ONtheFAIRWAYS
PAULINE’S SOCIETY
Wexford golf course was the venue for our September outing. On a very blustery day that presented a tough challenge, and played on a well-maintained course, our man for all seasons, Dave Feeney, took first place with 37 points.
In second place on 35 points was Pat McGrath, leaving Liam Connolly to take third spot on the countback. Nearest the pin prizes went to Dean Gannon and Pat McGrath.
Our next outing will be on Saturday, October 7, in what will be a big test, playing one of the longest inland courses in the country, Williamstown in Waterford.
Those members and visitors intending to play should be in attendance at the course not later than 9.30 a.m. to facilitate the draw for playing groups.
Names where possible should be entered on the sheet in Pauline’s Bar by 8 p.m. the previous Tuesday, October 3.
NEW ROSS
The open three-person scramble attracted a good entry last week and the weather was favourable. Scoring likewise was quite good and the first prize went for export to a trio from the Mountain View club in Ballyhale.
Taking the honours with an excellent 98 points were Brendan Foskin (11), Cyril Foskin (17) and Ger Power (18). Second spot on 95 points went to John Aylward (16), Hughie O’Connor (18) and Dan Quigley (20), whilst Joe Doyle (7), John Evoy (14) and Ger Freyne (19) took third place with 92 points.
At the weekend, it was better ball stableford and Andy Lawlor (11) and John Joe Cullen (19) came out on top with an excellent score of 46 points.
The Captain, Peter Goggin (17), partnered by John Murphy (17), took second prize with 43 points after a countback.
Third on the same score (43 points) were Eamon Dungan (5) and Leo Carroll (10). The visitors’ prize went to Breda McCarthy and Kate Mooney from Dungarvan Golf Club.
It’s a sure sign that darkening autumn days have arrived when the Tuesday evening fourball has ceased for this year. In its place, a nine-hole stableford competition will run from Monday to Saturday each week with a very modest entry of only €4. Play as often as you like and entry fees can be paid to the Pro Shop.
NEW ROSS SENIORS
After the torrential rains of Wednesday it did not look possible that we would have our weekly outing the following day, but an overnight clearance and a drying wind meant that we got the go-ahead to play.
We must pay compliments to head greenkeeper Seamus Power and his staff for the magnificent condition in which they maintain the course which is practically playable in all kinds of weather. The underfoot terrain was a bit wet in places but, with the greens coming back to their brilliant best after the recent coring and sanding, it was all systems go.
With the bunkers out of play, placing everywhere and no limit on drives, in a champagne scramble format big scores were to be expected. That was what we got, with the winning team carding an unbeatable 106 points and finishing three clear of the runners-up on 103.
John Browne (12), Willie Whitty (18), Billy Redmond (19) and Aidan Wallace (29) set the pace with a brilliant outward nine of 56 points and, adding 50 points on the tougher back nine, they emerged clear winners.
Second place went to a three-person team composed of Willie Kelly (18), Jimmy O’Neill (19) and John Joe Murray (21), scoring 97 points plus the six points bonus to give them a final total of 103 points.
Tony Harford (13), Mikey Lee (18), Tony Sexton (22) and Donie Cody (23) shot 96 points to finish third. Nearest the pin prize on the eleventh hole went to Tony Harford.
On the draw board for October are John Murphy, Brian Dolan and Willie Whitty. We will take names for our annual trip to our friends in Faithlegg on October 17 this Thursday, and teams will be announced on Thursday, October 12, once we get pairings from Frank Walsh in Faithlegg and match with two from New Ross. We will not be on a timesheet as it is normally a shotgun start there at 10 a.m. sharp.
The sympathy of all the Seniors group goes to our friend and colleague, Martin Forristal, on the recent death of his mother, Bridie, who was laid to rest in Glenmore cemetery recently.
NEW ROSS LADIES
Another wet Wednesday! We are having an awful run of bad luck with our competition day but fingers crossed that a high pressure will move in over Ireland during the week and that October will be less wet than September - at least on Wednesdays! We will play for those postponed competitions hopefully before the winter sets in.
Wednesday’s competition (October 4) is an 18-hole stableford including a Senior prize. It is sponsored by Emerald Dry Cleaners and thanks to Deirdre and Pete Caulfield for their continued support.
There was a tremendous response to our ‘Sharpen your Shortgame’ programme with over 40 ladies signing up for lessons and a weekly competition. The reaction after the lessons on Friday and Saturday was very positive, so next year there should be a marked improvement in scores!
The programme adds to the social life of the club with golfers going for coffee afterwards which is a great boost in the bar, especially in wintertime.
Bridge returns on Friday mornings at 9.30 a.m. for anyone interested.
