PGA

Busy time for Fred in Muskerry

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Fred Twomey with a welcoming smile at the Pro Shop in Muskerry Golf Club.

It was far from a quiet start to the day in Muskerry on Monday.  Even though it was a bank holiday the car park was busy and the timesheet was full.    The outdoor dining area was ready to reopen and in the pro shop Fred Twomey was busy running the show from behind the counter.  From filling out cards, to booking in golfers and lessons it’s all in a days work for the popular PGA Club Professional.  After the lockdown closure that lasted over five months, Fred is busy, but he’s delighted to be back in the thick of it in a very busy club.

“We’ve been up the walls, and it’s a great problem to have” explained Continue reading →

Advertisement

Cork Pro’s fundraise for Colleague

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Fundraising Card Ian st John-1A large number of PGA Professionals in Cork have embarked on an ambitions fundraising drive to help Tramore native Ian St John as he battles to recover from a devastating illness.  Led by Cian McNamara, eight Cork based professionals have committed to raising €4,000 as part of a €40,000 nationwide fundraising campaign.  The project is aiming to collect €20 each from golfers, pro’s and supporters with the aim of collecting €4,000 in each of the ten selected regions.  The funds are being raised to purchase a piece of specialised equipment to help Ian’s recovery.

While all Munster PGA’s are involed in the campaign, the eight Cork Pro’s designated are Liam Burns, Peter Hickey, Ger Broderick, Paddy O’Boyle, Stephen Hayes, Alan Gleeson, David O’Sullivan, and Cian McNamara.  Each of the eight have sponsorship cards, and all Cork (and Munster) based PGA professionals have more details on the campaign.  The campaign will run for another three weeks.

More details on the fundraising campaign are included Continue reading →

Ian Stafford Awarded Fellow Status by PGA

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Ian Stafford_April 2018_1Popular golf teaching Professional Ian Stafford was recently awarded the Fellow designation by the PGA.  The Innishannon and Kinsale based pro has continued to invest in his continuing professional development and now becomes only the second PGA professional in Munster to hold the fellow status.  Ian’s latest qualification was approved by the APAL process (Accreditation of Professional Achievement and Learning).  Each application is considered by the APAL Council which consists of longstanding PGA Members, representatives of the R&A, the golf industry, an advisor from the university sector and two PGA Senior Staff members.  On the island of Ireland there are currently over 500 PGA Professionals only 12 of which currently have Fellow status, with Stafford being the youngest to reach Fellow level at 36.  This follows on Ian’s qualification as a Level 3 Advanced Coach which he achieved in 2016, and his motivation stems from one of the cornerstones of his teaching.  “As a coach I’m Continue reading →

O’Callaghan wins in Monkstown

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com / Leave a comment

Golf_Morgan O'Donovan Trophy_Wayne O'Callaghan_Mar2014

Wayne O’Callaghan continued his great record in Monkstown Golf Club on Monday when he won the Morgan O’Donovan Trophy.  The event was the final competition of the Munster PGA winter series and it was the second time that PGA members played to remember their colleague. In 2013, Peter O’Keeffe and Damien McGrane tied to take the title and O’Callaghan was extremely happy to add his name to the commemorative trophy; “this trophy meant a lot as I was great friends with Morgan since we both played boys golf together.  I would put it up with my win at the Irish Assistants championship 1997”.  The busy teaching professional who runs his Academy from Fernhill Golf Club has four Monkstown Pro-Am titles to his name.  However in spite of his great record he must have been worried as he carded a 7 on the par 4 final hole.  O’Callaghan had done enough though, four birdies and a bogey on the front nine saw him take a lead and he added another birdie on the 15th before finding trouble on the 18th.  It was still good enough to Continue reading →