CLUB NEWS ONtheFAIRWAYS
GOLF
BUNCLODY
February 18 and 19, men’s singles: 1, Peter Crean (13), 29 points; 2, Eugene Roche (9), 29 points; 3, Pat Nolan, Myshall (13), 28 points.
Race to St. Patrick’s Day 2017, week two: 1, James Morrissey (6), 30 points; 2, Peter Crean (13), 29 points; gross, Donal Byrne (4), 25 points; 3, Eugene Roche (9), 29 points.
COURTOWN
It is all over bar the shouting and the dinner for another year, as the EBS/Colman Doyle winter league came to a conclusion on Sunday. As expected, it was very tight at the top come final day.
On behalf of our Captain John Fitzgerald and indeed all who took part, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Colman Doyle for his continued support.
The traditional dinner which follows our winter league will take place in the clubhouse next Saturday evening. All attending are asked to be in the club for 5.30 p.m. so we can sit down at 6 p.m.
Lady Captain Laura and Captain John invite all who would like to take part in the Captains’ drive-in to be in the club on the following Saturday, March 11, for the traditional tree planting and the drive-in. The drive-in will be a mixed four-person team event with a competition on both back and front nines. There will be a shotgun start scheduled for 1.30 p.m. Winter league division winners: Division 1, Pádraig Flood and Stephen Ryan, 165 points; runners-up, Joey O’Brien and Tommy Kinsella, 162 points (last day); Division 2, Colman Doyle and Cillian Doyle, 154 points; Division 3, Darren Moore and Dave Whelan, 143 points; Division 4, Bryan Hughes and Cillian Hughes, 141 points.
Tuesday, February 21, twelve-hole ladies’ singles: 1, Mary Cooper (35), 31 points; 2, Pat Kinsella (18), 24 points; 3, Catherine Ledwidge (14), 23 points.
Wednesday, February 22, men’s singles sweep: 1, Craig Ashmore-Butler (19), 29 points; 2, Vincent Lumsden (15), 28 points; 3, Eamon Byrne (15), 27 points; 4, Joe Turner (12), 26 points (27-1).
Any combination fourball, February 25 and 26: 1, Dermot Fitzgerald (25), Michael Wall (25), 40 points (back nine); 2, Colin Browne (20), Joe Keegan (5), 40 points; 3, Cillian Hughes (4), Bryan Hughes (13), 39 points (last six); 4, David Kennedy (13), Niall Murray (11), 39 points (last nine).
The Wednesday sweep competition for 2016-’17 finishes on March 29 and starts again on Wednesday, October 4, for the 2017-’18 season.
Chairman Pat McCarthy and committee Paddy Stack and Tom Lynch will no doubt return with a very successful competition for 2017-’18.
The table for the Pascal Storan Cup up to February 22 for the 2016-’17 season is: V. Kavanagh, ten points; Tommy Kinsella, nine points; N. Nolan, seven points; T. Kitt, seven points; T. Ryan, six points; Pat O’Shea, six points; Eric Noonan, six points; J. Turner, six points. There are six golfers on five points.
BALLYMONEY
Due to the poor weather conditions, no competitions were played during the week.
The draw for the second round of the winter league is: Group 1 winners Stephen Greene and Dermot Noctor versus Group 3 runners-up Richard Temple and Tom Keogh; Group 2 winners Pat Miskella and Anthony P. Doyle versus Group 4 runners-up Paul Hayden and Philip Moore; Group 3 winners Billy and Pat Larkin versus Group 2 runners-up Paul Swinburne and Liam Morris; Group 4 winners Brian Delaney and Derek Robinson versus Group 1 runners-up Seán Furlong and Robbie Kehoe.
The draw for the winter league plate is available at the clubhouse.
Anyone interested in playing in the G.U.I. competitions - All-Ireland fourball (combined 36 handicap, lowest 16), Provincial Towns Cup (lowest nine), Junior Cup Pierce Purcell (combined 27, lowest 12), Jimmy Bruen (combined 17, lowest six) - please leave your name at reception in the clubhouse.
ENNISCORTHY
The Captains’ drive-in took place on Sunday and the weather was not kind for the big event. Captains Mary McCauley and Jack Murphy arrived in style, chauffeur driven in by Jim McCauley.
The Captains were introduced to the 120 players plus invited guests by club Presidents Marie Duggan and Jim Hogan.
The ceremonial tee-off took place at the first tee and both shots from the Juniors hit the target.
