WEXFORD: In 1744 the Gentlemen Golfers of Edinburgh produced the first written set of rules for playing golf. This society evolved into the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and played the game over the five-hole Leith course. Wexford produced its own honourable golfer last week when Mal O'Keeffe (20) won Wednesday's single stableford competition, played over 14 holes, with a score of 34 points.

This was a popular and welcome return to the winners' enclosure for the veteran Mal.

Jan Jenkins (15) claimed second spot with 33 points and Mick Nolan (17) claimed third place on a countback with 32 points.

Saturday's single stapleford was played over ten holes and was won by the steady John Ffrench (18) with three points, made up of four pars, five bogeys and one double bogey.

James Bridges (17) claimed second spot on a countback with 22 points. In third spot, also with 22 points, was ths consistent Leo Connolly (2) who started his round with three birdies and ended up three times in the two club.

The early birds on Sunday looked like extras from 'Avatar' (because they were so blue with the cold), but they managed to compete over ten holes in a single stableford event.

Tommy Byrne (18) was consistency personified and romped home with 25 points, made up of three pars and three bogeys. John Hammond (14) was in second place with 22 points. The highlight of his round was a birdie on the index one hole. Gus Carley (10) got third prize with 21 points.

Fred Boyd brought his captaincy to a conclusion when he hosted the sponsors' night in the clubhouse on Saturday. Mary Butler did the catering with her usual flair and Nicky Murphy made his first public appearance in the Captain's blazer.

Matty Grannell gave a witty and erudite speech on behalf of the sponsors.

COURTOWN LADIES

Clare Duggan's yellow team retained their good form to remain top of the table in the Winter League with 207 points. The team shot 45 points on Sunday last.

The red team - captained by Frances Swords - also scored 45 points. The reds are chasing in second place with 193 points.

Laura Funge's black team lie in third place with 183 points. Round seven will take place on February 7 and round eight will be held on February 21.

The two top teams will play in this Azure-sponsored Winter League final. The next two rounds will be interesting and we will keep a close eye on the results.

January 19, singles stableford: 1, Angela Merrigan (31), 26 points; 2, Ann Targett (18), 25 points.

COURTOWN

With the weather once again playing a big part in the fixtures in Courtown, we were without any weekend competition or Winter League for a second week in a row.

The ladies, however, fared better during the week as did some of the gents for the Wednesday sweep. Members are advised to check their e-mails and other notices for information regarding new dates for outstanding Winter League matches.

BALLYMONEY

An early-morning frost delayed play at the course on Saturday last, but thankfully the 'bit of an auld stretch in the evenings' meant the late starters still had daylight at the finish.

Play got under way at 10.30 a.m. and, in the first group out, Seán Furlong (14), in his first competition of the year, amassed an excellent 40 points. However, with winter rules in operation and with absolutely perfect conditions, scoring proved out of the ordinary.

Pat Madsen (15) certainly made hay while the sun shone and, on a course in tip-top condition, came home with a remarkable 42 points for first place.

A group of players had 39 points and Gavin Doyle took third spot on countback. Well done to all and special mentions in dispatches for Sammy Walker (10) whose 38 points must have been a slight disappointment after his heroics of the last two weeks (!), and commitee member David Murphy (7) who played super golf with three birdies and eight pars for a creditable 36 points.

Sunday next sees another stableford competition, and hopefully there will be an even bigger turn-out than last week. A list of open competitions should be finalised in the coming weeks.

ST. HELEN'S

Saturday, January 30, singles sweep stableford (eleven holes): 1, Mick Brosnan, 26 points (countback); 2, Mark Corish, 26 points.

A great turn-out enjoyed a lovely day's golf in pleasant yet nippy conditions. The eleven-hole format, with placing, run alongside the Winter League competition, is proving very popular - well done to the Winter League organising committee and the team captains for their hard work. Congratulations to Mick and Mark on great scoring.

Sunday, January 31, singles sweep stableford (eleven holes): 1, Pat O'Brien, 23 points; 2, James Morrissey, 22 points.

We enjoyed another fantastic day on Sunday last, although the start was delayed due to lingering frost. Well done to Pat and James (unusual to see him in runner-up spot - members are wondering if this is an omen for the season to come?).

Fixtures next weekend: Friday, February 1, Wine Friday competition; Saturday, February 5, Winter League round six and singles sweep; Saturday, February 5, fundraising event for Haiti - contact the club office for details; Sunday, February 6, Winter League round seven and singles sweep.

See the club website - www.sthelensbay.ie - for further details.

ST. HELEN'S LADIES

Despite the frosty mornings over the past weekend, the ladies in St. Helen's Bay Golf Club have donned their winter woollies and taken to the fairways! There has been excellent golf played, with Leonie Furlong (16) winning the sweeps on both Saturday and Sunday with 27 and 25 points respectively.

Eileen Brosnan (16), another very steady player who is never far from the winners' enclosure, played very consistent golf, bringing in pars and birdies over the weekend, and finishing in second place on Saturday with 22 points.

A lady new to both St. Helen's Bay Golf Club and indeed to golf is Ruth Kennedy (18) who again played some terrific golf and, having been pipped for second place on Saturday, came in second place on Sunday with 22 points.

The course is in great condition and the efforts of Kevin Carroll and his greenkeeping team in achieving this must be acknowledged after all the recent inclement weather.

