Hilary Madden pictured with Martin Travers and Cian McNamara
Monkstown’s Hilary Madden will retire this week after 16 years as general manager in the golf club. It’s been a very eventful time for golf clubs in Ireland, with big changes happening in those two decades. In 2002, when Hilary took on the role in Monkstown golf in Ireland was very different. There were waiting lists and large entry fees for anyone wanting to join, that period also marked a big increase in the number of courses. Like many other courses, Monkstown had impressive development plans at the time which included an impressive new clubhouse, a new maintenance and greenkeeper compound. Work on the course which drainage and bunker redevelopment, and it fell to the manager to oversee the plans which was set to reposition Monkstown back to the top table. Luckily for Monkstown the work was completed by time the downturn came, but they still had to finance the projects which was a challenge for the club. “As common with most clubs in Ireland the economic depression from 2008 to 2014 resulted Continue reading
After 16 years at Monkstown, General Manager Hilary Madden recently announced his retirement and the club has just started the recruitment campaign for his replacement. Monkstown was one of the original “four Cork clubs” and it remains a private members club. With a history that dates back over 110 years, the club is steeped in history. Having come through the past decade the club, Monkstown is now ideally positioned to continue the positive work that has been ongoing over the past six years.
Cian McNamara is just two shots off the lead in the PGA Professional Championship at Little Aston. The Monkstown man produced rounds of 67 and 69 to reach the halfway stage on -8 and tied for 4th place. McNamara is on a run of good form and had 13 birdies over the two rounds to put himself in a position to claim the £10,000 top prize. McNamara has finished in the top ten last year and will be hoping for another decent payday this year. David Higgins is just outside the top ten on -6 and Headforts Joe Dillon is just one off the lead on -9.
