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 →

Tom Egan remembered in Baltray

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The Egan family at Co Louth.  Picture: Golffile | Fran Caffrey

Monkstown’s Tom Egan was remembered in County Louth last week, his family visited County Louth Golf Club to commemorate their late father’s record East of Ireland win at Baltray in 1962.

Egan won the East of Ireland Championship at the famous links course and also set a world record at the time of eight birdies in a row in an official competition.

With an invitation from Bridgestone Ireland, Golf Ireland’s order of merit sponsor, some of Tom’s family returned to Baltray to play the course, and to make a commemorative presentation to the Co. Louth Golf Club.

Frank Egan, who works Continue reading →

TopDog Golfer and Harrington join forces to support Guide Dogs

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Nationwide Golf Challenge - 10th & 11th June 2023TopDog Golfer have joined forces with Padraig Harrington to raise fund for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.  The Cork based golf score app is running a unique weekend competition over the 10th and 11th of June and there’s a chance to win some great prizes including a Wilson tour bag signed by Padraig Harrington.

Anyone that has watched Harrington’s golf tips online or his twitter feed will know that he’s a dog lover.  Fresh from his second place finish at the PGA Seniors last week, Harrington met with the team behind the novel golf competition.  “I’m delighted to be supporting the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind nationwide golf challenge, tee off and help the Irish Guide Dogs change lives” said the three-time Continue reading →

Strong Season finish for Sara Byrne

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Sara Byrne (Douglas) in action in the AIG Irish Womens Close in 2022.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sara Byrne wrapped up her third year in the US with a solid performance at the NCAA National Championship.  Sara was one of nine individual golfers who qualified for the finals in Greyhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale Arizona.  She booked a place in the finals thanks to a second place finish in the Palm Beach Regional which should have been her final event of the college schedule.  Byrne was just the second Cork golfer to make it to the NCAA finals, John Murphy played with Louisville in 2019 and again in 2021 in his senior year.  It’s been another very positive season for the Douglas golfer, she recorded three top tens in the very competitive ACC conference and the third year led the Miami Hurricanes on a number of occasions.  She played in 37 competitive rounds this year and had an impressive stroke average of 72.9, an improvement of over Continue reading →

Scratch Cup Wins for O’Neill, Howard and O’Flaherty

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There were three Cork winners over the weekend, David Howard and Gary O’Flaherty won scratch cups in East Cork and Muskerry while Karen O’Neill won the Castletroy Scratch Cup.

Four birdies helped first time winner O’Neill to finish one under par in Castletroy, and she was delighted with the win.  “To be honest I’m delighted with the win, it’s my first win” said O’Neill after the victory.  “I was actually in an accident back in October so I’ve been working hard over the last couple of months to get back playing so I’m delighted.  I missed a short one for birdie on 3 then birdied 4 and 7, had a bogey on 9 then birdied 14 and 15.  I stumbled over the finish line with bogeys on 17 and 18 but thankfully got it done.”

Next up on the ladies circuit is the Ballybunion Continue reading →

O’Riordan retains Fermoy Crown

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Dean O'Riordan

Dean O’Riordan

A playoff birdie help Dean O’Riordan to retain the Fermoy Scratch Cup last weekend.  The home favourite came from two behind after the first round to join a group of three in the playoff, and he won on the first green thanks to a birdie.  It was in impressive performance from the holder to win the John Whyte Memorial Cup.  A two under par round of 68 in the morning was followed by a four under par round for the afternoon.  Finding himself tied with his brother Roy and David Howard, he was the only one to birdie the first playoff hole to win the event.  James Walsh took Continue reading →

Jason lays down the Law in Cork

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Jason Law beat the field and the course in Cork last weekend to win the Munster Amateur Open.  The East Cork golfer survived six rounds of golf over three days to become the latest winner of the Cork Scratch Cup.  The 48-year-old in fine form all weekend and he brought that into the final where he got the better of Harry Gillivan in the final on Bank Holiday Monday. Continue reading →