Singles (eleven holes): 1, L. Furlong (16), 27; 2, E. Brosnan (16), 22.

Singles (eleven holes): 1, L. Furlong (16), 25; 2, R. Kennedy (18), 22.

WEXFORD LADIES

Monday, January 25, Seniors 14-hole stableford: 1, Sally O'Neill (25), 29 points.

Thursday, January 28, 14-hole stableford: 1, Ena O'Donoghue (34), 29 points; 2, Una Doherty (36), 28 points; 3, Sally O'Neill (25), 27 (back seven); 4, Beppi O'Connor (31), 27 (back seven); 5, Sheila Kinsella (18), 27 (back seven).

There was some great golf played last week. Our lamb competitions are continuing to 14 holes of play.

Well done to Sally O'Neill who was in the winners' enclosure twice this week. Winter League matches are well under way by now. A reminder to those who have signed up to have their matches played by March 7.

Everyone enjoyed the ladies' lunch at the clubhouse on Wednesday last. The next lunch is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24.

ROSSLARE LADIES

Saturday, January 23, 14-hole stableford (ten pairs played): 1, Cathy Atkinson (18/11), Trish Devereux (20/12), 29 points; 2, Catherine Howard (19/11), Doreen McGovern (20/12), 27 points.

Tuesday, January 26, 14-hole single stableford (43 played): 1, Margaret Martin (29/23), 28 points; 2, Doreen McGovern (20/16), 27 points; 3, Dorcas Maher (17/13), 25 points; 4, Angela Cunningham (35/27), 24 points (back seven).

Thursday, January 28, Seniors Open 18-hole: 1, Betty O'Brien (36), 34 points.

NEW ROSS SENIORS

The Seniors were back in full strength on Thursday last after the enforced break due to the severe weather conditions. In fact, it was the first outing since way back on December 17.

The course was in terrific order and, with placing in operation both on the fairways and in the rough, the scoring returns were bound to be good. Once again the fairness of the draw for teams was never more evident in that only a point separated first and second, and again it was the same margin between second and third.

Combining very well, the team of Jim Ryan (15), Luke Power (18), Tom Kent (19) and Brian Dolan (28) came home in number one spot with a great score of 99 points. Placed second only a point behind were Hugh O'Connor (14), John Vereker (18), Robert O'Dwyer (19) and Frank Boyle (21).

Taking full advantage of the points allowance for a three-person team, Jim Meggs (13), Seán Ó hUiginn (16) and Paddy Bennett (19) finished in third place on 97.

What a golfer often dreams about but seldom achieves did happen to Aidan O'Connor on Thursday last. His shot on the short eleventh bounced into the hole for a magical hole in one. Well done Aidan, who received a special prize for his shot of a lifetime. The other nearest the pin prize went to Pat Traynor.

All members, please note that the A.G.M. goes ahead this Thursday, February 4, at 10 a.m. sharp, followed by the draw for teams at 10.45 a.m.

THE BUNKER SOCIETY

The first outing of the year started as it finished last year in Blackwater. A frosty morning was in store for all who turned out. Eileen Donohoe got her year off to a good start with a par round win and top place on the leaderboard.

Seán Breen got second with one over and Eddie Walsh was a close third with two over par. James Kelly got the front nine with 19 points and Gerry Byrne won the back nine with 19 points. Nearest the pin went to Anne Hughes, five feet, six inches from the pin on the fourth hole.

The schedule for outings will be available shortly. It will be business as usual on the next three Sundays in The Bunker, with tee-times from 9 to 9.45 a.m. We are open for membership now, so any new members are welcome. Our next outing is on February 28 in Rathaspeck.

ROSSLARE

On Sunday last the Winter League began in Rosslare, with 15 teams of six competing. This year the format is changed. Instead of three singles there is now a singles, fourball and a scramble. On Sunday the singles was played, followed on Sunday, February 14, by the fourball and on Sunday, February 28, by the scramble.

Leading the way after Sunday's play was Paud O'Brien's team of Pat Murray, Ken Maher, Danny Leacy, Robert Rowe and Kevin Driver on 102 points, three points ahead of Cormac Power's team - Ross Young, Dick Hehir, Charlie O'Gorman, Joe Scott and Siobhán Redmond - with two teams in third positition on 96.

They are Valerie Doyle's team of Paul Boggan, Sonny Lynch, Tom McGrath, John Kelly and Eleanor O'Connor, and Conor McDonald's team of Micheál O'Brien, Keith Deacon, Rich Howlin, Seamus Dooley and Nancy Tierney. Robert Rowe was the leading man on 38 points, and Siobhán Redmond was the leading woman on 34.

On Thursday last the Open Seniors resulted in a win for Eamonn Goggin (7) with 42 points. Liam Ryan (19) was second on 40 points.

Saturday, 14 holes fourball: 1, Tom Connon (16) and Declan Curran (24), 40; 2, Jack Murphy (12) and Trevor Rankin (17), 39; 3, Morgan Ferriter (10) and Robin Gardner (16), 36; 4, Martin Quigley (10) and John Devlin (15), 36.

COOLLATTIN LADIES

Wednesday, January 27, 13-hole competition: 1, Patricia Magee (7), 26 points; 2, Ann Lynch (18), 26 points.