Get into Golf for new golfers continues on Wednesdays too and we hope to have a nine-hole foursome competition once a month with members and the new ladies. More information on this competition will be forthcoming when dates and times are confirmed.
Many thanks to the volunteers who have been so generous with their time since the commencement of the programme because without your input it would not have been possible to cater for our new golfers. We hope that members will continue to assist the lady Captain in the programme next year as new members are vital for the growth of our club.
The closing games for the Kathleen Pyne fourball matchplay are imminent. Dates for semi-finals are posted in the locker room. Good luck to the ladies still involved.
ROSSLARE
The singles competition in Rosslare on Sunday week was won with 40 points by Ger O’Reilly (13).
Ger, a reasonably new member and better known in G.A.A. circles, started with four pars to turn in 22 points. He had five pars on the way home and despite finishing 5, 6 had two shots to spare over Thomas Rowe (8) who is having a great year. He had birdies at the sixth and twelfth in halves of 18 and 20 points.
Gary Collins (+3) had birdies at the third, seventh, tenth, twelfth, 16th, and 18th to win the gross with 38 points. Jimmy Cullimore (7) had halves of 21 and 15 points to win the vets.
Third on 38 points was Nick O’Connor (3), with Ciarán Cuddihy (8) in fourth position one point behind.
On Saturday week the main competition of the day, a four-person scramble, was played over twelve holes on the Burrow course.
Results: 1, Jim Doyle (10), Ray Quinn (13), Liam Griffin (18), Bill Underwood (19); 2, Mark Mullen (0), Gary Collins (+3), Andrew Murphy (17), Jim Cummins (18); 3, Liam Duggan (6), Tim Quinlivan (7), Niall Griffin (13), Cillian Duggan (19).
Twelve-hole Burrow singles: 1, Willie White (10), 29 points; 2, Niall Keogh (23), 26 points; 3, Liam Davis (18), 25 points.
Last week Rosslare hosted the Four Nation Senior (Over55) Home Internationals. Tuesday and Thursday were good golfing days, but on Wednesday play was abandoned due to strong winds and torrential rain.
At the end of the three days England came out on top with Ireland in second position. Nigel Dukes, a former member of Rosslare, was a member of the Irish team.
ROSSLARE LADIES
Last Tuesday our main competition was played on the Burrow course. Many ladies were delighted with the change and to be playing different holes.
This coincided with the opening of the new fourth hole on the Burrow. There was a special opening and the main Saturday competition was held there to celebrate this at the weekend too.
The fourth hole had been a par three and has now been turned into a par four, with a fabulous water feature to avoid as well. Well done to Eileen Jackson who came first with 27 points. The Burrow course is a little gem for the club with some beautiful holes looking out over the sea. For any lady with limited time, there is a weekly twelve-hole competition on a Tuesday and it can also be played on the preceding Saturday.
Paud O’Brien is running a scramble with a twist next Saturday and Sunday on the Burrow in aid of Ballycogley Hall Renovation Fund. It’s a team of four, any combination, €50 per team, with two drives per person and each player allowed three extra shots: one drive, one putt and one other.
If you wish to play but don’t have a team, contact Paud at 086-1537640 and he should slot you in. There will be a special prize for a team with a minimum of one lady. It should be fun, with all welcome for this good excuse to experience the Burrow if you have never played it.
As the summer draws to an end, so do our in-house matchplay competitions. The Nancy Todd singles has just been completed. Congratulations to Niamh Byrne doubly - she will be our new lady Vice-Captain next year and also won the singles competition.
Paula O’Leary beat our lady Captain Doreen McGovern to reach the final and Niamh Byrne played Rosemary Spellman in the other semi-final. There have been great sporting matches throughout the competition and well done to all those who participated, but special well done to our overall winner, Niamh, who has been having what must be called a ‘great year all round’.
Tuesday, October 10, is a ladies’ singles stableford competition.
Burrow course, Tuesday, September 26, twelve-hole singles: 1, Eileen Jackson (31/21), 28 - 1 = 27 points; 2, Deirdre Walsh (30/20), 26 points; gross, Valerie Doyle (10/7), 15 points; 3, Mary Fowler (34/23), 26 - 1 = 25 points (back six); 4, Pauline Cafferkey (22/15), 25 points; Seniors, Eileen McKiernan (31/21), 24 points.
WEXFORD LADIES
Last Thursday’s competition (September 28) was an open 18-hole singles stableford sponsored by Carrig Donn.
Results: 1, Teresa Morris (26), 37 points; 2, Beppi O’Connor (18), 34 points; 3, Eileen Burke-O’Keeffe (23), 33 points (back nine).
