: Tim Rice, Limerick (67)
2: Cian McNamara, Monkstown (68)
T3: Jack Howard, Fota Island (69)
T3: David Ryan, Cahir Park (69)
5: Donal McSweeney, Lahinch (70)
Over 45: David Whyte
Team: Tim Rice, Alan O’Meara, Jamie O’Sullivan, David Whyte.
Douglas celebrate International Success
Douglas Golf Club recently celebrated the successes of three of their members, all three were capped for Ireland this year. Sara Byrne, Karl Bornemann and Peter O’Keeffe were the centre of attention on the evening when members, families and friends gathered at the club. As well as receiving presentation from the club, the trio were also granted honorary membership from the club with Management Committee Chairman Jerry Cronin presenting certificates to all three. It was a great year for all three golfers. In addition to being selected for Ireland Girls, Sara Byrne was also selected for the GB&I team that played in the Junior Vagliano trophy in Italy early in the season. She also Continue reading
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Castlemartyr win for Cian, Munster PGA Winter Series
Castlemartyr played host to the second Munster PGA event on Monday and the winner was Cian McNamara. The Monkstown man is also the Munster PGA Captain and he went around the par 72 course in 67 strokes. Three birdies in the first four holes set the pace for McNamara and he also birdied the 9th to turn on -4. He added a fifth birdie on the index one 10th hole, and despite a scare on the last he kept bogies off the card which was enough to win by one. Paddy Sheehy (Lahinch) was also on fire on the greens, recording a total of eight birdies. Unfortunately for Sheehy his round also included four bogies, that meant he signed for a 68 taking second place. Third place went to David Ryan who was also under par with a 71. Darragh Morrissey took the Assistants prize while Liam Burns won the Over 45 prize. The event was sponsored by Paul McCabe & Gerry Green from Pro Quip.
Not surprisingly the team prize went to Paddy Sheehy’s team. He was joined by Diarmuid Fraser, Darragh Morrissey and Robert Kelly as the combined for an impressive better-ball score of 60. Aside from having a solid game overall, the greens suited McNamara as his round included eight one putts. He now leapfrogs Tim Rice on top of the Premium Golf Brands order of merit. The new format of individual, team and category prizes again resulted in a large turnout, with several apologies from those unable to play.
Castlemartyr was in great shape for the event, firm fairways and fast greens were the order of the day for the 30 PGA Professionals as the took on the Ron Kirby designed inland links. The course in Castlemartyr celebrated 10 years this summer and as usual much of the scoring happened on the front nine with several golfers turning in red numbers. The back nine in Castlemartyr is often considered to be a stiffer test and based on the cards it played at least two shots more difficult. Castlemartyr’s PGA Professional Alan Gleeson welcomed the Munster PGA to the resort with a complimentary breakfast which was very much appreciated, especially by the golfers who travelled from Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary. The next event on the winter series schedule takes place in Killarney in two weeks time and in a small change to the schedule, Castletroy will host the final event before Christmas. Another three or four singles events will be planned for January and February, and a season ending pro-am is planned for Monkstown to coincide with the Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy.
Rice wins in Fota Island, Munster PGA Winter Series
Tim Rice won the opening event of the Munster PGA winter series with a fine three under par 69 in Fota Island today. The Limerick man took the honours with a two shot win over the field. Playing on the Deerpark course in Fota, Rice went out in level par, although he birdied the fifth he gave the shot back on the next hole. He birdied the 10th and then finished strongly with birdies on the 17th and 18th. Although there was fine weather and only a light breeze, the course put up a tough test with only three golfers breaking par. David Ryan and John Sugrue shared second place, both finished on a one under par 71. Munster PGA Captain Cian McNamara was 4th after a level par 70 while Ger Broderick won the over 45 prize. Shane Irwin won the Assistants prize and the team prize went to Padraig McGrath, Mark Beckett, Stephen Hayes and Davey Barry.
Almost 30 Munster Pro’s turned out for the first event of the season, which was sponsored by Ray Walsh and Acushnet. Munster Captain Cian McNamara thanked everyone for supporting the event and Ray Walsh for his sponsorship. He also thanked Kevin Morris from Fota Island and complimented the staff on the quality of the course. The greens were in great condition as usual and the tightly cut fairways demanded precision. The second event of the series takes place on Castlemartyr next week and another large attendance is expected. The series has reverted to a pro-only format with prizes available in three categories in addition to a team prize.
Gallery: Munster PGA Winter Series, Fota Island
Fota Island Prize Winners – sponsored by Titleist Footjoy
(1) Tim Rice 68
(2) David Ryan / John Sugrue 70.
(4) Cian McNamara 71
(5) Steve Hayes, Donal McSweeney, Billy O’Boyle, Padraig McGrath 72
Over 45’s: Ger Broderick 74
Assistants: Shane Irwin 75
Team Prize: Padraig McGrath, Stephen Hayes, Mark Beckett, Davey Barry
Gallery: Munster PGA Winter Series, Fota Island
Pictures from the first event of the 2017/8 season at Fota Island, sponsored by Titleist Footjoy: Continue reading
Harbour Shield 2017 Presentation
Congrats to winner’s Douglas, and all who took part in the final mixed competition.
Click continue reading for gallery: Continue reading
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