Fota Island Academy

Swing into Oktober with Golfest at Fota Island Resort

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

 

 

Fota-Sign_1Fota Island have used the Oktober theme to launch a new golf and food offer for the month of October.  For €59 golfers can avail of Golfest which includes 18 holes of golf, the special Golfest menu at the recently refurbished Clubhouse and a pint of Chieftan IPA.  In addition to the offer, there are several prizes to be won, including a bumper trip to Germany.  The golfer with the best score registered at the end of the month will win the top prize of a weekend trip for two to Munich including flights and accommodation.  Other prizes include a weekend break for two at Fota Island Resort and also dinner for four at The Kingsley.  The offer is available seven days a week, although tee times may be limited on certain days.

Fota Island Resort was the host venue for the Irish Open on three occasions.  The three championship golf course layouts are set in beautiful parkland scenery, and are maintained to the very highest of standards to ensure golfers enjoyment this Oktober.  The offer also includes a special Golfest menu.  Embracing the tradition of Oktoberfest the menu features chicken schnitzel, bratwurst with a sourdough baguette or venison hotpot.  Served with a pint of Chieftain IPA, it’s the perfect end to a long Autumn day spent on the golf course.  Advance booking is required in order to avail of the special rate and offer.  While many courses will be seeing a natural drop off in traffic over the coming months, Fota will remain a busy place.  The extensive sanding programme, which has been taking place for over 15 years has ensured a consistent playing experience for golfers all year around.  The Academy will also see a large increase in traffic over the winter as golfers move from play to practice.  As well as covered and open driving bays and a large range, the Academy features an extensive short game area.

 

 

 

Kids Golf Camps this Easter

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A few clubs are running kids coaching camps this month as the golfing season finally gets underway.  Monkstown, Frankfield, Fernhill and Fota Island are all holding camps to coincide with the extended school holidays.

Cian McNamara is running three day camp in Monkstown starting on the 22nd March.  Along with Graeme Dunlea, the pair have split the young golfers into three groups – boys 6-9, boys 10-13 and girls 6-13.  Details are available on the Monkstown Golf Club Pro Shop Facebook page.Monkstown Junior Camp Easter 2016

Frankfield Junior Camp Easter 2016Frankfield Golf Academy have all of their 2016 dates available and they also run their Easter camp from 22-24 March.  Camps run from 10.30am to 1.30pm and further camps are scheduled for July and August.  David Whyte and Michael Ryan are running the courses.  Fota Island have a camp in the Academy, starting on Wednesday 23rd and running until Friday 25th, details are available on the Fota Island website.

Wayne O’Callaghan’s Golf Academy is running a camp in Fernhill Golf Club, it takes place on 28th-30th March,  classes run from 10am to 1pm each day.  Wayne is also hosting a Wee Wonders qualifier on 31st March where the winners will qualify for St Andrew’s in August.  The age limit is 12 and full details are available from Wayne.

 

 

Fota Island ready for 2016 Season

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Fota-Sign_1Fota Island will get their competitive golfing season up and running on the 13th March when they host their Senior Scratch Cup.  The competition is being held over 18 holes and they have again partnered with Top Golfer, ensuring that there will be some great prizes on offer.  The senior scratch cup has generally marked the start of the competitive season in Cork and a full time sheet is expected as golfers travel from all over Munster.  In fact golfers could travel from further afield this year, Fota Island are hosting the GUI Senior Interprovincials so you can expect to see golfers from all four provinces playing on the Deerpark course between now and July.  The entry fee is €40 and anyone interested in playing Continue reading →

Cork North/West are Boys Champions

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(Originally Published 8th Sept 2009)

Junior Golf in Munster took a huge leap forward last Saturday with the staging of the first inter-county boys competition.  Over the past ten months six county squads were selected from their clubs to go forward to complete a training programme.  The programme was developed by GUI Provincial Coach Fred Twomey and delivered by PGA professionals in each region.  Saturday marked the conclusion of the current phase when the six county teams competed for the inaugural Boy’s Under 14 Inter-County Trophy.  And it was Cork North & West under the guidance of Mallow’s Michael Collins who won on the day.

