The last nine weeks have been challenging for Cork’s golfing community, to borrow a phrase from Muskerry, it started with Abigail and continues with Imogen. The past two months have been unprecedented in terms of the disruption caused by the weather. While a bit of frost and even snow might be expected, the volumes of rainfall have effectively shut down the business of golf across the county and beyond. While course and clubhouse damage has been minimal, the disruption has been severe. Courses, bars and restaurants and pro-shops have all been affected, with courses in particular seeing footfall drop to close to zero since November. Muskerry is a case in point, the ladies club has completed just one competition since November with eight consecutive cancellations since the start of December. The Men’s club in Muskerry hasn’t fared much better with seventeen competitions cancelled since November. It’s not all bad news however as the club has succeeded in growing it’s Continue reading
GUI Munster Golf
Entry to Munster events now open
Online entry for the Munster Strokeplay and the Munster Youths is now open on Golfnet. The current weather might not be conducive to playing golf, but qualifying conditions are only five or six weeks away and the wet winter should be a distant memory. Well at least that’s what every golfer is hoping for!
Munster Strokeplay 2015 Champion Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) pictured at Cork Golf Club with Officers Robin Turnbull, President, Lady President Ann Kos, Captain Fergal Deasy, Lady Captain Katherine O’Kelly Lynch and Liam Harkin, GUI Munster Branch. Picture: Niall O’Shea
Cork Golf Club will host the Munster Strokeplay on 30th April & 1st May, the competition is the only 72 hole strokeplay event in Cork and it’s sure to attract a top class field as usual. Last year 50 golfers from the field of 75 were playing off scratch or better.
Former winner Pat Murray was one of the first golfers to sign up and formidable Limerick GC golfer is now playing off +3.8. Plenty more plus golfers can be expected for the prestigious event which is now in it’s 11th year.
Munster Strokeplay Championship Online Entry
Entry for the Munster Youths Amateur Open Championship is also open and this event takes place in Monkstown Golf Club at the end Continue reading
2016 Munster & National Fixtures
Fixtures 2016
23-Mar – 29-Mar West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship (Co Sligo) [Men’s Am]
30-Mar – 31-Mar Wales Boys v Ireland Boys (Cardigan) [Boys U18]
31-Mar 31-Mar Connacht Under 14 Boys Amateur Open Championship (Strandhill) [Boys U14]
30-Mar 1-Apr Four Nations (Under 16) Development Matches (Hilton Templepatrick) [Boys U16] Continue reading
2015 Review of the Year – Part 4
October
With most of the inter-club competitions complete, the attention
The prize winners at the Oakley Open Singles Series Final at Lee Valley Golf Club. Monday 21st September 2015 Picture: Niall O’Shea
reverted to opens and singles competitions. Lee Valley held the final of their Oakley Open Singles qualifier which had been running during the summer months. Ger Halligan was the winner, and he won a trip to the Portuguese Masters courtesy of Oakley’s Kieran O’Connor. Stryker won the Corporate Challenge final in Fota Island. The popular competition saw a large number of companies take part in the qualifiers with Cork Airport PJ Hegarty, Stryker and Vistakon all making it to the series final. Stryker came out on top of the four finalists with a grand total of 162 points, and they won a society outing in Fota Island including dinner for 20 people. Castlemartyr held their annual corporate day, and the winners were Leo Spratt, Peter Manning, Bernard Rohan and C Continue reading
2015 Review of the Year – Part 3
July
There were four Cork golfers in action in the Inter-Provincials which took place in Donegal’s Rossapenna. Gary O’Flaherty, John Hickey, Dave O’Donovan and Ian O’Rourke all played their part in a sprited defence of the title they won in 2014. Munster started well in the first two days with wins over Connacht and Ulster, but they lost out in a winner takes all match with Leinster.
Philip Quinn (Douglas)
Philip Quinn (Douglas) had two dramatic finishing holes in the qualifier final of the AIG Junior Cup. Douglas were looking like losing to Mahon but the experienced 5 handicapper won the 17th and 18th in Cork GC to overturn a deficit and secure the third and Continue reading
2015 Review of the Year – Part 1
January
2015 started with the sad news of the closure of Frankfield Golf Course. The nine hole track existed on an elevates site on the southside of the city for over 30 years since Mick Ryan Snr laid out the course. It must have been an emotive decision for the Ryan family, especially given that they live and work onsite. The Ryan’s retained the very busy driving range and announced plans to extend and develop the practice facilities. While there were many disappointed members, they all had several options to continue their golf with every other Cork club offering membership options. PGA Professionals David Whyte and Michael Ryan are both based at the city venue and it proved to be a busy place throughout 2015.
Joint winners Munster PGA Wilson Singles at Cork GC David Ruddy and David Ryan pictured Liam Burns, Munster PGA Captain and Peter Hickey, Cork GC. Picture: Niall O’Shea
On the course, the Munster PGA were one of the few groups to be playing competitive golf. David Ryan used local knowledge to win the Wilson sponsored competition in Cork Golf Club. He shot a three under par round to finish ahead of popular Bandon veteran Continue reading
Murphy wins Munster Junior Golfer Title
Kinsale’s John Murphy won the Munster Junior Golfer of the Year award last week, rounding off 2015 for the talented 17 year old. He follows in the footsteps of his friend and club mate Cathal Butler in becoming the second winner in a row from Kinsale Golf Club. The club has been to the forefront of both individual and team junior golf over the past few years. John had a very busy year, with the key highlights including a Munster final appearance in the Fred Daly Trophy Munster final, a win in the Kerry Boys, and a cap for Munster at the Boys Interprovincials. John was travelling almost every week during the summer, competing in all four Provincial Boys championships as well as several of the Youth championships. In the Boys events, he was runner-up in Ulster, 5th in Connacht and 7th in Leinster. He also took 4th place in Irish Boys Championship. He took on the unique challenge Continue reading
Large Attendance at Munster Golf Delegates Meeting
The Munster Branch held their Annual Delegates Meeting in Mallow on Tuesday evening and a very large crowd attended to reflect on a another positive year for golf in the province. It was an occasion to celebrate the successes during the year which included national wins for Dooks, Ballybunion and Thurles. The Branch reported a deficit of over Continue reading
Gallery: Munster Branch Awards & Annual Delegates Meeting
Pictures from the Munster Branch Awards and Annual Delegates Meeting, 24th November 2015: Continue reading
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
Cork Golf News 