A GOOD WALK A GOOD WALK
ARDEE
CAPTAIN’S Drive In on Sunday 25th March sponsored by UST Ltd: Kieran Sands: 1st Dermot O’Brien, Derek Minogue, Derek Breagy & John O’Flaherty 96pts, 2nd Peter Flanagan, Paul Carry, Paul Curtis & Conor Meade 95pts back9, 3rd Patrick Hughes, Dominic Kearney, Derek Martin & John Callan 95pts.
Saturday 24th March, Singles Stableford, sponsored by Aspect Group: 1st Derek Minogue 43pts, 2nd Gerard Caffrey 42pts, Gross Eamon Breen 32pts, Cat 1 Keelan Evans 40pts, Cat 2 Nigel Murphy 41pts, Cat 3 Alan McKenny 41pts.
ARDEE LADIES
BREFFNI Shield, Scotch Foursomes Stroke on Wednesday 21st March sponsored by Advance Digital Security: 1st Angela Finnegan & Geraldine Hatch 67.6,
2nd Bernie Murtagh & Noeleen Cunningham 67.8.
CLOVERHILL
CLUB Captain Paddy Malone will be hoping that it will be a case of third time lucky as he hosts his already twice snow postponed Drive-in on Sunday April 8 at 9-15, followed by a shotgun start Scramble at 9-30. The already near filled time sheet closes on Thursday April 5 to facilitate the seeded team selections which mixes up all the club members in their four handicap categories.
A Captains tip about his stance following a scoreless opening three holes certainly set James Maguire (27) on fire for the remainder of the round in the Easter Stableford Spill Assist GOY competition. James ended the front 9 with a modest 17 points but burned up the back 9 with a staggering return of 26 points which saw him eclipse long-time clubhouse leader Niall McDonnell (12) by a single point. Indeed runner-up Niall held off the challenge of Club Captain Paddy Malone (8) via the count back system after both returned 42pts. Christopher Reel (14) and Ciaran Finnegan (25) with 40 points made up the handful of players who hit the 40 mark or better.
Better mention the “Eagles” for the Pilkington brothers at the eleventh with Jamie Duffy the odd one out as he missed his at the lakeside Par 4. Had to mention this as I got grief for omitting David’s terrific run of 8 successive 3’s from hole 7 to 14 last weekend, pity about the fifteenth miss.
Good weather helped bring a large turnout for the 18 hole seniors competition which was held before the Annual Seniors Prize Presentation Dinner on Thursday last. Fittingly it was the man who does all the work in keeping the Seniors end of the club in action Frank Ryan who took the honours in their first 18 hole competition of the year. Seniors boss Frank returned 40 points off the Green markers which was 3 clear of John Joe Hassard with Fr Kevin Cullen in third place with 35 points. Seamus McCoy was the Front 9 winner with Brendan Hughes collecting the back 9 prize. Next week sees the final round of the Spring League taking place.
At the dinner prior to the presentation of the prizes the playing format for the new 2018 season was open for discussion. The majority of Seniors were in favour of just holding 12 hole competitions each week. This motion was carried with the three different 12 hole courses being used for competition purposes with the indices changed accordingly and every fourth week there would be an 18 hole Golfer of the Year counting competition played to suit the
needs of all Senior members.
Raymond Kelly had a most memorable 2017 in the Seniors as he claimed all 3 major titles that were on offer. Raymond was crowned Golfer of the Year helped by in large by his winning the Maratime Trophy and the Singles Matchplay title. Spare a thought for the bridesmaid Fr Kevin Cullen who was runner-up twice with Frank Ryan the loser in the match play final.
The Byrne Monumental sponsored Wednesday Cup 9 hole competition will commence on Wednesday April 11. The first weeks play will be off the Front 9 White Markers. The weekly winner will qualify for the Grand Final which in turn will have prizes for the top 3 finishers. Over the course of the Wednesday Cup competition there will be an overall winners prize for the 4 9 hole courses that will be used. The best 3 cards in each of the 4 sections, the Front
9 White & Green Markers and the Back 9 White & Green Markers will count to see who is the overall winner in each section. Entry to the Wed Cup is £/€3.
Our ever popular Friday Open competition will commence on Friday April 13 which will prove for a member or visitor. Once again the added attraction for visitors of our £100 best visitors scorecard for each month April, May, June, July, August and September is in place. Friday Open entry is Members £7 Visitors £12 and bookings can be made via the BRS system or contacting the club 30889580.
DUNDALK
CLEM Walshe proved he was no April Fool on Easter Sunday as walked off the course a triple winner.
The five handicapper shot a superb round of 42pts to win Sunday’s Singles Stableford competi-
tion and his gross score of 37pts was also the best gross returned on the day.
His nett score also had a major bearing on the outcome of the 2018 Winter League as Team 11, captained by Mark Browne, went from joint fourth place, and five points behind, at the beginning of the final round to top spot by the end of day’s play. They took the title by seven points from Team 7, captained by George Rogers, which had started the day alongside them in fourth place.
Another member of Team 11, Anthony O’Donoghue (13), also made a significant contribution with 38pts which was also enough for him to claim third place overall in the singles competition with Kevin Barry (10), a member of Team 7, finishing second with 40pts.
Team 3, captained by Bill McCarthy, had started the third round leading by one point but after
returning a total of 98pts from their three counting cards they had to settle to third place, nine points behind the winners.
Walshe, who won the Hilary Outing at Seapoint recently, produced a superb round of golf on his way to victory as he carded three birdies, 13 pars and two bogeys for a one under par 71 or 37pts that, with the addition of his five strokes became an impressive 42pts.
He went out in 20pts, helped by a four point birdie at the par three fourth, and came home in 22pts having recorded three point birdies at the 12th and 15th and three point pars at the 11th and 15th. A sign of how well he played was shown by the accumulation of 12pts from the five holes where he had strokes.