The lady Captain’s wasn’t too bad and the less said about Captain Jack’s drive the better, but in fairness he did advise everyone to turn around the other way and not to look. After that all the players dissipated around the course to their appointed tee-boxes for a shotgun start.
The winners were divided into two categories. For those who played holes 1-5 and 15-18, the winners were Mary Breen, Garry Fortune, Pat Fortune and Seán Hegarty with 29.80, and for those who played holes 11-14 and 6-10 the winners were Mag Mooney, Des Kehoe, Tom Furlong and Nick Power with 29.05.
Food and music followed in the clubhouse afterwards to kick-start the golfing season.
The first ‘split the pot’ raffle was drawn at the weekend and the winner was our Hon. Secretary Paul Leacy who won €137.
We are hoping to run a series of monthly general knowledge quizzes in the clubhouse on the following dates: March 24, April 21 and May 25, all at 9 p.m. sharp with more to follow depending on the interest shown.
The gents’ open Seniors is on the second Thursday of every month. There are changes to the age groups and they are: 50 to 65, 66 to 75 and 76+. The ladies’ equivalent starts on April 20 at 9 a.m. and thereafter on the third Thursday of every month.
The ever-popular ladies’ and gents’ open singles will be making a welcome return after the winter break on March 6 starting at 8.30 a.m., open to all membership categories. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this competition then please bring them along. Timesheets are now open for booking for virtually every Monday throughout the year.
The gents’ open Seniors is on March 9 at 8 a.m. sponsored by Cllr. Paddy Kavanagh. The timesheet is open.
There will be a club fundraiser on March 17. This will be a four-person scramble open competition starting at 8 a.m. with a €15 entry fee. There is course sanding on March 21.
The gents’ nine-hole midweek starts on March 22 at 2 p.m.
For the full report please look at the club website in the news section.
NEWROSSSENIORS
The target score of 90 points was not achieved on Thursday but the top three teams all returned excellent scores in the conditions.
Taking the top honours with 87 points were Johnny Hosey (14), John Fitzpatrick (18), Pat Traynor (18) and Billy Redmond (19). Second place went to Eddie Keher (9), Steve Travis (18), John Joe Murray (19) and Martin Hartley (22) with 85 points.
A point behind (on 84 points) and in third spot came Jimmy Furlong (8), Liam Glasheen (20), Robert O’Dwyer (20) and Jamesie Wallace (23).
On the draw board for March are John Shalloe, Billy Redmond and Johnny Watson.
The Captains’ drive-in is next Saturday, March 4, and all Seniors are asked to support our colleague, Peter Goggin, as he with the lady Captain will hopefully send two cracking drives up the first fairway.
This will be followed by a team event over nine holes, so do come along and enjoy the occasion which really heralds the start of the golfing season.
NEWROSS
We had an open three-person scramble on the weekend of February 18 and 19 which was very well supported. The weather was reasonable too and some very hot scoring was the order of the competition, none more so than that of the winning trio who had only a handicap allowance of 1.5 shots available to them but nevertheless emerged victors.
Playing superb golf, Andrew Ryan (4), Donal Hosey (4) and John O’Connor (7) carded a superb final total of 58.5.
An all-Enniscorthy team composed of Alan Somers (7), John Somers (11) and Trevor Moran (12) took second with 58.9, and Kieran McGrath (13), Noel Murphy (14) and Tim Murphy (18) were placed third with 60.3
The diary for the month is: Sunday, March 5, open fourball (sponsor: Four Star Pizza); Sunday, March 12, medal (sponsor: Visic Connect); St. Patrick’s weekend, open fourball (sponsor: Carpet Gallery); Sunday, March 26, competition to be arranged.
All are reminded to come along to the Captains’ drive-in this coming Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m. Men’s Captain, Peter Goggin, and lady Captain, Marie Therese Wall, will endeavour to split the first fairway with their opening drive into office for 2017.
A three-person champagne scramble will follow and both Captains invite everyone to come along and enjoy the day.
NEWROSSLADIES
The third round of the winter league continues until March 1.
The Captains’ drive-in is next Saturday, March 4. Fingers crossed that the day will be fine so that everyone will turn out to celebrate the official start of Marie Therese’s special year. Book online for a memorable afternoon of fun and golf.
Another 14-hole stableford is on March 1. On March 8 we will return to 18-hole competitions, the first of which will be sponsored by French’s Pharmacy.
The ‘Get Into Golf’ initiative is fully subscribed now and will kick off with an information meeting in April. We are delighted with the response and hope that volunteers will help out when the golf gets going.
