Pictures from the Munster Branch Awards and Annual Delegates Meeting, 24th November 2015: Continue reading
Golfing Union of Ireland
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
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
Cleary & Ireland win today but Scotland retains Senior Home Internationals Title
Cork’s Tom Cleary recorded his second win in three days as Ireland beat Wales in the Senior Mens Home Internationals today. Cleary was a member of Sean O’Leary’s team, and was competing in his second competition in just over two weeks for the Irish Seniors team.
Leaderboard Photography Pictures
The competition was held in Crowborough Beacon GC in East Sussex. Ireland lost to England on day one but followed that with impressive wins over Scotland and Wales. Although Ireland topped the three way tie with the greatest number of match wins, Scotland retain the title as holders.. The rain affected competition saw the foursomes cancelled on the first two days and Ireland’s triumphed today with 7-3 win when all ten matches were played.
Derek & Sara Byrne take 2nd place in East of Ireland Mixed Foursomes
Father and Daughter combination Derek & Sara Byrne (Douglas Golf Club) were second in the East of Ireland Mixed Foursomes yesterday. The event was held on the Smurfit Course in The K Club.
Derek (1) and Sara (6) combined for a score of 155 for their 36 holes to claim second place. Round 1 leaders Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) and Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) fired a final round of 75, three over par to win with a superb overall gross score of 148. In third place came Robert Galligan (Elm Park) and Leah Temple Lang (Seapoint) with a final score 156.
Douglas Hoping for First Green Pennant in 16 Years
Douglas celebrating after their AIG Junior Cup Munster Final win at Dungarvan Golf Club a few weeks ago
Picture: Niall O’Shea
It has been 16 long years since Douglas Golf Club have won a Mens national title and next week their Junior Cup team will head for Carton House hoping to capture a coveted green pennant at the AIG Cups and Shields Finals. Douglas successfully navigated their way through four matches in the South Munster qualifiers before winning their Munster semi-final and final matches in Dungarvan. Over the Continue reading
Quinn a “Not so Young Gun”
Philip Quinn (Douglas) is enjoying every minute of the busy golfing season.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
Although the Douglas team is earning a name for itself as the young guns, there are one or two “not so young” ones on the squad. Philip Quinn was the only member of the playing team in Dugarvan that was over 21, although he points out that he’s not on his own: “John O’Mahony and myself are the ‘older’ members of the team. Unfortunately for John he injured his back on the Sunday morning in Cork while warming up, so he has missed out on a few rounds. However, the team spirit we have is shown by the fact John then caddied for some of the younger lads to bring his experience to bear. At least we now have John available for the All Irelands. It’s unusual for two guys in their mid-thirties to be “old men” of the team but Continue reading
Muskerry Aiming for Back to Back Barton Shield Titles
Muskerry after winning the AIG Barton Shield Munster Final at Dungarvan Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea
Muskerry make the almost familiar trip back to Carton House next week with high hopes of creating history with their AIG Barton Shield Team. Having beaten four teams in South Munster, they racked up another two wins at the Munster finals stage to book their place in the national finals. Now they are just two matches away from back to back wins in one of golf’s most prestigious national competitions. They head off to Carton House with a settled team featuring just one change from last year. The experienced John Waldron has stepped down and that has given an opportunity to someone else to step up and join the winning team. That opportunity fell to Shane Whooley and the rookie has excelled all year long. Whooley started the year playing off 2, but had several impressive performances in the early Continue reading
O’Leary Leads Ireland to 3rd European Win
Sean O’Leary
Mahon and Munster representative Sean O’Leary masterminded a third successive win for Ireland in the European Senior Men’s Team Championship. The competition was held in Bulgaria in Pravets Golf Club. While Team Captain O’Leary planned the campaign, he was helped on the course by Cork’s Tom Cleary. The current Munster Senior’s champion went through the 36 hole strokeplay qualifier in -4, second in a field of over 120 golfers.
Ireland finished the strokeplay phase in first place, 24 strokes clear of second place. In the matchplay phase Cleary was partnered with Tramore’s John Mitchell as Ireland’s foursomes pair. They won their quarter-final and semi-final but lost out in their final match against Italy.
In a tense final against Italy that went down to the wire, all eyes were on Kelly when Garth McGimpsey squared the match at two points apiece. Italy had taken the foursomes point while Adrian Morrow was beaten 4&2 in the singles. However Arthur Pierse led the Irish revival, romping home with a 7&6 victory in the top singles match. His old sparring partner, McGimpsey, followed him in, taking the back match 3&2 and that left Kelly fighting for the championship on the 18th green against Vincenzo Sita. The Naas veteran held his nerve to deliver the decisive point.
Peter Cowley Retains Connacht Veterans Title
Picture courtesy Connacht Branch GUI
Cork’s Peter Cowley retained the Fred Perry Trophy, winning the Connacht Veterans Open Championship at Tuam Golf Club. The reigning champion opened with a +5, 77 for a share of the overnight lead with Lisheen Spring’s High Donnelly and was trailed by a number of players with pedigree just a couple of shots further back.
Cowley showed his grit and class though on Day 2 returning a +6, 78 for a two stroke winning margin over Donnelly with Birr’s Billy Donlon taking third following a best of the day +4, 76 in Round 2.
For Cork Golf Club’s Peter Cowley this week was unique, as he put it himself “I have never in all my years golfing managed to Continue reading
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