Monkstown GC Pro-Shop

Irwin looking forward to 2022

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Monkstown PGA Professional Shane Irwin.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

For the first time since qualifying as a PGA Professional, Monkstown’s Shane Irwin is looking forward to a normal season.  The Limerick native traded in his hurley for a golf clubs a few years back and started his PGA training.  Irwin completed his PGA studies in 2020 but the past two years were interrupted with several lockdowns.  Like plenty of others in golf, he thinks 2022 will be a bumper year for the sport and he has already seen a big increase in the numbers out golfing.

PGA Professional Shane Irwin pictured at the Trackman fitting studio at Monkstown Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

“The winter was much busier than previous years due to not having any sort of lockdowns compared to previous years” explained Irwin.  “In the first few months we had fantastic weather which got a lot of golfers out onto the course.  It really was our first proper winter using the Trackman studio with lessons and custom fitting.  The main areas I think golfers are working on this for this part of the year in particularis the short game and putting.  Indoor facilities like this, especially in the cold winter months,  gives a  golfer important putting and swing analysis along with video technology.  After each lesson we can also send a video summary to each golfers which includes some drills to work on.”

Irwin has been based in Monkstown for just over five years.  In that time he has completed his PGA studies, qualifying in 2020.  Monkstown is now home to three PGA Professionals with Cian McNamara leading the team.  While Cian and Shane are from Limerick, there was a Corkman added to the team recently.  Shane Livesey joined from Douglas last month, and just last week he completed his PGA studies to become a fully qualified PGA Professional.  With three teaching pro’s, access to facilities is key and Irwin is delighted with facilities available to members and guests.

PGA Professional Shane Irwin practicing his putting at the Trackman fitting studio at Monkstown Golf Club. Pic: Niall O’Shea

“We’re looking forward to the club opening the new short game facility.  It will be a great addition to the already fantastic work been done by the club and it will benefit the club teams, Juniors and Members short games massively.  Once the short game area opens in May we will be providing a service with short game demo days featuring the leading brands to test and compare wedges and putters for players.”

While Shane is part of the pro shop team, he’s delighted to be part of the wider team that Continue reading →

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McNamara set for new season in Monkstown

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Cian McNamara, Monkstown’s Club Professional.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Like most club professionals, Cian McNamara was busy last week getting ready for the reopening of golf.  It’s eight years since Cian landed in Monkstown, and the Limerick native has made Cork and Monkstown his home.  Like everyone interested in the sport, Cian was counting down to the reopening of golf.  He is expecting a busy restart to golf, and he’s expecting a busy summer.  “I certainly believe with the long lay-off from golf, golf tuition will be busy over the summer months” said McNamara.  “With Golf Ireland determined to play championships and inter-club events it will also add to the golf tuition demand which will be great.  Custom fitting is certainly a big area that has emerged over the last few years.  With PGA Club Professionals providing the opportunity to compare different models while using various launch monitors it gives the customer the assurance that the purchase they make is certainly suited to their technique.”

McNamara has helped drive several changes in Monkstown and one of the most exciting developments was the opening of a new Trackman studio last year.  The studio has the latest technology including an indoor driving bay and a putting area, and this gives members a real advantage when it comes to analysis and custom fitting.  “The reac Continue reading →

Irwin qualifies as PGA Professional

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Monkstown Pro Shop’s Shane Irwin who recently received graduated as a PGA Professional.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Monkstown based Shane Irwin recently completed his PGA training and the Limerick native is now a qualified PGA Professional.  After three years of training, Shane passed his final exams to receive his degree level qualification from the University of Birmingham.  Shane joins a number of recently qualified golf professionals in Cork, including Alan Gleeson, Davey Barry and Ciaran McKenna.

Prior to working in Monkstown Shane had worked in the industry in South Africa and the US, and that experience gave him the confidence to know that a career in the industry was the way to go.  In 2017 he moved to Cork to take up a role in Monkstown Golf Club.  After spending a few months working in the pro-shop, .n September 2017 he started his PGA training.  Having worked in the US and South Africa prior to that.  It was the next step in a plan for Shane.  Traditionally the PGA apprenticeship was based around learning on the job, but now the degree level course has a Continue reading →

Monkstown’s 180 hole Challenge

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Cian McNamara Jul 2019Monkstown Golf Club are hosting a unique challenge on Saturday, two golfers will try and complete 180 holes in one day. Monkstown’s Club Professional Cian McNamara and General Manager Brian Hurley have set themselves the challenge to play ten rounds of golf in one day. Playing under the rules of golf, and counting both scores, the pair will be walking the course adding to the difficulty of the task. Starting at 4.30am on Saturday morning (28 minutes before dawn!), the challenge is expected to last well into the evening, and with no guarantee of success the two PGA Professionals will have a long day ahead of them on Saturday. The only other similar feat in Cork was completed by Lee Valley’s Denis O’Brien who completed seven rounds at the Clashnure course in Ovens well over a decade ago.

While other similar challenges have been completed in the US, the ten round target is a unique event in Ireland. The event is a fundraiser for the Monkstown Cups and Shields teams, and give that the Club Pro and the GM are doing all of the hard work, it’s not surprising that many of the club members have jumped in to sponsor the holes. All 180 holes in the challenge are now sponsored and with Ronan Murphy’s Smarttech 24/7 joining in as the main sponsor for the event, the club is well on the way to achieving the €10,000 target they set for themselves.

