Cork Golf

Sugrue sets his sights on Sweden

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James Sugrue

“I’m just about to head out for my first 18 holes since The Masters which is

hard to believe.”  That was the first comment from Mallow’s James Sugrue as he started his 2021 preparations in Spain on Friday.  Sugrue headed of earlier this week, giving himself two weeks to tune up for three Challenge Tour Events in May.  James received invitations to play in the Range Servant Challenge and the Dormy Open in Sweden before playing in the Irish Challenge in Portmarnock Links at the end of the month.

“I’m delighted with the Swedish events, it’s great to Continue reading →

McNamara set for new season in Monkstown

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Cian McNamara, Monkstown’s Club Professional.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Like most club professionals, Cian McNamara was busy last week getting ready for the reopening of golf.  It’s eight years since Cian landed in Monkstown, and the Limerick native has made Cork and Monkstown his home.  Like everyone interested in the sport, Cian was counting down to the reopening of golf.  He is expecting a busy restart to golf, and he’s expecting a busy summer.  “I certainly believe with the long lay-off from golf, golf tuition will be busy over the summer months” said McNamara.  “With Golf Ireland determined to play championships and inter-club events it will also add to the golf tuition demand which will be great.  Custom fitting is certainly a big area that has emerged over the last few years.  With PGA Club Professionals providing the opportunity to compare different models while using various launch monitors it gives the customer the assurance that the purchase they make is certainly suited to their technique.”

McNamara has helped drive several changes in Monkstown and one of the most exciting developments was the opening of a new Trackman studio last year.  The studio has the latest technology including an indoor driving bay and a putting area, and this gives members a real advantage when it comes to analysis and custom fitting.  “The reac Continue reading →

Job Opportunity: Douglas Golf Club Pro-Shop

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Stephen Hayes has an opening for a full-time staff member, working in the Douglas Golf Club Pro-Shop.  The role is a great opportunity for someone looking to work in the trade, and Douglas is one of the busiest clubs in Cork.  The club is nearing the end of a major transformation programme, and the new pro-shop is due to be completed this year.  Full details on the job are listed below:

Kinsale Celebrates Murphy’s Selection

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John Murphy

There were lots of celebrations in Kinsale last week when news emerged that John Murphy had been selected for the Walker Cup next month.  Murphy becomes just the fifth Cork golfer to make it to the Walker Cup.  Friends and family bombarded the 22 year old with messages of congratulations, he was one of just two Irish golfers to make the GB&I team which plays the US team in Florida next month.

Among those who were delighted with the news was Ian Stafford who has coached John since he started the game.  “I’m absolutely delighted for John, the run of form John has been on lately in a pressurised situation has shown how he has matured as a golfer and there is a great feeling of redemption in getting selected for the team in Seminole” said Stafford who has coached John for close to a decade.  “Although this is not the first time John will have represented GB&I it is the final and biggest box ticked in terms of amateur achievements and a testament to the hard and smart work John has put in.  The emotions we are feeling now are a million miles from what we felt two years ago driving away from Portmarnock after Continue reading →

The work in Lee Valley Continues

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Lee Valley Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Off the course, 2021 has been a nightmare for golf courses with no play in the first three months of the year.  On the course, the closure given owners and managers a chance to get lots of work done, and that’s certainly been the case in Lee Valley where there have been plenty of changes.  With the staff covering the normal tasks of cutting a lot quicker when there’s no golfers on the course, the team have been able to get at some of the jobs that a lower down the priority list, as well as those tricky jobs that mean closing holes for days or weeks.  New bunkers, new tee boxes, drainage Continue reading →

Walsh Books his place with Tennessee

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Kinsale’s Robbie Walsh who will head to Tennessee next year. Pic: Niall O’Shea

Kinsale’s Robbie Walsh is the latest Cork golfer to commit to the US college system, he recently signed with the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and is set to start with the NCAA Division 1 college in 2022.  Walsh was delighted to announce his plans last week, realising a dream to advance his golf with a leading Division One NCAA college.  “I always wanted to go on a scholarship to the US but I started thinking seriously about it 18 months ago” explained Walsh.  “I have family there and I’ve been there on numerous occasions and I love the country.  Originally when it became a strong possibility that I would be going I spoke at length with Aaron O’Callaghan. He gave some great insights regarding programmes, weather, divisions etc. I also spoke with two friends of mine John Murphy and Mark Continue reading →

Cork Golfers selected for Golf Ireland Regional Panels

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Barry O’Connell (Douglas)who was selected on the Boys Under 14 Area Development Panel.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

While courses are still closed, the planning for 2021 continues in Golf Ireland.  Last week the new governing body announced the area pathway panels with 30 Cork golfers selected for the development programmes.  Douglas and Bandon topped the pile, Douglas saw seven of their young golfers selected between the three boys groups and the two girl groups, while Bandon had seven girls selected for the programme.

Douglas youngster Justin Dennehy was selected for the U12 programme, Barry O’Connell made the U14 panel while Shane Collins is on the U16 panel.  In the girls panels Hailery Martinez and Julie Kingston are on the U14 panel, and Rhea Itty and Aoife Keating made the U17 panel.  Bandon’s Alannah McCarthy, Ellen O’Mullane made the Girls U14 panel while Katie Hannon, Rachel Gaffney, Muireann Continue reading →

O’Keeffe’s Drive for Fitness

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Peter O’Keeffe in his new gym in Douglas Golf Club.  Picture: Niall O’Shea

Unless you have an indoor studio and a trackman, the chances are you’re not playing much golf at the moment.  That’s probably the case for almost all golfers in Cork, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t be getting ready for the season ahead.  Peter O’Keeffe’s online golf fitness classes are proving popular for plenty of keen golfers.  The Irish International golfer is currently running a range of online classes, and he’s attracting a large audience for his weekly classes and programmes.  While the classes are online the content is all based from his new custom built golf performance gym in Douglas Golf Club.  With almost 12 months of zoom experiences behind us and the year starting with a two month lockdown, January was an ideal time for O’Keeffe to launch his twice weekly series of classes.  Now heading into March, Peter is Continue reading →

Sugrue drives into professional ranks

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James Sugrue picking up his new Hyundai Tuscon from Finbarr Noonan, Kearys Hyundai Mallow.

James Sugrue finally left the amateur golf ranks last week, and first out of the block to support him were Kearys of Mallow who provided the golfer with a new Hyundai Tucson.  His appointment as brand ambassador for the local business was his first commercial deal, and hopefully many more will follow as the 24 year old sets out to earn a living in the world of tour golf.  Sugrue confirmed that he had signed with Swedish management firm Sportyard, and while his first appearance on tour is a few weeks away, he was delighted to get on board with Kearys.  “I am delighted to become Brand Ambassador for Kearys Hyundai Mallow and very much look forward to driving the all-new Hyundai Tucson.  As well as its exceptional design, there’s plenty of room for the clubs in the boot!” said an excited Sugrue.  As an amateur Sugrue was prevented from any sponsorship or endorsement deals, but once he made the Continue reading →