Popular golf teaching Professional Ian Stafford was recently awarded the Fellow designation by the PGA. The Innishannon and Kinsale based pro has continued to invest in his continuing professional development and now becomes only the second PGA professional in Munster to hold the fellow status. Ian’s latest qualification was approved by the APAL process (Accreditation of Professional Achievement and Learning). Each application is considered by the APAL Council which consists of longstanding PGA Members, representatives of the R&A, the golf industry, an advisor from the university sector and two PGA Senior Staff members. On the island of Ireland there are currently over 500 PGA Professionals only 12 of which currently have Fellow status, with Stafford being the youngest to reach Fellow level at 36. This follows on Ian’s qualification as a Level 3 Advanced Coach which he achieved in 2016, and his motivation stems from one of the cornerstones of his teaching. “As a coach I’m Continue reading
Cork Golf
Masters Special at Fota Island
Fota Island’s 10th Green
To celebrate the first golf major of the year, Fota Island are running an open singles competition all weekend, with a major prize on offer for the winner. Starting today and running through to Sunday, the open singles will take place on the Deerpark course, the setting for the 2014 Irish Open. Entry for the competition is €50 per person and the Masters on television in the clubhouse it’s a great way to start the golfing season. The first prize for the Masters weekend competition is membership to the Fota Island Academy for the season. The prize which is valid until December includes access to the incredible practice facilities in the Academy, regular ball credit, and access to the Barryscourt nine holes that surround the extensive academy grounds. There are other prizes on offer also, second place will win a custom fit session with PGA Professional Ronan Collins in the Academy’s state Continue reading
South Munster Seniors honour Tadg
There was a large gathering in Muskerry on Monday to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the founding of the South Munster Senior Golfers. Senior Golfers from almost every club in Cork joined the committee in acknowledging the work that was put in by Tadg O’Halloran in the past three decades. Although the course in Muskerry was closed, the clubhouse was full with well over 100 golfers from all over Munster joining Tadg in the celebration. In 1989, Tadg along with the late Michael Geary came up with the idea and they went on to launch the South Munster Seniors at a small event in Waterrock. On that day members from around four clubs attended but it was enough to start the ball rolling. It was a different time, one in which non club golf was essentially limited to societies. The initiative was a bit of a ump in the way that events were managed and the oganisers had a job to sell to concept to many clubs. The organisers persisted and bit by bit and club by club they convinced more and more managers and committees to hold seniors open days. The very modest green fee was offset by a large turnout and additional pro-shop and catering Continue reading
Gallery: Ford Junior Scratch Trophy 2018, Muskerry Golf Club
Pictures from the semi-finals this morning: Continue reading
Round 4 results from Ford Junior Scratch Trophy, Muskerry Golf Club
Results from this afternoon’s play:
Strong Home Challenge in Ford Junior Scratch Trophy, quarter-finals
There’s a very strong home challenge in the quarter finals of the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy, with five Muskerry members competing in the final eight.
With seven of the eight quarter-finalists confirmed, it looks like the home club will have at least two golfers in tomorrow’s semi-finals.
The quarter final draw is:
Liam Harte Jnr (Muskerry) v Diarmuid Linehan (Muskerry)
Mark Dennehy (Muskerry) v Damien Ryan (Muskerry)
Joe O’Keeffe (Muskerry) v Zak Collins (Douglas)
Gary Morris (Macroom) v Colm O’Donoghue (Castletroy)/Kieran O’Brien(East Cork)
All matches to be completed this afternoon.
Last 16 set for Round 3 in Ford Junior Scratch Trophy, Muskerry Golf Club
64 golfers started this morning but after 48 matches in Muskerry only 16 remain. The first two rounds in Ireland’s most challenging junior competition was completed in Muskerry today, with several matches going to sudden death.
Round Two Results
The third round gets underway tomorrow morning with the first match of at 8am. The fourth round will Continue reading
Ford Junior Scratch Trophy R1 Results (2)
The last of the first round scores have been confirmed, round two now well underway
Top 64 set for Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy
Cork’s most demanding golf event is all set to start next week when 64 golfers will aim to make it through six rounds of matchplay golf. The eventual winner will become the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy champion. While many golfers will be looking forward to morning off on Easter Sunday, the four semi-finalists will be facing into their fifth game of golf in three days, and all four will be hoping to reach a sixth game in the afternoon final. Almost two weeks ago, over 250 competitors took part in the two-day qualifier in Muskerry, all hoping to finish in the top 64 and get through to the matchplay stage. With a new handicap limit of 4, the event provides a mix between the established Junior Cup and Bruen golfers, and younger golfers heading for Barton or Senior Cup appearances. Fota Island’s Anthony O’Connell led the qualifiers with a very impressive nett 57 for his 16 hole qualifier. John McSweeney (Muskerry) led four golfers to finished with 58 in the first day of the qualifier. Monkstown’s Billy Egan finished on top of the leaderboard on the second day. He shot the best of the 58’s around the 16 hole course while Seamus Spencer (Berehaven) and David O’Brien (Cahir Park) also finished on 58. Main sponsors Ford have been involved in the competition since 1992, continuing a long tradition of supporting amateur golf in Cork. The trophy holds the names of many popular Cork golfers, including two previous Continue reading
Stephen Hayes new Performance Centre at Douglas Golf Club
Stephen Hayes has just opened a new performance centre in Douglas Golf Club, the Club Professional in Douglas has invested in a brand new facility for members and clients to learn and hone their golfing skills. Previously Stephen had worked from a teaching bay in the driving range, but that bay was a victim of the storm in October so an alternative was Continue reading
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