Kenmare & Ring of Kerry double up for Scratch Cup weekend

Scratch Cups KGC (002)Kenmare Golf Club and Ring of Kerry Golf Club have joined forces for this September.

The competitions will feature Senior, Junior, Intermediate and Minor grades in both venues.

There are two Scratch cups on in Kenmare for the weekend of Sept 2nd and 3rd.

There are excellent prizes on offer for all categories, and entry is only €20 for guests for each competition.

Why not book a weekend away in Kenmare and play two of the best courses in Kerry, bookings can be made by calling Kenmare on 064 6641291 or Ring of Kerry on 064 6642000.  Bookings can also be made online with both clubs.

Scratch Cups ROK (002)

Mahon March On in Pierce Purcell Shield

AIG Pierce Purcell Shield, Lee Valley Golf Club, Wednesday 7th June 2017Mahon won the South Munster area final last night in very competitive and sporting game in Lee Valley.  Mahon and Macroom were the last two teams standing after winning three matches each at their respective venue qualifiers.  Despite the heavy rain, the course in Lee Valley was in great condition and the course provided a solid test for all of the golfers.  Mahon as usual had a huge number of supporters while Macroom members were also well represented.  Both clubs seemed evenly matched overall and after the front nine it was very close.

Gallery: Mahon v Macroom, AIG Pierce Purcell Shield Area Final

Mahon secured the first point on the 13th green when Declan Power and Michael Sexton beat Ed Neville and John Donvovan.  Macroom balanced the scorecard soon after with another early win.  Martin Kavanagh and William Buttimer beat Continue reading

Tralee set to host Kerry Scratch Cup

Kerry Scratch Cup 2017A bumper €2,500 prize fund is in place for the Kerry Scratch Cup which takes place in mid June.  The 54 hole event will again attract WAGR points and it has the added benefit of counting towards the Munster Senior Order of Merit, which will decide on half of the places for the Senior-Interprovincials.

The event is again sponsored by Kerry Group and the winner will take away €700.  36 holes will be played on Saturday 10th June with the top 30 golfers qualifying for the final round on Sunday 11th.  Holder Jack Pierse is expected to ddefend his title with Andrew mcCormack, David Reddan and Peter O’Keeffe all hoping to do better after featuring in the top five last year.

The Arnold Palmer designed course is always an attraction but this year it has the added bonus of hosting the AIG Cups and Shields finals.  The Barton, Senior Cup and Junior Cup will all take place in Tralee in August.  There have been a few changes to the course and clubhouse over the winter, work has been carried to remodel the bunkers and the changing rooms, pro-shop and foyer have all been upgraded.  The timesheet is now open and anyone interested should contact Alan Kelly on 086 3840630 or at alan.kelly@traleegolfclub.com

Muskerry through in thrilling Fred Daly area final

Muskerry Fred Daly Area Final 2017Muskerry had a great win in the Fred Daly Trophy area final last night, beating Mallow in a very close match.  Blarney was the venue for the match and Mallow would have been favourites to advance.  They had a big handicap advantage on paper and most of the players would have much more experience at this level of inter-club competition.

Jack Egan was first out for Muskerry and he beat Ed Walsh on the 18th to set a strong positive tone for the winners.  As it happened the first point was already in the bag for Muskerry, Jack Taylor was giving up five shots in his match but still recorded a 4&3 win to claim a point for Muskerry.  Taylor’s match was the only one not to go the full distance.  When Egan closed out his mast on the 18th shortly after the advantage was clearly with the underdogs.  The winning point came from  Sean Geary who holed out from the fairway on the last hole, Geary birdied from 70 yards to win one up and secure the win for his club.  At the same time Fionn Hickey was headed up the 19th after finishing level after 18 holes.  He was called in, as was Eoghan O’Shaughnessy who was one up in his match on the 18th.  It was a hugely impressive win considering that Muskerry were giving up an aggregate of 21 shots in five matches.  The subs were Stephen Riordan and Peter O’Mahony, and the squad was under the watchful eye of Dave Taylor and Peter Fenlon.

Fred Daly trophy South Munster Draw 2017

It’s been a great run for Muskery, the beat a fancied Fota Island side in the semi-final and beat Castlemartyr and Fermoy in the earlier rounds.  Muskerry now go on to the Munster finals which take place in Fermoy in early August.

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The Cork Scratch Cup

Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

2016 Winner Cathal Butler

Most people will know that last weekend’s competition was the Munster Strokeplay, but not everyone will know that when the event was given Championship status it had the additional designation of “incorporating the Cork Scratch Cup”.  The Cork Scratch Cup is one of the oldest trophies in Irish golf and according to Cork’s GM Matt Sands, it the original cup that was awarded over 90 years ago.  The cup and base holds the names of the all of the winners.

The trophy was presented by William Dwyer, the same person who started the inter-society competition which still runs today.  Dwyer presented the trophy in 1923 and won it in himself in 1924.  The trophy bears the names of the great Cork Golf Club stalwarts, Crosbie, Simcox, Bruen and Higgins are all represented, with Jimmy Bruen claiming four consecutive titles from 1938-1941.  There was a gap of four years during the war and Redmond Simcox won his fourth title in 1947 when the competition resumed.  Simcox was one of three golfers Continue reading

Anderson claims 2nd Munster Strokeplay title

Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017Barry Anderson followed up his recent win the West of Ireland by claiming the Munster Strokeplay Championship in Cork Golf Club today.  Rounds of 70 & 72 saw Anderson edge out Peter O’Keeffe and Ronan Mullarney but one shot.  The 2014 champion won the West two weeks ago and followed up with another win today in tough conditions in Cork.  Anderson shot a two under par 70 this morning and needed to get up and down from the fringe on the 18th to sign for a 72.  Anderson was battling with Peter O’Keeffe, the Douglas golfer found a fairway bunker on 18, and a bad lie meant he couldn’t go for the green.  He had a 35 foot putt for par but missed, meaning Anderson won by a single stroke.  Ronan Mullarney had two rounds of 71 today and  finished tied for second place with O’Keeffe.  Mullarney also won the Carr Bruen trophy as the best Under 25. Continue reading