Bantry Bay Golf Club

West Cork’s Golfing History

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Bandon’s 7th green with Castle Bernard in the background.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

West Cork is famed for it’s sporting traditions, and golf forms a big part of that with the sport going back to the 1880’s.  That means that golf pre-dates many other organised sports, although in the early years the sport was dominated by army officers and based bear garrisons, barracks and camps.  From rough and ready makeshift courses that rarely lasted longer than a short lease, the courses that survived have developed into a number of nine and eighteen hole gems.  Bandon and Kinsale are both in West Cork, but their proximity to the city allow for a large travelling membership from the city and surburbs.  Bandon is now over 110 years old, and has been based in the Castlebernard for all of that time.  It has the distinction of being the first West Cork Club to extend to 18 holes back in 1978.  One of the largest and most successful clubs Continue reading →

Deasy Doubles Up – Munster Boys Under 16 Open Winner

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Munster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open 2018 Newcastlewest Golf Club Thursday 21st August 2018Mel Deasy (Bantry Bay) bagged his second Munster title when he won the Munster Boys Under 16 Open at Newcastlewest today.  The Munster Under 15 champion from two weeks ago, Mel was up against a tough field for the Under 16 Open.  Deasy started the second round in a  four-way tie for the lead, and a rain delay meant he started his final round an hour later than scheduled.  A hard south westerly wind tested everyone and Deasy parred the opening hole which proved problematic for many golfers.  A solid front nine followed with birdies on the 4th and 8th holes.  That gave the Ballincollig man a two shot lead over the field as he faced into the final nine holes.  The back nine proved testing, with Deasy dropping shots on the 12th and 15th.  After his playing partner Joshua McCabe fired in two birdies leaving the Bantry golfer two behind.  McCabe found trouble coming home however dropping four shots over the 16th and 17th.  That gave Deasy back his two shot lead, and he played the 18th like a pro.  He found the fairway off the tee and played a steady approach that finished just short of the green on the long par four.  A chip and two putts later he was the Munster Boys Under 16 Champion.  His one over par second round meant that he finished on a level par total of 140 for this two rounds.

Gallery: Munster Boys U16 Open 2018, Newcastlewest GC

Munster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open 2018 Newcastlewest Golf Club Thursday 21st August 2018Joshua McCabe (Roganstown) was second, one shot behind Deasy, and third place went to Robert Galligan (Elm Park).  Kinsale’s Robbie Walsh had a disappointing second round of 81, dropping outside the top ten.  Muskerry’s Stephen Riordan jumped ten places following his second round but Jack Murphy and  Brian McCarthy both dropped places in the testing conditions.  They were the only Cork golfers to make the cut for the second day.

For Deasy it was a great finish to the week.  On Tuesday he was on the Bantry Bay Junior Foursomes team who lost out in the Munster semi-final.  Mel is now a double Munster winner, holding the U15 and U16 titles.

Munster Boys Under 16 Open Championship, Full Results

 

 

Bantry Bay through to Pierce Purcell finals

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Pierce Purcell Shield Area Final 2018 Kinsale Golf Club Thursday 7th June 2018Bantry Bay had a great win in the Pierce Purcell recently, they beat Monkstown in the South Munster final after both teams had come through their local qualifiers.  Monkstown took an early lead in the final but Bantry battled and refused to let Monkstown run away with an early win.  The match was played in Kinsale and the course provided both teams with a tough test.  The new provision for scotch foursomes (both golfers drive off with the best shot selected) saved teams on several occasions as the narrow fairways tested both teams.  Although down in the first and third matches, Bantry were buoyed by a win for Dominic Wilson and Pat Cronin over Colm Murphy and Eoin McNamara on the 13th hole.  Conchur O’Sullivan and Ger Conway were two down with four to play, but they turned their match around to beat Eddie O’Sullivan and Niall Keely on the 18th green.  That made it 2-0 and meant Bantry only needed one more match.  The problem was that they were down in the final three matches.  The win would come in match three.  Despite missing Continue reading →

Munster Finals time in Tralee

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Munster Golf AIG Barton Shield 2016

2016 Barton Shield winners Cork. Picture: Thos Caffrey / http://www.golffile.ie

Tralee Golf Club will host the AIG Cups & Shields finals this weekend with three Munster pennants on offer.  It’s eight years since Tralee have hosted the finals and Arnold Palmer designed links will provide a spectacular setting for the three finals.  Two competitions are down for decision on Saturday with Cork and Mallow in action.  Cork will be hoping to retain their Munster title in the AIG Barton Shield, but they’ll have to get past hosts Tralee in the semi-final.  Waterford Castle face Castletroy in the other semi-final.  Mallow unseated holders Monkstown and beat a good Cork side in the Senior Cup and they’ll be hoping to maximise their first appearance at the Munster finals in several years.  Ballybunion carry Kerry hopes in the AIG Senior Cup, the West Munster winners will face Dungarvan who were the winners in the East Munster section.  Limerick came through in North Munster and they will face Mallow who Continue reading →