Deerpark Pitch & Putt Club to host Intercounty Championships

PREPARATIONS are underway at Deerpark Pitch & Putt Club in Killarney as they get set to host the 2018 National Ladies & Gents Intercounty Championships on September 8 and 9.

Teams representing 15 counties will take part in three competitions over one weekend, with upwards of a 1,000 people expected to pass through the course over the two-days.

This is only the third time Kerry has hosted the event, one of the biggest in the pitch & putt calendar. Castleisland hosted the championships in 1968, while Tralee did the honours in 1995 when the Kerry ladies team won their first and only intercounty championship. Moreover, the Kerry men’s team won their first and only intercounty title in 1986 in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

It’s a big honour for the Deerpark club, whose members have been busy in recent weeks getting the course in shape. While the Deerpark club has hosted national and international events in 1978, ’04, ’06, ’09 and ’11, this is the first time it will host the Intercounty Championships.

“This competition draws the highest standard of player from each county consisting of many national and provincial champions. We’re very lucky with the size of the course we have that we’re able to host this event,” said Jason O’Connor, PRO of Deerpark Pitch & Putt Club.

Jason explains that previous national competitions held at the club tended to be at the start of the season. But the fact the Intercounty Championships come at the tail end of the season means the course has already endured a busy season, which makes preparation all the more important.

“It’s obviously trickier coming after the summer season, which is why we closed the course for two weeks before the championships. A lot of help has come from within the club and we’ve had a great response in getting the course ready. You’re always proud to bring people to Killarney, not only to show off our course, but also our town. People enjoy coming here, so we’re looking forward to it,” Jason said.

The action starts at 8am on Saturday, September 8, and at 8:30am on Sunday, September 9. Check out the Deerpark Pitch & Putt Club Facebook page and Pitch & Putt Union of Ireland website www.ppui. ie for updates.

The club currently has a winter membership offer of €65 for an adult and €40 for an U-16 available which lasts up until December 31st of this year.

Deerpark Pitch and Putt Club Killarney committee and members Sheila O’Donoghue Lady Captain, Jason O’Connor, John McGrath, Eileen Switzer, Aiden O’Keeffe, Gearoid Cronin, Kieran Fitzpatrick and Jack McCarthy Juvenile Captain where the 2018 Men’s and Ladies Inter-County Pitch & Putt Championships will take place this weekend. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Deerpark Pitch and Putt Club Killarney committee and members Jason O’Connor, John McGrath, Jack McCarthy Juvenile Captain, Kieran Fitzpatrick (back) Eileen Switzer, Sheila O’Donoghue Lady Captain, Aiden O’Keeffe and Gearoid Cronin.

Grounds committee chairman Ger O’Connor (third from left) with CE scheme workers Henry Howard, Denis O’Sullivan, and Paudie Sheehan preparing Deerpark Pitch & Putt Club Killarney for the 2018 All Ireland Mens & Ladies Inter-County Championships.