PGA

O’Callaghan bringing putting to the fore

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Wayne O’Callaghan lining up a putt using the SAM Puttlab camera and video system.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Most of the golf courses around Cork remain very soft, and instead of playing many golfers are honing their skills at ranges and through lessons and classes.  Cork Golf Centre has been a busy place since January and Wayne O’Callaghan’s putting studio is one of the busiest.  O’Callaghan started focusing on putting around four years ago and now he’s recognised as one of the leading coaches in Ireland.

Wayne has invested a lot in terms of new technology, in addition to Continue reading →

Busy January for Stephen Hayes in Cork Golf Centre

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PGA Professional Stephen Hayes pictured at Cork Golf Centre.  Picture: Niall O’Shea

The January weather continues to hamper many golfers, the recent cold temperatures have meant that many courses have had delayed opening times or stay closed, further impacting the available time for golfers to play with the limited daylight hours.  With limited playing options the driving ranges in Cork have been busy, and many golfers are also tuning up their games with lessons from their PGA Professional.  Stephen Hayes, is one of those, and he’s had a busy January so far.

Hayes is one of five PGA professionals working from Cork Golf Centre in Ballincollig, and the range and the teaching bays have been busy since Christmas.  Hayes encourages all golfers to hit a few balls at the range.  “This is a great time of the year to get to the driving range as the golf courses are closed quite a bit due to poor weather.  If you have been planning to play at the weekend and the course is closed, use some of that time at the range” suggests Hayes.

He’s also advises golfers to focus on the their time at the range to get the most from it.  “When you go to the range it is so important that you go, they’re with a plan and don’t just beat balls.  Identify wh Continue reading →

Monkstown Academy Opens

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Monkstown Golf Club range and front nine overlooking Cork Harbour.  Pic: Niall O’Shea

Monkstown Golf Club recently unveiled their latest development, and new practice range and teaching academy.  The golf club has invested in a number of capital projects over the past two years and the newly opened range compliments the short game area which was opened last year.

The covered range was built at the northern end of the existing practice area, maximising the potential of the 320 yard area.  Monkstown General Manager Maurice O’Meara oversaw the project and while the opening date was a little bit later than planned, the finished product is a credit to the club and the team involved.  “The academy has exceeded all expectations and has been Continue reading →

Monkstown ProShop Team

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Cian McNamara, Shane Irwin and Shane Livesey pictured at Monkstown GC Pro Shop.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The short game area and the new academy has been a real boost for the team of PGA professionals who work in Monkstown.  The club has a long history of great club professionals including Peter O’Hare who started in 1908 when the club was founded, Jack Higgins, David Brown, Jim Higgins and Finbar Condon.  Batt Murphy will be known to many having served as club pro for several decades.  Starting in 1974, the popular pro had almost 40 years service before his retirement.  Morgan O’Donovan took over from Batt in 2010, and was an instant hit with members.  Unfortunately Morgan passed away in  2012 after battling a long illness.

Monkstown PGA Professional Cian McNamara pictured in the teaching and fitting bay at the new academy and range. Pic: Niall O’Shea

The current pro shop team is comprised of three PGA Professionals.  The team of thee is led by Limerick native Cian McNamara who has spent the last ten years in Monkstown.  Cian was and Irish International and a South of Ireland champion as an amateur, as well as spending three years in East Tennessee with Seamus Power.  Over the last decade Cian has built a great reputation as a Club pro.  As well as operating the proshop, Cian is busy teaching members, guests, teams and Continue reading →

Rice wins Munster PGA in Cork

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Tim Rice chalked up another win on the Munster PGA, he shot a three under par 69 at Cork Golf Club on Monday to lead the field by two strokes.

On a breezy day with firm, dry conditions and rolling greens, scoring conditions were tricky at Cork GC.  Tim Rice lead the way with a fine 69 consisting of an outward half of 37 with a birdie on the 2nd, drop shots on the 6th and 8th and followed up with a fine inward half of 32 shots with 5 birdies on the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th, offset by a bogey on the 16th.  David Higgins, who played in the company of his 80 year old father Liam and brother Brian, had an outward half of 33 with birdies on 3, 4 and 5 and an inward half of 38 with bogies on 14 and 15.

David Ryan had two nines of 36 with birdies on 2, 8 and 9 with a double bogey on 5 and bogey on 7, the inward nine had birdies on 11 and 16 with bogies on 12 and 18.  Great to see Marian Riordan of Dundrum in the prizes with a fine 2 over par score.  Another great highlight of the day was the coming together of the famous Higgins golfing clan who regaled all with their stories of growing up and playing golf in Little Island.

Winter Series for PGA Professionals in Munster, Cork GC 6th March 2023 Par 72

1st Tim Rice – Limerick 69

2nd David Higgins – Waterville 71

3rd David Ryan – East Cork 72

4th Marian Riordan – Dundrum 74, Padraig Dooley – Drive Golf Performance 74

6th David Barry – Douglas GC 75, Jack Howard Fota Island Resort 75

 

 

 

Next event is Monday the 13th of March with a Fourball in Ceann Sibeal

 

Wayne putting golfers on the path to success

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Wayne O’Callaghan with the Odessey putter range at his putting custom fitting studio in Cork Golf Centre. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Wayne O’Callaghan’s putting studio in Cork Golf Centre is a busy spot, and that’s no surprise considering the state of the art training and putting analysis tools that are available at the studio in Ballincollig.  O’Callaghan has been focusing on the art of putting for the past few years and last month he became Cork’s first dedicated Odyssey putter fitting centre.  With a large number of putters in stock, Cork Golf Centre is now a one stop shop for golfers looking to improve their performance on the course.