Despite working at club, provincial, national and international level for quarter of a century, Saturday last stood out for Munster Branch Chairman Michael Cashman: “In my 25 years in Munster Golf the Fota under 14 Day  was by far the most satisfying and rewarding day I ever experienced in Golf.  I hope that more Clubs in Munster will adopt the under 14 Boys Teaching programme.   The Munster Branch will certainly be delighted to help and assist in every way.  Special credit must go to Fred Twomey (Munster Coach) and the Club Professionals who were part of the teaching programme, for the last 10 months they gave of their time to teach these boys the skills of golf, the scores returned in Fota bears proof of this.  The Chairman also thanked the clubs and the golfers themselves and of course the parents who gave their time to transport to boys from the various sessions around the province during the year.

The Munster Branch has been trying to develop junior golf at a time when numbers in the sport are static.  The current programme was developed by Twomey who recently qualified as an Advanced Professional from the Belfry.  The programme has been supported on the ground by clubs and parents and most importantly PGA professionals who managed the training programme.  While Twomey can take credit for the programme he is quick to mention all involved in the recent developments in junior golf: “Michael Cashman, the chairman of the Munster Branch has led from the start, Michael Murphy, junior convenor, Liam Martin, Peter English, Sean O’Leary and Phil Cooney the Munster Youths Captain, have all done great work to develop young golfers.”  Twomey continued “the programme, with the support of the Munster Branch started several years ago with the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick.  Golf is to be improved not just as an elite panel on our pyramid but more importantly the foundation of our development is to show this game to all kids.”  It’s hoped that after the successful launch, more clubs will become involved in the initiative.

(Note: The pictures include Michael Murphy from Tramore and Michael Cashman from East Cork, both huge supporters of junior golf.  Murphy was the Junior Convenor and Cashman was Chairman)

GOLF_Munster Branch_Inter County Boys_Cork North_Sept09

Winning Team – Cork North/East: K O’Keeffe, E Goggin, J Sugrue ( Mallow), M Cronin (Macroom), C O’Callaghan (Youghal),G O’Mahony, D Lucey, C Murphy (Lee Valley). Coach Michael Collins (Mallow Driving Range)

GOLF_Munster Branch_Inter County Boys_Limerick_Sept09

Runners Up – Limerick: R Cunningham, R Murphy (Castletroy) D O’Mahony (Adare Manor) M McGrath, R. Hunt, G. Fitzgearld (Limerick Golf Club), S.O’Neill, D Wrenn ( Limerick County). Coach (Donal Mc Sweeney (Limerick County)

GOLF_Munster Branch_Inter County Boys_Cork South_Sept09

Cork South /West: M Mc Carthy (Muskerry), A Crowley (Skibereen), D Meany (Cobh) M.O’Connell (Cork),  Stephen & Shane Bennett (Lismore), Michael & Jack Howard (Raffeen Creek).  Coach: Paul Kiely (Cork)

GOLF_Munster Branch_Inter County Boys_Kerry_Sept09

Kerry: S Carroll (Ballybunion), J O’Shea (Dooks), R Kelly, D Fitzgearld, J Moran (Tralee), J Lynch (Castleisland), B Curran, N O’Connor (Killarney). Coach: David Keating

GOLF_Munster Branch_Inter County Boys_Clare_Sept09

Clare: D Brennan ( Shannon), J Loughnane, J Mc Namara (East Clare) A Mc Nulty, J Dillon, A Davidson,  J Murphy (Lahinch), E Moriarty (Dromoland). Coach: David Foley (Dromoland)

GOLF_Munster Branch_Inter County Boys_Waterford_Sept09

Waterford: B Norris ( CarrickonSuir), G Leacy (Dungarvan), T & E Conway (West Waterford), D O’Rourke, R Dawson (Faithlegg), B Murray, E O’Dwyer (Waterford Castle). Coach: David Hayes (Dungarvan)

 

 

 

 

 

Leading individual Scores

D O Mahony                       ( Adare Manor)                 48pts

D Lucey                                ( Lee Valley)      46pts

Rory Cunningham            ( Castletroy)       43pts

M Howard                           ( Rafeen Creek)  42pts

Ian Prendergast on the Irish Open Range in Fota

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Ian Prendergast on the Irish Open Range in Fota

Golf_Irish Open_Driving Range

By Niall O’Shea

It’s all hands on deck this week in Fota, and all of the golf staff have new roles on the course supporting the event.  PGA professional Ian Prendergast normally runs lessons and camps from the Academy in Fota but this week the academy has turned into the busiest range in Europe and Ian’s in charge.  With a team of 14, Ian has to ensure that all 156 professionals are looked after whether it’s warming up before the round, or practising afterwards. Continue reading →