Monkstown Golf Club

Cope Alliance launch 46th schedule

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One of Cork’s most impressive golfing groups have finalised plans for their 2023 season.  The Cope Golf Alliance is now in it’s 46th year and the group plan to have another busy year where as well as plenty of golf, they’ll also continue to raise funds for Cope Foundation.  Since the late 1970’s the alliance has raised  over €1.7million and this year they expect to add over €40,000 to that total.

Mens Captain James Doolan is looking forward to the season, his 20th year as a member.  “Everyone involved with the Cope Golf Alliance is looking forward to the 2023 season, which kicks off for the Ladies on April 3rd at Cork G.C., and on April 24th for the Men, at Monkstown.  The Alliance members are drawn from Cork, Douglas, Monkstown and Muskerry Golf Clubs.  Because the four clubs give their courses free of charge for Alliance competitions, the entire amount collected from members (€75 each), goes to the COPE Foundation.  We also have generous, long-standing sponsors who take care of the prizes for each outing, and at our recent AGM, we presented a cheque for €43,500 to the Cope Foundation.” Continue reading →

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Desmond takes home win at Senior Cup Alliance

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Sean Desmond made the most of home advantage in Monkstown on Saturday, he shot one under in testing conditions to win the second senior cup alliance event.  Desmond produced a great display of golf to finish one under and one shot ahead of the field of over 30 golfers.

Desmond eagled the par four fourth hole and followed that with a birdie on the fifth which was playing really hard in the cold wet conditions.  He did give tow shots back to the course on 6th and 8th, but he played very steady golf on the way back to finish as the only player under par.

Muskerry’s Stephen Riordan finished in second place on level par, he’s just back from the Faldo Series Grand Final in Dubai and the warm weather practice is still paying dividends for him.  Jack Murphy from Douglas took third place with a two over par 60 and Conor McDowell and Robbie Walsh were next best on 61.

This was the second event in the series, James Walsh was the winner on Muskerry last month.  The competition for members of Cork, Douglas, Monkstown and Muskerry was created to keep a competitive aspect for inter-club players through the winter months.  The next event is scheduled for Cork Golf Club on Saturday 3rd December.

 

Cork Senior Cup Alliance (Monkstown)

1 Sean Desmond (Monkstown) 57

2 Stephen Riordan (Muskerry) 58

3 Jack Murphy (Douglas) 60

4 Conor McDowell (Monkstown) 61

5 Robbie Walsh (Douglas) 61

William Dwyer Inter-Society Trophy Winners

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Year Winners Venue
1943 MUNSTER & LEINSTER BANK
1944 COMBINED BANKS
1945 COLLEGE STUDENTS
1946 CORK UNIVERSITY
1947 CORK UNIVERSITY
1948 INSURANCE INSTITUTE
1949 THREE TOWNS
1950 CORK UNIVERSITY
1951 CIVIL SERVICE
1952 MUNSTER & LEINSTER BANK
1953 CHRISTIAN COLLEGE P.P.U.
1954 CORK UNIVERSITY
1955 MUNSTER & LEINSTER BANK
1956 OLD CHRISTIANS
1957 CORK CIVIL SERVICE
1958 SOUTHERN COMMAND
1959 CORK CIVIL SERVICE
1960 WOOLEN TRADERS
1961 CORK UNIVERSITY
1962 WOOLEN TRADERS
1963 CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
1964 TRAVELLERS
1965 SOUTHERN COMMAND
1966 CORK CIVIL SERVICE &L.G
1967 MUNSTER & LEINSTER BANK
1968 MUNSTER & LEINSTER BANK
1969 INSURANCE INSTITUTE
1970 IRISH DUNLOP
1971 COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS
1972 MEDICALS
1973 VEROLME DOCKYARD
1974 PRESENTATION COLLEGE
1975 VEROLME DOCKYARD
1976 IRISH DUNLOP
1977 CORK GARDA
1978 FORDS
1979 PRESENTATION COLLEGE
1980 LITTLE ISLAND
1981 CORK GARDA
1982 CORK COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS
1983 CORK GARDA
1984 MARLBOROUGH
1985 CORK GARDA
1986 LITTLE ISLAND
1987 MARLBOROUGH
1988 BYRNE BUTCHERS
1989 MARLBOROUGH
1990 OUR LADYS HOSPITAL
1991 ESB
1992 ESB MARINA
1993 ESB
1994 SMITHKLINE BEECHAM
1995 ESB MARINA Douglas
1996 CORK CORPORATION Monkstown
1997 IFI Cork
1998 FAS Muskerry
1999 ELI LILLY Monkstown
2000 SIFCO Douglas
2001 GLAXO SMITHKLINE Cork
2002 MIDLETON  C.B.S Mahon
2003 ESB MARINA Monkstown
2004 MILLSTREET G.S. East Cork
2005 BOWEN GROUP Cork
2006 MIDLETON  C.B.S Douglas
2007 GLAXO SMITHKLINE Monkstown
2008 DE PUI Harbour Point
2009 LADA Cork
2010 WILTON TRADERS Douglas
2011 ESB WILTON Monkstown
2012 MACTOUMS Cork
2013 ESB WILTON Douglas
2014 ESB WILTON Monkstown
2015 Senior Circle Cork
2016 Senior Circle Douglas
2017 MIDLETON  C.B.S Cork
2018 MIDLETON  C.B.S Monkstown
2019 Senior Circle Douglas
2022 Mollies Cork