The event has become a real talking point in Monkstown, with many golfers question the reality (and sanity) of trying to complete the 180 hole challenge. That said there’s a great atmosphere around the fundraiser and a large number of members and supporters are expected to come out to cheer on the two golfers on Saturday. While there won’t be too many out for the 4.30am start, it is expected that the crowds will build, especially on Saturday evening.

Busy times for Monkstown’s Shane Irwin

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shane irwin monkstown_dec 2018

Shane Irwin

Monkstown’s Shane Irwin will have a busy few months ahead, as he closes off his second year of training as a PGA Professional.  The Limerick native has spent two years in Cork, working with Cian McNamara in the Monkstown ProShop.  In September 2017 he started his PGA training, having worked in the US and South Africa prior to that.  It was the next step in a plan for Shane.  “First year was very interesting for me as I went straight to the states to work in the golf industry after my leaving cert, so it was all a new experience for me” explained Irwin.  “Going to the states was in itself a learning, the way the American golf industry works and the contacts and friends I have made benefited me greatly to bring all that knowledge back home to Ireland.  The plan was always do America and play in South Africa and come back to do my PGA studies.”  Traditionally the PGA apprenticeship was Continue reading →

Super Q School Start for McNamara

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Cian McNamara (Monkstown GC)

Cian McNamara got his Q School adventure off to a great start today with a three under par 68 to finish inside the top twenty.  It was a very impressive round that saw the Monkstown based pro hole seven birdie putts.  McNamara was one of the last to play today in Golf d’HArdelot in France, and starting from the 10th he birdied his first and second hole.  A bogey followed on the 12th but two more birdies on 15 and 16 saw him move to -3.  McNamara was level for his final ten holes, but he did slot another three birdies on his way to signing for a 68.  The Limerick is tied for 12th place in a large group.

It’s McNamara’s first time back a Q School in three years and he’s been in good form coming up to the event.  He was part of the winning Ireland team at the recent TGI Cup in Lough Erne and he finished in second place in the Connemara Pro-Am last weekend (and won the team competition).  Now as head pro in Monkstown, Cian has entered a new phase and his former full-time playing schedule has been curtailed.  That said he was very both confident and comfortable when looking forward to his trip to France.  “My reasons for entering Q School are actually very simple. I still think I can play” explained McNamara, a former elite amateur and South of Ireland winner.  “I’ve understood as the years have gone on that time is moving quickly and I’ve responsibilities that I need to attain too but it is just something in the back of my head that keeps me awake a little longer a night.  I’m so grateful for the opportunity at Monkstown GC and can categorically say I’m really enjoying my role but when somebody has always wanted to achieve something and doesn’t quite get there I think we are all the same in saying “it bugs you”.  My fiancé Siobhàn basically convinced me and I’m delighted she has done that.   This may or may not happen this year but at least I’ve put myself forward and now it is just simply up to me.”

 

He has an earlier start tomorrow, he’s out Continue reading →

McNamara wins in Delgany, PGA Irish Region

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Monkstown’s Cian McNamara was back in the winners circle yesterday after shooting a five under par 64 at the Delgany Pro-Am.  McNamara has been playing a reduced schedule this year, playing in three or four events each month.  Although not playing as much as some fellow professionals he racked up quite a few top five and top ten finishes this year and proving the Limerick native is still a threat on the Irish region circuit.  On Wednesday he teamed up with his assistant Shane Irwin and both qualified for the PGA Fourball Championship in Headfort, finishing in second place.

McNamara had a good start, he turned on -3 thanks to an eagle on the third and a birdie on the ninth.  Another birdie followed on the 10th but he handed back a shot with a bogey on the 12th.  McNamara had a strong finish with birdies on the 16th and 18th to sign for a five under par 64.  That was more than enough for the win, McNamara was two ahead of second placed Damien McGrane and Daniel Beattie.  It’s a busy week for Cian, he is back in action today at the Beaverstown Pro Am in Donabate.

Seamus Power visits Monkstown

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Seamus Power pictured with Monkstown President Colm Ó Riain, Club Professional Cian McNamara and Monkstown Captain Martin Walsh. Picture: Niall O’Shea

PGA Tour golfer Seamus Power took some time out of his break back in Ireland when he spent a few hours in Monkstown Golf Club on Saturday for a special golf clinic for members.  Power was in Monkstown following an invite from his college team-mate Cian McNamara.  The pair spent a four years in East Tennessee University, both were on the college’s golf roster following impressive junior golf performances in Ireland.  McNamara returned to Ireland, studied for his PGA qualifications and two years ago he landed the job in Monkstown.  Power stayed in the US and spent a few years developing his game on the mini-tours.  The mini-tours in the US are a tough learning ground but Power served his time and moved up the hierarchy step by step until he reached the secondary US tour, the web.com tour.  Following a great year on the web.com tour last year, Power secured his card on the main PGA Tour, and followed that with four successive cuts in his four most recent tournaments.  Power has earned close to $100k so far from the four events and is currently inside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup points list.  The good start to the season means that Seamus Continue reading →