Youghal Golf Club

Membership Options in Cobh and Youghal

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Youghal Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

We’re just about into February and many golfers who took the winter off will be targeting their return to the fairways this month.  Many clubs have announced membership offers for those looking to join a club, an option that gives golfers a number of benefits compared with casual golfers.

Golf Ireland is the national governing body for the sport and any affiliated club can provide a Golf Ireland handicap index for new members looking to play in competitions.  Generally three rounds of golf are needed to get an initial handicap index, but once a golfer has that there are very limitations.  Club members can usually access a large number of weekly open Continue reading →

€800k for Cork Clubs

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Kanturk Golf Club was one of 12 Cork clubs to receive a Sports Capital Programme grant last week. Picture: Niall O’Shea

A dozen Cork golf clubs celebrated last week as they were successful in the most recent round of Sports Capital Programme grants.  Over €830,000 was allocated to twelve clubs across the county, and they will now look forward to investing the funds to improve their course and facilities.

Kanturk, Mallow, Kinsale and Doneraile all received grants of more than €100,000 while another eight shared funds from €14,000 to €90,000.  While golf clubs have received sports capital funding in the past, the recent announcement is by far the biggest on an individual and collective Continue reading →

East Cork’s Golfing History

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While Fota Island can be regarded as Cork’s top championship golf location, not many people will know that the Fota was the site of the first record organised golf in Cork.  Back in 1883, over 135 years ago the first course in Cork was laid out on the Smith Barry Estate.  The course in Fota was the second recorded course in Ireland, and it lasted around 30 years until the game spread by way of the large increase in the number of courses and clubs.  It’s not known where exactly on the island that the course was located but it’s unlikely that it was on the site of the current course.

Owned by Lady Barrymore who lived in Fota House, the course was a short nine hole layout and was mainly used in the early days by the Officers of the British Army stationed in Cork.  Although it boasts the earliest records of the sport in Cork, it seems that there was no golf in Fota until 1993 when a new course was established by an international property investment fund.  A fore runner to the current championship layout, the course was popular among local golfers and hosted the Irish Amateur Open and the Irish Club Professional tournaments in the early years.  All changed at the turn of the century when Dr Tim O’Mahony’s Killen Investments commenced a multi-million pound investment and redeveloped the course into a European Tour level course.  That course hosted the Murphy’s Irish Open in 2001 and 2002.  In 2004 there was another change of ownership when the course was bought by John Fleming who set about a substantial development that saw a hotel and housing development.  The property play was combined with a new nine hole course in addition to the development Continue reading →

East Cork’s Golfing History

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

While Fota Island can be regarded as Cork’s top championship golf location, not many people will know that the Fota was the site of the first record organised golf in Cork.  Back in 1883, over 135 years ago the first course in Cork was laid out on the Smith Barry Estate.  The course in Fota was the second recorded course in Ireland, and it lasted around 30 years until the game spread by way of the large increase in the number of courses and clubs.  It’s not known where exactly on the island that the course was located but it’s unlikely that it was on the site of the current course.  Owned by Lady Barrymore who lived in Fota House, the course was a short nine hole layout and was mainly used in the early days by the Officers of the British Army stationed in Cork.  Although it boasts the earliest records of the sport in Cork, it seems that there was no golf in Fota until 1993 when a ne Continue reading →

Bank Holiday Opens to Kick Start Season

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Liam Burns

Liam Burns from Youghal reports that the course is in great condition

St Patrick’s weekend always marks the start of the golfing season, and this weekend a large number of Cork clubs are kicking off their season with the start of the open competitions.  Youghal is one of those clubs, they are holding a three person champagne scramble over Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  Youghal kept all 18 holes open through the winter but with members playing 14 or 15 hole competitions it meant that several holes were rested allowing for winter maintenance.  A sanding programme was completed over the winter and the greens have been running true and quick over the past few weeks.  The club recently concluded their spring league which ran over four weeks, and open and counting competitions will return for members and guests.  The entry fee this weekend is just €20 and bookings can be made through Liam Burns in the Pro Shop on 024 92590.

Fermoy have brought a nice twist to their champagne scramble on Monday, the winning team will receive magnums of champagne.  And with an entry fee of just €15 per person it offers some great value on the bank holiday.  On Saturday Fermoy have an open singles competition for €20, and on Sunday you can play in the open two ball scramble for €20, and that includes a meal.  Bookings can be made by calling the club on 025 31472.  Fota Island have open events running over four days.  From tomorrow through to Sunday you can experience the tour quality course and the famous clubhouse burger for €55 per person.  On Monday there’s an open singles on the Deerpark Continue reading →

Long Read: Liam Burns Celebrates 25 years in Youghal

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Liam BurnsLiam Burns is a West Cork man by birth, but after 25 years in Youghal, he surely qualifies as an East Cork man.  Liam is celebrating 25 years as the Club Professional at Youghal Golf Club and after taking up the game in his mid teens, he turned it into a career.  It’s surprising to hear that Liam was a later comer to golf, but once he started he was bitten by the bug.  “I only started playing golf at age 16 with my good friend school teacher Paddy Kehoe” explained the Bandon native.  “Paddy thought me in Hamilton High School in Bandon and his son Mark was single handicap player at the time.  They encouraged me to play golf as my parents didn’t play.  Starting out I would play 36 holes a day sometimes.  Whenever I got a chance I was on the golf Continue reading →

South East League Update: East Cork & West Waterford lead

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The South East league is underway with 9 clubs taking part in the competition this year.  The competition uses a combination of Bruen and Purcell pairings and is an ideal warm-up for the Cups & Shields competitions later in the year.  West Waterford have topped their section after three rounds, with Youghal taking second place.  Only two rounds have taken place in Section B and East Cork are out in front on 16 points.  Mahon are second with 13 points and Mitchelstown are third on 10 points.  Cobh and Fermoy have played just one match each and will no doubt be hoping to catch the leaders as the competition continues.

South East League2

 

Five Cork Clubs to battle for Three Pennants

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Muskerry's Hallissey & Whooley walking the walk in Muskerry

Muskerry’s Hallissey & Whooley walking the walk in Muskerry

There are no fewer than five Cork clubs in action this weekend for the final three Cups & Shields events.  Dungarvan Golf Club will be the centre of attention this weekend when three Munster Pennants will be awarded.  11 clubs from all over the province will compete, with Ballybunion in action twice.  Staff and members in Dungarvan GC have been putting in great efforts to present their course in the best possible shape for the showpiece event and golfers and spectators can look forward to a great weekend of action.

Muskerry, holders of the AIG Barton Shield Continue reading →