Des has drive for new role

DROGHEDA-BORN former Ryder Cup star Des Smyth has taken on a new role overseeing the development of Ireland’s fledgling professionals during their transition to the paid ranks.

In what is being seen as a major boost for Irish golf, the 25-time winner in the professional ranks has joined the Confederation of Golf in Ireland and has been afforded the title of Leader of Team Ireland Golf.

Speaking about the role, Smyth said: ‘I feel now the time is probably right for me to be giving something back to the game that gave me so much.

‘I think it’s incumbent on us to make sure we have enough finance in place to support players coming through from the amateur to the professional ranks. There is a grey area for a few years where guys and girls need support if they’re going to try and break through and make it on tour because it’s a very tough place.’

In addition, Smyth is also heading up a major fund-raising drive at this year’s Team Ireland Golf Pro-Am, which takes place at Luttellstown Castle on July 10th, the day after the conclusion of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart.

‘I’m happy to say that I’ve spoken with Paul McGinley on this and he’s 100 per cent behind it. He’s assured me that he’ll be there on the day. We’re looking at between 20 and 24 teams. We’re going to try and make it a high-profile event with as many players as possible present who have been beneficiaries of Team Ireland Golf.

‘Professional golf, like all golf in Ireland, has added fantastic value to the sporting life of this island. We’ve had many wonderful ambassadors and if we want this to continue, we have to get on board and support this.’

During his amateur career, Smyth won the West of Ireland Open Championship in 1973 and played 16 times for Ireland at international level. He turned professional in 1974 and spent his early years playing tournaments as far away as Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia.

‘I came from a different era when there was practically no support,’ he recalled. ‘I’ve made many mistakes and it’s cost me along the way, so I’d be happy to 20, sponsored by AIB Drogheda: Class 1 winner Daniel Coyle (scr) 76, 2nd Michael Kierans (3) 78 ob3, Gross prize Nigel Beirth 80; Class 2 winner Matt Kavanagh (17) 77, 2nd Barry Murtagh (14) 78, Gross prize Patrick Murphy 99 ob9. SSS 74 non-qualifying. Team prize - Daniel Coyle (scr), Tommy McDonnell (13), Martin Tolan (15) & Terry Brady (15) 66.

Results from Saturday’s Captains’ Drive-in (Harry Collier & Jackie Quinn): First nine - 1st Sinead Heraty (5), Mags Malone (18), Pat McCabe (20) & Lucie Farrell (13) 48pts; 2nd Deirdre Gray (17), Leo Gray (32), Mary Joy (28) & Patrick Joy (15) 47pts ob6. Second nine - 1st Teresa Ronan (25), Finbar Ronan (4), Anne Keane (13) & Breen Keane (19) 43pts ob6; 2nd Murt O’Shea (7), Michael Meegan (12), Pauline McCloskey (22) & Kathleen Stamer (22) 43pts. pass on my experiences so the players can avoid these things.

‘You have to have good advice and good people around you so that you can get on with your job. That’s why it’s important we get the finances in place. It’s no guarantee of success, but it’s about giving these players a leg up and getting them on their way.’

Team Ireland Golf, which provides financial and coaching support for emerging Irish talent on professional tours across the globe, is funded by Sport Ireland and administered by the CGI, and to date 92 golfers have been WEEK 5 of the Winter League took place at the weekend in some very tricky weather conditions. The Grade 1 winner was Ray Mc Kenna with a score of 44 nett (h/c -5). Grade 2 was won by Audrey Donnelly who scored 46 nett (h/c -18).

The Winter League team event is close at the top of the table, with very little between a number of teams. It will be all to play for next weekend, which will be the final week of the league and is an 18 gross competition. Times of play are Saturday at 1.30pm and Sunday at 10am.

Although many players came close, there was no winner of the hole-in-one competition and it has been carried over to this week’s event, with a sizeable ‘prize fund’ up for grabs to the winner! Hole numbers 2, 5, 6, 10, 13 or 14 are the ones to get.

Mac Bride are holding a club fundraiser to coincide with the Cheltenham Racing Festival. Details are available from any committee member and on the club website at www.macbridepitchandputt.com.

Membership is now due for renewal and new members are welcome. For more information supported by Team Ireland Golf - including Shane Lowry.

