Irish call up for three Cork golfers

2017 Irish Boys Under 14 Amateur Open Championship at Ballina Go

Zak Collins

Zak Collins and Eoghan Cassidy have been named on the Irish squads to play in the Reid Trophy (Under 14 English Championship) in Reading next week.  Collins from Douglas and Cassidy from Kinsale have been playing well all season and both golfers featured on the successful Munster team who won the Under 14 interprovincial championship last week.  The event is a great opportunity for the cork duo, it attracts a top quality field of English and international players whose playing handicap is 7.4 or better.  The 54-hole stroke play championship is played over three days.  The full field plays 18 holes on each of the first two days with the leading 70 competitors going on to play the final 18 holes on the third day.  The Cork pair will be joined by two Limerick golfers, Ballyneety’s Morgan O’Sullivan and Iestyn Winn in a strong Munster line-up.  Faithlegg’s Alex King Continue reading

Davey on track in Douglas

Davey Barry pictured on the range at Douglas Golf Club. Picture: Niall O'SheaWhile there are thousands of Cork people who have just completed exams, it was a different time for Davey Barry as he got word that he had passed his final PGA exams, meaning he has now a qualified teaching professional.  The Douglas based Pro had been working hard for the past three years, combining work in the pro shop with his studies, but Davey is delighted that he now joins the PGA as a full member.  “It’s fantastic to have finished the course. It’s a lot of work and long hours but it’s a great feeling to have gotten here” said Davey.  “It was a long journey for me, I had to do some extra exams before I started the course, it was well worth it though.  This is something that I’ve always wanted to do since I was young, and it’s a career that can Continue reading

Sugrue and Murphy through in British Amateur

Munster Strokeplay ChampionshipCork Golf Club
Sunday 6th May 2018

James Sugrue

James Sugrue and John Murphy have both qualified for the matchplay stage of the British Amateur after the opening strokeplay quaifier.  The hot shots comfortably made it through along with Robin Dawson, Rowan Lester and Conor Purcell.

John Murphy qualified just outside the top ten, he shot a 69 on the Mulcar Links yesterday to close on +2.  Murphy was three under after four holes and steady golf under pressure saw him maintain a solid level of golf.  This time last week, he was still only the fourth alternative on the waiting list.

James Sugrue, who is part of the Irish squad at the event, was three shots back from Murphy in 40th place.  He shot two rounds of 73 on both Royal Aberdeen and Mulcar Links.  Both golfers have proven themselves at the highest levels, Sugrue is the reigning South of Ireland champion while Murphy won the St Andrew’s Links Trophy less than two weeks ago.  A good run in the matchplay stages will help their case for selection for the six man Irish team for the European Championships.

There was disappointment for Peter O’Keeffe who missed out on the matchplay stage, he missed the cut by two shots after a disappointing final few holes in yesterday’s second round.  The matchplay qualifier (for those tied in 64th place) takes place this morning with the first round proper starting later this morning.  James Sugrue is out at 11.08 and John Murphy starts at 13.51.

Super Sara is Irish Champ

Sara Byrne IRish Close Course Shot June 2018

Sara Byrne (Douglas) during the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship, Enniscrone Golf Club, Picture: Golffile  Fran Caffrey

Teenager Sara Byrne is the new Irish Women’s Close Champion.  The Douglas golfer beat all before her in Enniscrone over the past three days to claim the prestigious national title.  A 2&1 win over Louise Coffey this afternoon meant that another national title is headed back to Douglas Golf Club.

“This is just amazing, I knew I could do it” said a delighted Byrne.  “When Louise won the 3rd I knew that it was better to be up at the end of the match than at the start, I knew that a one hole difference was nothing so I stayed patient.  This is definitely my number one achievement to date, on the final few holes I got a bit nervous but I told myself that I had worked too hard to give this one away.  This brings my golf career up a step and any event now I play in I can tell myself that I can win because I am Irish Champion!”

The Irish and GB&I capped golfer now joins an elite group, Continue reading

Major win for Long in Douglas

Douglas SSC 2018_2Eoghan Long claimed his first scratch cup win on Sunday when he won the 36 hole Douglas Senior Scratch Cup.  The Monkstown man posted the best score of the afternoon when he signed for a two under par 70.  Added to his level par 72 from the morning, his total of 142 for the 36 holes was enough to win the title by one shot.  Long had two challengers, both Peter O’Keeffe and Eric Rumley had shot 70’s in the first round, but they both finished with 73’s in the afternoon.

Play in Douglas was delayed on Sunday morning due to heavy rain.  Although the overnight downpour had stopped the course staff needed some time to clear some standing water.  Although the threat of rain was never too far away the course dried out and some good golf was on display.  O’Keeffe and Rumley were the only golfers to break par.  Long along with Stephen O’Neill and Darren Continue reading

Stephen Hayes new Performance Centre at Douglas Golf Club

Stephen Hayes Performance Centre_Mar 2018.jpgStephen Hayes has just opened a new performance centre in Douglas Golf Club, the Club Professional in Douglas has invested in a brand new facility for members and clients to learn and hone their golfing skills.  Previously Stephen had worked from a teaching bay in the driving range, but that bay was a victim of the storm in October so an alternative was Continue reading

Douglas academy to open in 2018

CGN_Douglas GC_29th Dec 2017_05

Progress is being made on the new five hole academy in Douglas, while work has also started on the redesign of the two practice greens in the distance.  Picture: Niall O’Shea

2018 promises to be a milestone year for Douglas, the southside club will open a brand new five hole short game facility and work should also conclude on a new practice facility and range.  The five hole short game area is currently under construction, all of the earthmoving and shaping has been completed and the greens and tee boxes have been laid out.  The team from DAR Construction have finished the first and second stages of work, a substantial amount of ground works took place in stage one including the installation of services, and after that several tonnes of sand were laid on the new greens and approaches to provide top quality playing conditions.  The seeding Continue reading

Sara set for another super year

Sara Byrne GB&I 2017Sara Byrne might only be 16, but in the past two years she blazed a trail on the golf courses of Cork and further afield.  The Douglas member has represented Munster, Ireland and GB&I in 2017, and more importantly she has seen her golf game improve on several levels.  While Sara has been used to winning, and she has ben part of the IGU coaching programmes for a few years, 2017 was a breakthrough year and she’s planning to build on that through the winter and into next season.  “I have some great memories this year including winning the Munster girls championship, getting my first cap for Ireland, becoming an honorary member of Douglas Golf Club and shooting the course record of five under 67 in Douglas” said Sara.  “But my best memory was seeing the Irish tricolour being raised and the Irish anthem being played when I was playing for Great Britain and Ireland at the Vagliano Trophy in Italy.”  Those experiences and performances didn’t happen by accident, they were a result of a very strong work ethic and a focus on constant improvement.  And the young Douglas golfer saw the results on the course.  “I think my ball striking this year has Continue reading

Douglas celebrate International Success

Douglas Internationals 3Douglas Golf Club recently celebrated the successes of three of their members, all three were capped for Ireland this year.  Sara Byrne, Karl Bornemann and Peter O’Keeffe were the centre of attention on the evening when members, families and friends gathered at the club.  As well as receiving presentation from the club, the trio were also granted honorary membership from the club with Management Committee Chairman Jerry Cronin presenting certificates to all three.  It was a great year for all three golfers.  In addition to being selected for Ireland Girls, Sara Byrne was also selected for the GB&I team that played in the Junior Vagliano trophy in Italy early in the season.  She also Continue reading