Golfing News

St. Helen's

Despite the economic gloom, St. Helen’s Bay Golf Resort continues its efforts to attract much-needed golf tourists to the area. A major campaign involving several key partners, Stenaline, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Gary Breen SERTA and Club Choice (a new 12 Club Marketing Group of 4 star golf resorts), has been under way in the U.K. for the past few months.

Mindful of the huge numbers of golfers (over four million) and golf societies based in the U.K., who travel in large numbers to the Spanish and Portuguese golf destinations, the Club Choice group engaged two representatives in the golf market in the U.K. to do the ‘shoe leathering’ to get U.K. golfers to take a look at coming to Ireland instead.

Following on the awareness campaign, where over 150 clubs in the U.K. were visited directly by the two promoters, the Club Choice group have now organised the next stage of the promotion, i.e. this week they partnered with the two top golf tour operators - Dave Houghton, Irish Golf Holidays, and Nevada Bobs Golf Holidays, who are bringing to the Club Choice clubs 40 golf society organisers, who will be making group bookings in their clubs in 2010.

This is one of the biggest golf familiarisation visits to Ireland and certainly the most important to the St. Helen’s club.

The guests, who are staying overnight in St. Helen’s Bay, having arrived courtesy of Stenaline, are playing golf there on Wednesday and enjoying traditional Irish craic in a local pub. The tour operators have been to Wexford town on a pre-visit recce mission, visiting some local hotels, pubs, restaurants and golf clubs.

The whole visit which is taking four days around the Leinster area is being organised by Citrus Enterprises, project managers of the Club Choice marketing initiative.

A major development has just been awarded to the Club Choice marketing group in the last couple of weeks by the announcement of Fáilte Ireland of a new professional P.R. and promotional company based in the U.K., who will promote the Irish golf product there by various means, hopefully giving rise to a major increase in enquiries and bookings for golf breaks here.

The company involved, Azalia, is headed up by Seán Nobel who has 16 years experience in the golf tourism business in the U.K., and Henry Alliss, son of the great Peter Alliss.

All the leads for golf in the south-east and midlands/Dublin areas are being ‘ground handled’ by Club Choice through Citrus representatives. This initiative should deliver a huge increase in a very welcome ‘golf breaks’ business to the clubs requested by the U.K. golfers.

Further marketing partnerships for forward-looking golf clubs are being considered in light of these positive developments.

Tuskar Rock

Thinking of Christmas presents? How about membership of a golf club and membership of a health centre at a very reasonable price, or golf lessons to start or improve your game. Contact Tuskar Rock Golf Club for details.

Rosslare Ladies

Saturday week saw the final fourball prize of the month going to the regular pairing of Carol O’Brien (16) and Niamh Byrne (17) with a total of 34 points. Second prize went to another regular duo, Sheila Crosbie (17) and Molly Cash (18), with a score of 31 points.

The month of November started with a 16-hole turkey competition singles event and the winners were: 1, Kitty Roche (15), 36 points; 2, Mary McDonald (16), 35 points; 3, Trish Devereux (20), 34 points; 4, Kit Codd (16), 33 points (back eight); 5, Niamh Byrne (17), 33 points. The super seniors prize over nine holes went to Pauline Maguire (27) with 17 points.

Variation is the order of the month for November, with a ladies’ team of four event on Saturday next with two to count (turkey competition). An open singles competition is being held on Wednesday, November 18, with a visitor’s entry fee of ¤25. This is followed on Saturday, November 21, by a ladies’ 14-hole four-person scramble, so lots of different golf promised for the month.

Courtown

It has been another busy week for Courtown, with Jim French and Mary Osborne hosting the Captains’ dinner in the clubhouse on Friday night. One hundred and seventy members turned out to show their appreciation for the work that these two hard-working Captains have undertaken during the year.

Once again our caterer, Maureen Savage, did us proud. Serving that number of people in one sitting is not an easy task, but as usual the quality of food was excellent. The night’s entertainment continued for several hours after the meal, with Derek Cunningham providing the music.

On Sunday evening following the showing of the Chelsea/Manchester United match, we had a re-run of the Miss Kiltennel competition, and I must say that it seemed to be as funny on video as it was on the actual night. Thanks to Noel McCabe for the recording.

