Pictures from the four matches starting on the back nine this morning: Continue reading
Monkstown Golf Club
Monkstown’s 180 hole Challenge
Monkstown 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.
Fred Daly Trophy (South) 2019
Busy times for Monkstown’s Shane Irwin
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
Hilary says goodbye to Monkstown
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
Four Munster Titles head to Cork, ILGU Southern District Finals
Monkstown’s Martina McCarthy celebrates with team mates and supporters after her victory on the 19th green to clinch the AIG Minor Cup Munster Final. Picture: Pat Cashman
There was cause for celebration in Tipperary on Sunday as Cork clubs came away with four of the six pennants on offer. Macroom and Monkstown both had two teams in action but each club came away with one win. Macroom losing the Junior Foursomes and Monkstown losing the Junior Cup to East Cork. The four Cork sides won all of the singles events, and now look forward to the All Ireland finals in Knightsbrook at the end of this month.
Changing of the Guard in Monkstown
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.
The successful candidate will report to Monkstown’s Committee of Management and the club has listed a number of requirements for suitable candidates. Applications can be addresses to chairman@monkstowngolfclub.com and the closing date for applications is Friday 14th September. Full details on the role are listed below Continue reading
Gallery: AIG Senior Cup Munster Finals, Monkstown v Dungarvan
Pictures from Thurles: Continue reading
Glen Rovers & St Nicks all set for Classic
Denis Cregan from Dino’s presents a sponsorship cheque for the St Nicks/Glen Rovers Golf Classic to Des Cullinane Chairman St Nicks, along with Noel Lynam President and Mary Newman PRO Glen Rovers. Also present were organisers Joe O’Shea James Galvin Pat Bourke and Finbarr Mc Carthy
Glen Rovers and St Nicks are all set for their fundraising golf classic on Friday with a full timesheet and host of great prizes. The event takes place in Monkstown Golf Club and is again sponsored by Dino’s This is the fourth year that Denis Creegan has sponsored the event, having supported it for many years. Anyone wishing to support the event should contact any of the organisers.