Colin Roche (6) with 37pts took Category 1 while Kenneth Cairns (13) won Category 2 with 38pts and Sean Gallagher (20) claimed Category 3 with 35pts.
Best wishes to the Irish Mixed Foursomes team who are in action this Sunday. They face Bellewstown at 2.30pm with three of the five matches at home. All support would be greatly welcomed.
As part of our fund raising for juvenile golf we are hosting a Nine & Dine next Sunday, April 8, to coincide with the final round of the US Masters, the first major of the golfing season. Entry is €12 and this includes golf, prizes and Ronan’s Special Curry. The competition is scotch foursomes (any combination) and there are prizes for ladies, gents and mixed teams. Time sheet is on BRS. Competitors and members are then invited to watch the final round from Augusta in the Clubhouse where there will be a Happy Hour and attendance prizes.
Sunday, April 1 - Singles Stableford Competition – Overall: Clem Walshe (5) 42pts, Kevin Barry (10) 40pts, Anthony O’Donoghue (13) 38/22pts. Category 1(0-11): Colin Roche (6) 37pts. Category 2 (12-16): Kenneth Cairns (13) 38pts. Category 3 (17-28): Sean Gallagher (20) 35/18pts. Best Gross: Clem Walsh 37pts.
Winter League sponsored by Tiernan’s Centra Blackrock (Final Standings)::216pts - Team 11 (Mark Browne, Clem Walshe, Anthony O’Donoghue, Ciaran Rafferty, Edmund Sheridan). 209pts – Team 7 (George Rogers (c), Kevin Barry, Connor McCaughey, Peter O’Brien, Brendan Tinnelly. Full results on Club Website.
DUNDALKLADIES
THE Breffni Shield Scotch Foursomes (18 holes) was played on Saturday 24th and Tuesday 27th March. The scoring was superb with some excellent golf played by all the winners. Deirdre Smith and Sally McDonnell posted an outstanding score with 65.5.
Sally and Deirdre will have the honour of representing Dundalk in the next round. Congratulations to all the winners.
1st Deirdre Smith (+1) & Sally McDonnell (28) 65.5 net, 2nd Siobhan Rogers (21) & Orla O’Grady (24) 69.5 net, 3rd Anne McDonnell (19) & Bernie McCabe (16) 70.5 net.
9-hole Competition: 1st Brenda Rogers (36) 17 points.
GREENORELADIES
TOP qualifiers in the Breffni Shield Scotch Foursomes staged recently were Emily and Seana McGuinness on 74.6 closely followed by Monica Mullen and Catherine Woods on 76.6. The two pairs compete in the final at Co. Louth GC on Monday 21st May. Midweek winter competitions have now ceased.
MANNANCASTLE
THE 25 th Captains Drive-In took place on Sunday 25 th March which officially launched the clubs 2018 golfing season. Men’s Captain Tommy Duffy and Lady Captain Gill Rouiller arriving in a stylish 1963 Bentley S3, they were warmly greeted by the members assembled at the club house. Posing for the obligatory photos, they took delight in sharing a glass of champagne with Club President Oliver Fox and Lady Vice Captain Denise McGuinness. The Captains headed for the first tee box in brilliant sunshine, where they both hit the perfect tee shots, and the 2018 season was up and running.
The 25 th Anniversary season started with a four person scramble over 18 holes, the course staff had it looking very well despite the recent poor weather, with the greens in excellent condition.
With the golf over and everyone well fed it was time for the presentations with Captain Tommy Master of Ceremonies congratulating everyone that played over the weekend and a special congratulation to Ladies Captain Gill who is in her second spell as Captain, Gill was the clubs first Ladies Captain. Captain Tommy specified that there will be events during the coming year to celebrate the clubs silver anniversary.
Past and present members, founder members and friends of Mannan Castle are all asked to save to ‘Save the Date 5 th /6 th May’ to join us for a 25 th Year Anniversary Scramble more details to follow.
Members are asked to support our fantastic Super Club Draw due to start very soon watch out for the posters posted around the Clubhouse and Proshop. First place went to Dick Bourke, Patrick Byrne, John Simpson and Tommy Kieran, with a score of 54.6 nett. Mr. Bourke congratulated Tommy and Gill and wished them well for the coming season, he also thanked his playing partners for carrying him through, it was alleged that if they won, they could bank on him to do the talking… if they did the playing.
Second place went to Barry Conroy, Michael Marley, Michael McCartan and Adrian Walls with a score of 55.6 nett. There was an international flair to the week’s proceedings at Mannan Castle with a match between France and Ireland. Representing France was Franck Le Guerin of Carhaix Golf Club, Carhaix-Plouger, France and Mannan Castle own French Chef Stephane Loziak, presenting Ireland was 2018 Captain Tommy Duffy and 2017 Captain Thomas Gartlan. The match ended a draw, discussion are in full swing regarding a date and location of a rematch.
Congratulation to Frances Byrne winner of the first Ladies 18 holes competition of 2018 with Madeleine Devine finishing second, both ladies played steady golf. Mary McCabe and Kitty Sharkey are the first ladies to get their names on ‘the birdie tree’ with Mary making her birdie on the 17 th and Kitty making two birdies on the 3rd and the 12th. Result: 1st Frances Byrne (26) 35 points, 2nd Madeleine Devine (21) 33 points.
On Good Friday the was a three person team event win to scores to count at each hole, it was won by Cathal Copas, Aiden Molloy and Philip McGovern, they post a brilliant score of 86 points.
Weekend competition 30th March /1st April: 1st Vincent Duffy (16) 41 points, 2nd Gerry Smyth (19) 39 points, 3rd Gerry Califf (12) 39 points.