Last weekend we had a slight change to the Ulster Bank winter league when we played the competition over 14 holes instead of the usual 13. We played one through ten and then 15 to 18, and in general all who played seemed to enjoy the change, saying that they all prefered to finish going over the 18th.

The third round of the winter league which had to be postponed last weekend will now be played on the weekend of November 29. All other rounds will be played as scheduled.

This weekend there will be a ladies’ and gents’ turkey singles on Saturday and Sunday, with round three of the Azure ladies’ winter league on Sunday.

Scoring could not have been tighter at the top for the weekly turkey fourball, with all three in the winning enclosure sharing the same score.

Results: 1, Patsy Kavanagh (17), Derek O’Shea (18), 34 points (last nine); 2, Tom Foster (13), Bernard Byrne (13), 34 points (last three); 3, Vinny Kavanagh (13), Tony Kinsella (11), 34 points (last nine).

Weekly nine-hole: Cat. 1, Colin Poole (13), 22 points; Cat. 2, Frank Byrne (18), 22 points.

Ballymoney

The truly beautiful weather conditions on Sunday attracted a very respectable turn-out of members for a highly-competititive-stableford competition. Great credit to the ever-industrious and effecient ground staff for presenting the course in as good a condition as could be expected for the time of year.

As was expected, scoring was very good. Four players finished with 39 points and countback was needed to sort out the placings. In fact, four scores of 38 points were also postedm and on another day surely one of these would have been in the winners’ enclosure. Well done to all as most players in the field broke 30 points.

The land of Cymru provided two of the winners. Robert Fry (14) had eight pars and two birdies to finished first. Newcomer to the podium, Michael O’Brien (17), took second place, and our other Welshman, Jon Williams (14), also had a cracking round to nudge the ever-brilliant Paul Guifoyle (7) out of third spot.

Jon had back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th and, but for an unfortunate scratch on the index one first hole, would surely have emerged victorious. Paul Guilfoyle’s eleven pars and a birdie amazingly just wasn’t enough, reflecting how well the scoring went.

Saturday next sees our second v. par competition, and this should give the lower handicappers an advantage! Many thanks to our hard-working Secretary, Charlie Logan, ably assisted by Andrew Byrne, for collating the scores so promptly.

New Ross Ladies

Wednesday, November 4, 14-hole stableford: 1, Ellen Howlett (30), 31 points; 2, Joanne Hartley (32), 30 points; 3, Joan Foley (36), 27 points.

There will be a presentation of prizes tonight (Wednesday) at 8 p.m. All prize-winners are asked to attend.

New Ross Seniors

There was a record turn-out at our weekly outing on Thursday last when 60 hardy souls took to the fairways in cold but dry conditions. With placing in operation everywhere except in the bunkers, scoring was bound to be excellent between the 15 four-man teams.

So it proved, for well clear of the field with a terrific tally of 94 points were Jim Meggs (13), Michael Markwick (18), Seán Ryan (20) and Mick Martin (28). The runner-up spot was filled by John Kennedy (15), Pat Traynor (16), Tommy Tyler (18) and Michael Brennan (18) with a creditable 91 points.

On a countback, the team of Seán Furlong (12), Fr. Jim Curtis (15), Seamus Wall (21) and Aidan O’Connor (21), who brought in 90 points, claimed the third spot. Nearest the pin prizes went to Michael Brennan and John Ronan.

In recent weeks an unwelcome aspect of the outings has been slow play by some teams which, to say the least, is irritating to those playing behind them. In future any team deemed to be guilty of such an offence will be docked four points off their total score.

Usual draw for teams next Thursday at 10.45 a.m., and all players, please be in time because the dark evenings are fast closing in.

Enniscorthy

There was a great turn-out on Tuesday of last week for the ladies’ 15-hole stableford turkey competition. Scores were very tight but congratulations to Nan Kavanagh (24) who came in with a great 30 points (back six). Second was Mary O’Shea (16) on 30 points (back three), and in third place was Marie Dunphy (20) with 30 points.

Saturday next, November 14, is the Martin Doyle classic. Teams are now drawn and the list is up in the ladies’ locker room. We look forward to seeing you all Saturday night for ladies’ night, which should be great craic.