Lowry, still an amateur at the time, famously won the Irish Open at County Louth in 2009. Upon joining the professional ranks later that year, he received a development grant of €20,000 and has since won twice as a professional.

Olympians Stephanie Meadow and Seamus Power are among the most recent beneficiaries of Team Ireland Golf. Meadow, who finished third on her debut at the US Women’s Open in 2014, and Power, who is currently playing on the PGA Tour having won his and details, visit the club website or contact us via our Facebook page. RESULTS from Saturday’s Meath County Board Spring Alliance Scramble, held at Trim P&P Club: 36 nett - 1st Angela Owens (Trim), 2nd Joe Macken (Laytown), 3rd John Morgan (Dunshaughlin); 36 gross - 1st Michael Conneelly (Trim), 2nd Anto Grendon (Rathfeigh), 3rd Evan Carry (Castletown).

Thank you is due to Trim Pitch & Putt Club for hosting this event and Skryne will play host to this coming Saturday’s Spring Alliance Scramble, with the draw at 11.20am. WINNERS from Sunday’s 12-hole stableford: Overall - John Delaney (18) 26pts; Gross prize Richard Fahey (5) 22pts; Cat 1 Malachy Reilly (5) 24pts, Cat 2 Sean Faulkner (13) 24pts, Cat 3 Michael McDonnell (19) 24pts.

Last Tuesday’s Open Singles stableford: 1st Cathal Birdy (17) 40pts, 2nd Thomas Hoey (14) 39pts, Gross prize Martin Ryan tour card last season, represented Ireland at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

European Tour winners Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey have been supported by Team Ireland Golf in the past.

As well as establishing the Team Ireland Golf Pro-Am, Smyth will now serve as a mentor for emerging and future professionals.

Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman of the Board of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland, said: ‘To have someone of the calibre of Des Smyth working with Team Ireland Golf is a huge boost. (7) 28pts ocb, 3rd David Grey (10) 38pts. CONGRATULATIONS to 33-handicapper Anne F Kelly on winning last weekend’s competition with a score of 36 nett.

There was no competition on Thursday last. THE Winter League champions for 2017 are the team of Valerie Barron, Colin Campbell, Kieran McDonnell and skipper Johnny Campbell snr. Congratulations to one and all.

It was a very well supported competition and a big thank-you to everyone who participated in the event. The results of last weekend’s 18 gross competition were as follows:

Senior - 1st Pat Greene 44, 2nd Brian McGinn 45 (ob6 15); Inter - 1st Paul Cooney 45, 2nd Darren McKenna 46; Junior - 1st Paddy Davis 49, 2nd Colin Campbell 50; Ladies - 1st Noelene Bedford 51, 2nd Cepta Maddick 53.

Winter League 5pts - Team 6 (Marlo Everitt, Nicky McCann, Darren McKenna & Pat Fanning)

‘As Des is well aware, establishing yourself as a professional golfer is extremely difficult. It can be a costly and lonely experience.

‘We, at the CGI, do everything we can to make this transition as seamless and as painless as possible.’

John Treacy, CEO of Sport Ireland, commented: ‘Sport Ireland welcomes the appointment of Des Smyth as the new Leader for Team Ireland Golf. Des has immense experience in the professional game and will be a great source of inspiration and advice for Ireland’s emerging golfers.’ -16. 3pts - Team 3 (Christine Carroll, Paddy Davis, Joe Downes & Barry McQuillan) -7.

Winter League overall: 1st Team 5 (Valerie Barron, Colin Campbell, Kieran McDonnell & Johnny Campbell snr) 14 points; 2nd Team 6 (Marlo Everitt, Nicky McCann, Darren McKenna & Pat Fanning) 12 points; 3rd Team 8 (Margaret McCabe, Kieran Collier, Sean Breen & Gerry Breen jnr) 11 points (ob9s 284).

This week’s competition will be an 18 nett. Times of play are Friday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 9.30am.

Also on Saturday at 1.30pm, before the competition gets under way, we will have our annual Captains’ Pitch-in and also the presentation of prizes for the Winter League.

Please come out and give your support to our Ladies Captain Ann Ward and Gents Captain Barry McQuillan.

This coming weekend sees the start of the new season and only fully paid-up members are eligible to play in competitions from March 1st.

For further details regarding the club kindly visit our website at seapointpitchandputt.homestead.com. You can also view the Seapoint Pitch and Putt Facebook page.