Skibbereen & West Carbery Golf Club have launched a new membership scheme which should prove very attractive to many of Cork’s golfers. They are set to take advantage of a new handicapping rule, they have just launched an innovative club membership scheme with an annual cost of just €175. New rules which come in from the 1st March mean that golfers can only play in qualifying competitions outside of their home club only if they have three qualifying rounds in their home club in the previous 12 months. This has the potential to disrupt many of those golfers who hold distance memberships in clubs outside Cork, especially those who play most of their golf in local open competitions while not playing in their home course. The €175 membership option includes three rounds of golf to comply with the handicapping rules. Continue reading
Quinlivan Wins Munster PGA Event
There was local success in the Munster PGA winter series as Mike Quinlivan won in the Cobra Singles in Dromoland Castle last week. The Rathbane based PGA Professional shot a three under par 69 to win the event by a single shot. Fernhill’s Wayne O’Callaghan was second with 70 and Monkstown’s Cian McNamara was third with a 71. David Foley and David Ryan were tied for fourth place with a one over par 73. Continue reading
Good Times for Cobh Golf Club
It’s almost six years since Cobh Golf Club moved into their new course in Marino Point and while it wasn’t all plain sailing, the club has over 550 full members and a wonderful championship course. Despite a huge fall off in the number of golfers over the past five years, Cobh has survived and is set to thrive as golf is beginning to grow again. The 6,600 yard Hawtree designed course opened sits proudly over Cork Harbour with spectacular views of Monkstown and the City to the south and east, and Little Island and Fota to the north. Continue reading
Fernhill Growing and Rebuilding
Fernhill Golf Club is one of a few Cork clubs to see their membership numbers increase over the past five years, in a time when many clubs have seen a decline in membership. The Carrigaline facility re-affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland in 2010 and since then it has seen membership in all categories jump to almost 500 members across ladies, gents and juniors. With a new route for the N28 (Cork – Ringaskiddy) announced before Christmas, the long term future of the course is now assured, with the new road avoiding the course and running to the north of Fernhill. Continue reading
Cork GC wins Golfers Guide Award
Cork Golf Club scooped the Munster Parkland Course of the Year award at the Golfers Guide to Ireland awards last week. The publishers of the Golfers Guide to Ireland, announced the results of its annual golf business awards, which cove red parkland and links clubs, golf resorts and hotels specialising in golf travel and tourism. It was Cork’s third time to win the award in the past four years and a testament to the work that has taken place to further develop and improve the course. The renowned Alister McKenzie course in Little Island remains close to the original design of almost 100 years, although the club has continually upgraded and modernised the layout. Continue reading
Hartnett at the Helm in Castlemartyr
Castlemartyr Golf Club might be one of the newest clubs in Munster but the small club is growing and developing. Several original committee members who have served their time are taking a break while a new committee will seek to consolidate the work to date. The club held their AGM last week and Tommy Hartnett was elected Captain.
Ryan and Ruddy Win in Cork
The Munster PGA held their first event of 2015 this week when the Wilson Golf Singles took place in Cork GC on Monday. Despite heavy rain on Sunday night, the sun was out on Monday morning for the competition. 16 holes were in play and the scoring was keen even though the course was playing long. Despite the weather there was a full timesheet with the winter series again proving popular with PGA professionals from all over the province. David Ruddy and David Ryan took the honours as they both finished on three under par. Continue reading
O’Callaghan wins in Castlemartyr – PGB Munster PGA Winter Series
Wayne O’Callaghan bagged his first win of the Munster PGA Winter League this week. He shot a winning 66 in Castlemartyr on Monday in the fourth event of the Premium Golf Brands Winter League. The scoring was impressive and the course was in great condition. Short par 5’s and quick greens helped to set the course up for some low scores and the local pro’s duly obliged with six golfers returning under-par scores. O’Callaghan opened with a birdie on the first but followed on the par three 4th hole with a bogey. Continue reading
South of Ireland Changes
The South of Ireland will be played in a new format in 2015, a 36 hole strokeplay qualifier has been introduced over the opening two days of the competition. The top 64 will then progress to the matchplay stages. Ian Slattery, Captain Lahinch Golf Club, said “over recent years it has been very difficult to attract leading national and international amateur golfers to participate in the South due to a very packed and gruelling schedule of competitions around that time. Continue reading
Kinsale’s Butler wins Munster Award
Kinsale’s Cathal Butler won the Munster Branch Junior Golfer of the Year award recently ands it a capped off a great year for the young golfer. Butler took up that game at 11 and he has seen his handicap tumble to 1 during 2014. Continue reading
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