Martin Doyle’s gents’ open Seniors take place tomorrow (Thursday). Last month, this event attracted a record attendance and the timesheet is currently full, but please leave your name with the club in the event of a cancellation.

The open fourball continues until February and again, despite the damp conditions, scoring was well above par, with the dynamic duo of Paddy Mooney and John Doyle on 42 points again providing a great performance for first.

In second were the old Post Office workmates, Jimmy Bolger and Nick Casey, recording 41 points (last six), and visitors Dermot Walsh (Rosslare) and Derek Wickham (St. Helen’s Bay), no strangers to the course, carded 41 points.

The club’s committee members had a lovely day out in Bunclody Golf Club on Sunday last. The winning team carded a remarkable 93 points, of which five were attributed to an eagle on the 18th par five when Pat Mulvey placed his drive in position A1 for a clear shot with a fairway wood to the green, leaving it pin high four feet from the hole.

The course was in great condition and Enniscorthy Captain, Declan Lyons, thanked Nick Byrne, club President, and club Captain Ciarán Redmond for their reception and generosity on behalf of the lady Captain, Cora Mernagh, and committee members present.

Kevin Markham has recently reviewed the course on his blog at http://golfcoursesireland.blogspot.com and given it a favourable evaluation.

Dates for your diaries: club dinner, November 28; men’s club A.G.M. followed by the club A.G.M., Sunday, December 6.

New Ross

Club matchplay championship - Jim Byrne v. Reiner Opperman: after a great match, Jim Byrne overcame Reiner Opperman on the 15th hole to win the singles matchplay. Jim has played great golf all year, winning the Captain’s prize back in June.

Fourball: Donal Hosey and Seamus O’Leary v. Andrew Ronan and Emmett Ronan: Donal Hosey and Seamus O’Leary were defending champions, and to get to the final once more was a great achievement, but they went a further step, winning a pulsating match against two of the lowest handicap players in the club.

Emmett Ronan and his cousin, Andrew, played under par golf, only to be denied on the 18th by a brilliant four out of the bunker by Seamus ‘Scarey’ O’Leary to win one up.

Foursomes: Davy Doran and Eddie Sweeney v. Michael Ryan and Michael Ryan Jnr.: Davy Doran and Eddie Sweeney went into the final of the foursomes as strong favourites, but the combination of Michael Ryan and his son, Michael Jnr., proved too good for them with superb golf, winning on the 15th hole.

Mixed: Davy Doran and Eileen Kinsella v. Ned and Ann Fenlon: Ann and Ned Fenlon, huge favourites going into the final, showed their prowess by edging out Davy Doran and Eileen Kinsella in a great tussle on the 15th.

October 25: 1, John Hartley (Kilkenny, 14), 13 points; 2, Patrick Bennett (15), 40 points; 3, Frank Doyle (12), 39 points; gross, Aidan Moore, 37 points; Cat. 1, Declan Harford (9), 36 points; Cat. 2, Mark O’Mahony (10), 38 points; Cat. 3, Willie Kelly (15), 37 points; Cat. 4, M.J. Cullen (21), 37 points.

Rosslare

Last weekend the turkey competitions began in Rosslare and a number of people secured an early Christmas dinner. The turkey competitions continue next weekend.

On Wednesday, November 18, there is an open ladies’ and gents’ singles. Visitors, ¤25.

On Thursday, November 26, there is an open ladies’ and gents’ Seniors (Over-50). Visitors, ¤25.

Wexford

The turkey competitions are in full swing, with v. par fourballs taking place on both Saturday and Sunday. Derek Furlong and Seamus Byrne took victory on Saturday with 6 up, a shot ahead of Declan Curran and Tom Connon.

On Sunday, four wins on the last four holes gave Tom Foran and Alan Keeling two shots to spare over T.A. Ryan and Seán Buckley, with Mal O’Keeffe and Tommy O’Donnell a shot further back.

The Wednesday invitational fourball was won by Tommy and Richie Byrne who had two shots to spare over Seán ‘Crofter’ Crosbie and Mick Cronin. Now playing off 24, ‘Crofter’ looks like he may have reached a handicap commensurate with his ability.