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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 →

Ryan wins PGA Southern Championship

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Monkstown Captain Donal Delaney presenting the PGA Southern Championship trophy to David Ryan (East Cork GC) after his win last week.

David Ryan picked up the first bit of silverware in the PGA season last week.  The East Cork Club Pro won the Irish PGA Southern Championship in Monkstown, beating an impressive field.  Ryan went around in 66 strokes and took the title by a single stroke.  “It was great to win last week said David, “it just goes to show there’s life in the old dog yet and it was nice to have East Cork GC after the name up in lights.”  Ryan is well used to winning on the Irish PGA circuit and he has racked up a number of wins in Monkstown, as well as previously winning the Southern Championship.

“I won the same event in Powerscourt in 2012 shooting the same score.  As for Monkstown golf club I love playing up there always have. It’s the type of course that suits my game.  It’s not the longest but you have to think your away around.  I’ve had a bit of success in Monkstown.  I’ve won the pro-am and also the Morgan O’Donovan event which was a nice one to win as Morgan was one Continue reading →

Passage West GAA Classic 2021

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Sean Geary from Passage West GAA and Sean Sheehan from sponsors Wisetek pictured at the launch of the club’s annual golf classic. Also included are club members and supportsrs including Cork players Robbie O’Flynn and Laura Treacy. The classic takes place in Monkstown Golf Club on 22nd & 23rd July.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Passage West GAA Club are heading to the course next week, their annual golf classic takes place in Monkstown Golf Club over two days and the course should be busy with plenty of interest in the event.  The golf classic is a regular feature in the club calendar and returns after missing last year due to Covid.  Already there has been a lot of interest in the event with members and supporters signing up to play.

The event take place on the 22nd and 23rd July.  The format is a team of three, the cost is €250 per team and the club are closing in on their target of 75 teams over the two days.  There’s also an option to sponsor a tee box for €100, or a corporate rate for a team and tee box sponsorship.  The main sponsors for the classic are Wisetek and the Cork company are delighted to support t Continue reading →

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 →

Maurice takes the helm at Monkstown

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Mauriec O’Meara who recenytly joined Monkstown Golf Club as General Manager.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

It’s a few months since Maurice O’Meara joined the team in Monkstown, and the experienced golf club manager is settling into his hew role.  Having previously worked as general manager in Killarney, Dooks and The Island, O’Meara has seen all aspects of the game in Ireland over the last 20 years.  And the Dublin native jumped at the opportunity to take on the GM role in Monkstown when the vacancy arose during the summer.  “During my years in golf club management and from my time in Dooks and Killarney, I would have had regular interaction with members of Monkstown as we had a lot of visiting groups from Cork and also a lot of dual members” explained Maurice.  “What I would have heard of Monkstown was very positive, and this was very important in my decision to take up the role here.  Like any club Monkstown has faced challenges over the last number of years, however the club is in a great place now, with a thriving membership.  It’s been great to see the popularity of Continue reading →