Many thanks to all the ladies who have volunteered for various sub-committees and committees since the beginning of the year. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
The future of our club depends on this support and will make a huge difference to the running of the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions which you think would be helpful in any area of golf club life, please contact any committee member.
Results for February 24 will be printed next week.
ROSSLARE
Saturday, February 18, fourball (lambs): 1, Ken Maher (10), Alan Cuddihy (17), 37 points; 2, John Devlin (20), Liam Hipwell (24), 36 points.
Sunday, February 19, fourball (lambs): 1, Rich Howlin (19), Jim Anglim (17), 38 points; 2, Paud O’Brien (4), Donal Buckley (18), 37 points; 3, Ray Donovan (19), Kevin Driver (20), 36 points.
ROSSLARELADIES
Last Tuesday was a fourball competition over twelve holes. Well done to Vandra Deacon and Norrie Goff on coming first with 30 points.
For any ladies interested in taking up golf, we will be running an eight-week beginner programme - four lessons with our P.G.A. professional Jamie O’Sullivan and four weeks playing on the course with a lady member to guide you around.
Sign up for €50 on Tuesday, March 21, at 6.30-7.30 p.m. at the clubhouse or phone Norrie Goff (087-2465553). Golf equipment will be provided during the course.
There is a sheet up in the ladies’ locker room for anyone wishing to participate on the mixed foursomes team.
Tuesday, March 7, is a ladies’ singles stableford competition over 16 holes.
Saturday, February 18, 14-hole fourball: 1, Catherine Howard (15/11-1) and Catherine Haugh (27/15-1), 35 points; 2, Dorcas Maher (18/13) and Bernadette Cuddihy (23/16), 33 points.
Tuesday, February 21, fourball, twelve holes: 1, Vandra Deacon (15/9) and Norrie Goff (20/12), 30 points; 2, Pauline Cafferkey (25/15) and Karen O’Keeffe (26/16), 29 points (back four); 3, Joan Bowe (12/7) and Dorcas Maher (18/11), 29 points.
WEXFORDLADIES
February 20, 14-hole Seniors: 1, Trish Field (25), 32 points; 2, Anna Sullivan (20), 28 points (back seven); 3, Patricia Boyd (21), 28 points; 4, Mary Rice (20), 26 points.
Mary Cash (29) with a score of 22 points came first in the 14-hole sweepstake competition held on Saturday and Thursday, February 18 and 23. Nearest the pin was Rachel O’Connor, 1m 90cm.
A total of 26 ladies played in the triathlon on Thursday. The overall winners were Elaine Mullen and Bernie Power.
The pool sharks were Ruth Kennedy and Tara Dunne, and the winners of the darts were Margaret Hearne and Mary O’Leary. Una Robinson and Mary Fallon came first in the golf. The Captain’s, lady Captain’s and Juvenile Captains’ drives-in take place on Sunday, March 5.
There is a four-person, 15-hole team competition on early in the day, followed by the drive-ins at 5 p.m. Come along and support the Captains and get the new season off to a good start.
The next Bridge session is on Wednesday, March 1, at 10 a.m. A table quiz, in aid of the teams (€20 per table), is being held on Friday, March 3, at 8 p.m. in the clubhouse.
The Christmas party video will be shown on Tuesday, March 7, at 7.30 p.m.
This Thursday’s competition, March 2, is a 16-hole singles stableford.
WEXFORD
Despite the inclement weather of the past week we still managed to run off competitions on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Wednesday, February 22, 14 holes singles stableford: 1, Billy Meyler, 32 points (back seven); 2, Paddy Cleary, 32 points; 3, Jim Turner, 29 points.
Friday, February 24, three-person team event: 1, Peter Byrne, Larry O’Neill and Mick Fortune, 84 points (back seven).
Sunday, February 26, 15 holes singles stableford: 1, Paul Hammond, 33 points; 2, Nigel Byrne, 31 points (back eight); 3, David Durack, 31 points.
Well done to all competitors who played in very difficult conditions all week.
This Friday, March 3, at 8.30 p.m. we have a fundraising table quiz in the clubhouse.
Each table will consist of a team of four persons and all entries may be given to teams director Nicholas Reville.
A reminder that the annual Captains’ drive-in takes place next Sunday, March 5, at 5 p.m.
All members and friends are invited to come along and wish our incoming Captains the best for the coming golfing year.
Jarlath Furlong was winner of last Sunday night’s Find The Joker draw. This week’s jackpot stands in excess of €1,200.
Entry is only €2 and all proceeds go towards course development. If you are not in you cannot win, so please support.
All up to date club results and information may be found on our website: wexfordgolfclub.ie.