ONtheFAIRWAYS
BALLYMONEY
Golf play returned to the club on Monday of last week (members only, living within five km.).
However, the sudden passing away of club Honorary Secretary Charlie Logan cast an air of sadness over proceedings.
Charlie was a native of Belfast and resident in Arklow for many years. He was instrumental in the setting up of Ballymoney Golf Club as a G.U.I. affiliated club, and integral to the smooth running of the club, as well as representing us in the Pierce Purcell Provincial Towns Cup and the local Weatherglaze Trophy.
Due to the current travel constraints, only club President Ron Breen and Andrew Byrne (committee) could attend the family-only funeral in Wicklow town on Sunday.
The funeral service was streamed live at the clubhouse, with a minute’s silence observed and the course closed during the service.
Deepest sympathies from all at the club are extended to Charlie’s wife, Róisín, and children, Matthew and Cara. May he rest in peace.
WEXFORD
Monday, May 18, came at last and the three Doyle brothers - Roy, a former club Captain and also Honorary Secretary for many years, Patch and Jim - who were always early-morning golfers, had the honour of being the first threeball to tee off under the ‘Roadback to Golf’ as defined by the G.U.I./I.L.G.U.
It turned out to be a beautiful day, and we had a full timesheet. The general consensus was that it was great to be back.
One of the ‘wits’ remarked that these golfers resembled yearling colts, let out of their stable on a lovely spring day, kicking up their heels and enjoying their freedom after a long winter being locked up.
Another remarked that ‘there was not as much long hair seen on golfers since the 1960s in the days of the Beatles’.
Wexford G.C. opted for a threeball format, with an interval of 14 minutes between each group. The management committee had asked for members to volunteer during the week to monitor the timesheet and golf course during play, and many of our members, both ladies and gents, responded.
These volunteers ensured that all went according to the recommendations. The course was in great order, and well done to the staff for ensuring this.
The G.U.I./I.L.G.U. finally confirmed that the five km. distance rule applied to everyone. The management committee sent out an email on the BRS system on Saturday, again informing their members of this five km. rule and also outlining the main procedures for our members to follow into the immediate future.
If all goes to plan, hopefully come June 8 we will be one more step closer to playing our golf in the way that we have been used to.
All of our club’s Tuesday Senior competitions have been cancelled for the remainder of the season. This decision has been taken to remain compliant with the current recommendations.
It is hoped that the Seniors’ A.G.M. can be held in July, but this of course will depend on when we are allowed to re-open our clubhouse and what the recommendations are as far as social distancing is concerned.
When the date of the Seniors’ A.G.M. and the date of the recommencement of our Seniors’ Tuesday competitions can be confirmed, all Senior members will be notified by BRS and, of course, these full details will be included in our weekly notes in your local ‘People’ newspaper.