While a large proportion of golfers will have been fitted for a driver or irons, very few will have done the same with their putter.  Given that the putter will always be the most used club in the bag during a round of golf it’s funny that the focus usually is on the driver and length gains, but now O’Callaghan is providing Cork golfers with the chance to get the stats and the science of their putting skills.  Wayne previously invested in the Capto and Sam Puttlab systems and he’s recently added Continue reading →

Mahon Launch new Trackman Studio

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Mahon juniors pictured with PGA Professional Stephen Hayes in the new Trackman Studio.

Mahon Golf Club have recently installed a new Trackman Studio which will be a huge boost for their members.  The new development comes after a few years of planning from the city club.  Given that the course has no means for expansion, a range or outdoor practice wasn’t an option, so the club instead looked at the option of building an indoor simulator.  2021 Club Captain Denis Kavanagh was one of the people behind the initiative and he explained how the exciting development came about.

“The Club Committee formed a sub-committee in 2020 to look into options available to develop some alternative to a practice range, that would provide members and juveniles alike with facilities to develop their game” said Kavanagh.  “After researching what options were available by contacting other clubs, and speaking with Golf Simulator suppliers both in the UK and Denmark, a preferred solution was agreed.  The sub-committee then met Continue reading →

Ryan & O’Sullivan take PGA win in Castlemartyr

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David Ryan (East Cork) and Shane Sullivan (Callaway Golf) receiving the Munster PGA Fourball Trophy from Ted Higgins at the first Winter Series event at Castlemartyr Links.

The Munster PGA made a welcome return to the course this week with their first Winter Series event in two years.  Castlemartyr Golf Links was the venue for the first event and the format was a fourball with the Munster PGA Fourball Cup on offer for the winners.  David Ryan from East Cork and Shane O’Sullivan from Callaway Golf led the way with a really impressive 63.  The pair set off on an early charge that saw them six under par after eight holes.  Ryan dropped birdies at the 2nd, 5th, 6th and 8th, while O’Sullivan added two more on the 2nd and 7th holes.  The back nine was a bit quieter with six pars and just three birdies, but it meant that they finished on nine under par and were the clear winners with five shots to spare over the field.

Tied for second were Donal McSweeney (Lahinch) and Gavin Continue reading →

Ryan and O’Sullivan win in Castlemartyr

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

David Ryan (East Cork) and Shane O’Sullivan (Callaway Golf) receiving the Munster PGA Fourball Trophy from Ted Higgins at the first Winter Series event at Castlemartyr Golf Links.

The Munster PGA made a welcome return to the course this week with their first Winter Series event in two years.  Castlemartyr Golf Links was the venue for the first event and the format was a fourball with the Munster PGA Fourball Cup on offer for the winners.  David Ryan from East Cork and Shane O’Sullivan from Callaway Golf led the way with a really impressive 63.  The pair set off on an early charge that saw them six under par after eight holes.  Ryan dropped birdies at the 2nd, 5th, 6th and 8th, while O’ Sullivan added two more on the 2nd and 7th holes.  The back nine was a bit quieter with six pars and just three birdies, but it meant that they finished on nine under par and were the clear winners with five shots to spare over the field.

Tied for second were Donal McSweeney (Lahinch) and Continue reading →

Irwin looking forward to 2022

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Monkstown PGA Professional Shane Irwin.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

For the first time since qualifying as a PGA Professional, Monkstown’s Shane Irwin is looking forward to a normal season.  The Limerick native traded in his hurley for a golf clubs a few years back and started his PGA training.  Irwin completed his PGA studies in 2020 but the past two years were interrupted with several lockdowns.  Like plenty of others in golf, he thinks 2022 will be a bumper year for the sport and he has already seen a big increase in the numbers out golfing.

PGA Professional Shane Irwin pictured at the Trackman fitting studio at Monkstown Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

“The winter was much busier than previous years due to not having any sort of lockdowns compared to previous years” explained Irwin.  “In the first few months we had fantastic weather which got a lot of golfers out onto the course.  It really was our first proper winter using the Trackman studio with lessons and custom fitting.  The main areas I think golfers are working on this for this part of the year in particularis the short game and putting.  Indoor facilities like this, especially in the cold winter months,  gives a  golfer important putting and swing analysis along with video technology.  After each lesson we can also send a video summary to each golfers which includes some drills to work on.”

Irwin has been based in Monkstown for just over five years.  In that time he has completed his PGA studies, qualifying in 2020.  Monkstown is now home to three PGA Professionals with Cian McNamara leading the team.  While Cian and Shane are from Limerick, there was a Corkman added to the team recently.  Shane Livesey joined from Douglas last month, and just last week he completed his PGA studies to become a fully qualified PGA Professional.  With three teaching pro’s, access to facilities is key and Irwin is delighted with facilities available to members and guests.

PGA Professional Shane Irwin practicing his putting at the Trackman fitting studio at Monkstown Golf Club. Pic: Niall O’Shea

“We’re looking forward to the club opening the new short game facility.  It will be a great addition to the already fantastic work been done by the club and it will benefit the club teams, Juniors and Members short games massively.  Once the short game area opens in May we will be providing a service with short game demo days featuring the leading brands to test and compare wedges and putters for players.”

While Shane is part of the pro shop team, he’s delighted to be part of the wider team that Continue reading →