Rice wins in Castlemartyr

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Munster PGA Captain Stephen Hayes presents Tim Rice with first prize from the TaylorMade singles along with Brady Sherwood from Castlemartyr Links. 

The Munster PGA got together for their final winter series event before Christmas and limerick man Tim Rice took the spoils with a five under par 67.  Despite playing a relatively short course, the unusually quick and smooth greens caught a fair few golfers on the front nine and the result was that only two golfers managed to break the par of 72.  Tim Rice made his return to the local scene after missing the Killarney event as he reached the second stage of European Tour Q School.  Now back on Irish soil, the PGA Assistant from Limerick was the only golfer to stay on track for the full round at Castlemartyr.  He birdied each of the par five’s on the front nine before recording an eagle at the ninth hole.  That meant that the Limerick man turned on -4, and unlike many of the other pro’s who turned with a  good score, Rice held on to it.  A bogey on the 10th was balanced with a birdie on the 12th.  He added a birdie on the 17th in the middle of a run of five pars to secure the lead and take his first win of the current winter series.  Tralee’s John Sugrue was the only other golfer to break par, he finished with a 71 to take second place.  Killarney winner Davey Barry was also in the hunt today until he dropped a few shots on the way home.  He finished off with a level par to take third place and did his PGB Order of Merit hopes no real harm.  There was a three way tie for fourth place with Cian McNamara, David Ryan and Padraig Dooley all signing for 74’s.  The event was kindly sponsored by John Caulfield from TaylorMade Golf.

Gallery: Munster PGA at Castlemartyr

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David Foley, Brady Sherwood and Ciaran McKenna pictured at Castlemartyr Links. 

The course in Castlemartyr came in for great praise and resident PGA Professional Brady Sherwood was happy with the feedback: “I was delighted have my fellow Munster PGA professionals playing our course today.  The weather held out and its always nice to get very positive feedback in relation to the course set up and the playing conditions.  Our greens staff do an amazing job, the dry winter weather assisting in getting our fescue rough harvested ready for next season. It’s great to have our trademark greens running a cracking 10 on the stimp.”

David Ryan maintains his place at the top of the Premium Golf Brands Order of Merit with Cian McNamara close by in second place.  Dave Foley, Tim Rice and Davey Barry take up the next places with half of the schedule completed.  Details of the January and February will be announced shortly.

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Jim Long Elected Chairman of Munster Golf

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Jim Long Pictured with outgoing Chairman John Moloughney

Jim Long from Monkstown is the new Chairman of Munster Golf following his election at the Munster Branch Annual Delegates Meeting on Tuesday night.  The Hibernian Hotel in Mallow was again the venue and over 300 delegates from all 85 Munster golf clubs packed in for the meeting, where the key event was the election of a new Chairman.  For the first time in over 20 years there was a three-way election with Muskerry’s Liam Harkin and Castleisland’s Michael Lawlor also on the ballot.  Although both Long and Harkin were outgoing Officers of the branch, it was the Monkstown man who won.  Jim Long was the Honorary Secretary of the Munster Branch and also held the position of Junior Convenor at national level.  After his election Long was clearly delighted with the result: “I’d like to thank all the delegates and I’m delighted with the honour to have been elected Chairman.  I hope to do my best to work for Munster club and to emulate the achievements of the previous Chairmen of the Branch.”  Barry Lynch from Raffeen Creek was elected as Honorary Secretary of the Branch while Cork’s Dave Prendergast was elected as the Honorary Match & Handicapping Secretary.  Macroom’s Jim Nolan was elected onto the seventeen-man provincial council, he joins Phil Cooney, John Carroll, Gordon Adair, Tom Donnelly, Jim Lyne and Sean O’Leary who were all re-elected.  The meeting also Continue reading →

Peter Alliss Visits Castlemartyr

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Honorary President Peter Alliss and Captain Tony Loughnane pictured at the Castlemartyr members evening with Peter Alliss. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Golf Legend Peter Alliss fulfilled a long-standing obligation last week when he visited Castlemartyr Golf Club.  Late last year the famous BBC anchor was named honorary President of Castlemartyr, a title he also holds in Old Thorns Golf Club, Castlemartyr’s UK parent hotel.  Alliss had hoped to travel for the President’s Prize earlier this year but was unable to do so. And instead sent a video message to members.  On Friday evening he went one better, attending a member’s Q&A session which was moderated by RTE’s Greg Allen.  Greg who is an accomplished golfer himself was delighted to get the opportunity to join in the unique event.  At the start of the evening, the MC reminded everyone that in addition to an impressive career as a commentator, Peter started as a very successful tour pro, winning over 20 times at events in the UK and across Europe.  Now 85 years old, Alliss was in great form on the night, and almost 100 packed into the Pod for the members only event.  Peter gave full and frank answers to the questions which had been submitted by members.  In addition to giving everyone an idea of how professional golf was in the 50’s Alliss also gave Continue reading →

McNamara wins in Dromoland, Munster PGA Winter Series

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Munster PGA Captain Stephen Hayes presents Cian McNamara (Monkstown) with first prize.

Cian McNamara won on the double today when he won the singles and the pro-am competitions at Dromoland Golf Club.  The Monkstown Professional won by one shot from David Ryan and only two golfers managed to break par.  Gary Howie took third place with level par and Patrick Sheehy was fourth with a 73.  Dan Sugrue, Diarmuid Frazer and David Foley all tied for fifth place

It was McNamara’s first win in the 2016 PGB Winter Series had a steady start but dropped a shot on the long par five 6th.  He struck a purple patch around the turn, knocking in four birdies in five holes.  McNamara birdied the 9th, 10th, 12th & 13th.  Unfortunately he dropped a shot in the 14th but he bagged another birdie on the closing hole.

  • McNamara also claimed the honours in the pro-am when he partnered Peter Brazil (Limerick GC) to a winning 44 points.  Ian Colleran and amateur partner Brian Lenihan took second place with 42 points.

The next event in the series takes place in Castlemartyr next Monday, the event is a pro-only event.

PGA Winter Series Event #3, sponsored by Golfbuddy
Dromoland Golf Club
1st Cian McNamara 69
2nd David Ryan 70
3rd Gary Howie 72
4th Patrick Sheehy 73
5th Dan Sugrue 74 Diarmuid Fraser 74 David Foley 74

Pro-Am Results
1st Cian McNamara and Peter Brazil 44
2nd Ian Colleran and Brian Lenihan 42

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O’Callahgan’s Raffeen Move

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Wayne O'Callaghan Easter Golf Camp 2016Carrigaline based PGA Professional Wayne O’Callaghan has recently set up a new base in Raffeen Creek Golf Club.  The popular instructor has moved from his previous base in Fernhill where he had worked for the past four years.  Wayne qualified as a PGA Professional almost twenty years ago having served his apprenticeship under Bandon’s Paddy O’Boyle.  From 1998 to 2012 he worked from the busy Carrigdhoun Golf Range and in 2012 he moved to Fernhill Golf Course.  Over the past four years Wayne developed a very strong junior programme, which incorporated quite a bit of on-course work which complimented the range and putting green aspect of the programme.  Although his time on the PGA Irish Region Tour has been limited due to his teaching commitments, Wayne did feature in the top ten a number of times this year.  Having left Fernhill in October, Wayne wasted no time in setting up a new base.  “I have now Continue reading →