The gross prize was won by Helen Robinson (8) with 22 points. Jacinta O’Neill (21) won the Senior prize with 32 points and Patricia Hillis (10) won the nine-hole with 15 points (back three).
Nearest the pin on the ninth was Irene Bolger, 1m 25cm. The prize-giving is on Thursday, October 12.
The national finals of the AIG Ladies Cup and Shields competition were held in Belfast last week, and unfortunately our Minor Cup team lost to Mountbellew at the semi-finals stage. The final score was 3.5 to 1.5.
Although understandably disappointed, the team, caddies and managers should be proud to have progressed this far in the competition. Very well done to everyone involved and a big thank you to the travelling supporters.
Lee Valley from Cork were the overall Minor Cup winners, beating Mountbellew in the final.
This week’s competition (October 5) is an 18-hole singles stableford sponsored by Martin’s Jewellers.
ST. HELEN’S LADIES
Sunday, September 24, open singles stableford (standard scratch: non-qualifying): 1, Louise Beegan (36), 31 points; 2, Suzanne Glynn (36), 24 points; 3, Aileen Foran (36), 21 points.
Thursday, September 28, open Seniors 50+ (standard scratch: non-qualifying): 1, Ann Parkinson (24), 27 points; 2, Marie Byrne (25), 26 points; 3, Joanne Devitt (23), 26 points.
BALLYMONEY
The usual Wednesday nine-hole competition fell foul of the bad weather.
Saturday saw an open three-person scramble with a shotgun start. The team of Stephen Greene with Kevin and Peter Byrne won with a score of 61.3 nett.
Sunday’s singles stableford was won by Philip Moore (16) with 40 points. Second was John Sunderland (18) with 38 points, and third was John Kennedy (13) with 37 points, holding off Seán Furlong (11) on countback.
DONOHOE’S SOCIETY
Donohoe’s Golf Society played Blackwater on Sunday, October 1.
Results: 1, Sam Farnan, 39 points; 2, Willie Nolan, 38 points; 3, Paul Breen, 37 points. Paul Breen also took home the birdie money.
The final of the matchplay was won by John Sullivan who beat John Cahill two and one.
The venue next week is Quinnagh House - please be there by 8.45 a.m.
ENNISCORTHY LADIES
As the autumn days are settling in, our ladies played their weekly competition in beautiful conditions.
The singles stableford on September 26 was sponsored by Valentia Nursing Home.
Results: 1, Kay Ryan (27), 42 points; 2, Breda Morrison (27), 36 points (back nine); 3, Christine Yates (36), 36 points; gross, Margaret Mooney (9), 25 points; 4, Mary Murphy (23), 35 points (back nine); 5, Fionnuala Killalea (23), 35 points (back six); 6, Deirdre Kavanagh (21), 35 points.
Nine-hole qualifier: 1, Josie Gahan, 17 points; 2, Dorothy Kenny, 16 points.
Next week’s competition is the last of our majors as Jack Murphy, our Captain, presents his prize to the ladies. This is a singles stableford.
Our new ladies in the Try Before You Play programme are progressing well and we look forward to seeing them on the fairways shortly.
Keep up to date with activities and results by following us on facebook.com/enniscorthygolfclub.com, Twitter @enniscorthygolf, or Instagram (enniscorthygolfclub).
ENNISCORTHY
Ladies’ and gents’ open singles stableford, September 25, sponsored by E.G.C. (23 played; standard scratch 73, 35 stableford points): 1, Jason Rackard (0), 40 points; 2, Jim Byrne, 38 points.
Nine-hole midweek, singles stableford, September 27, sponsored by Mossy Fitzpatrick (39 played): overall, Ray Hutchinson (17), 20 points (last seven); Category A, Richard O’Connor (8), 16 points; Category B, Phillip Browne (13), 20 points; Category C, Michael Walsh (16), 20 points; Category D, Brian Redmond (20), 19 points.
Wickham’s butchers will be sponsoring next week.
Congratulations to James Morrissey who defeated Shane Fortune in the final on the 13th green of the gents’ club singles last Saturday.
It was a great effort by both players to reach the final considering they were both integral parts of our triumphant cup-winning teams as well.
The course will be closed all day on Wednesday, October 4, due to verti drainage taking place.
The nine-hole midweek competition will be on Thursday this week instead.
The midweek champions finals, sponsored yet again by Tommy Cooper Training Services, is on Saturday, October 7, starting at 9 a.m.
All the usual suspects will be taking part.
There is an open three-person team (any combination) on Sunday, October 8, starting at 7.40 a.m.
Also on the same day is the club’s thank you to all committee members and helpers throughout the year. Entry is by invitation only, starting at 12.50 p.m.
For the full report please look at the club website in the news section.
MORE GOLF ON CLUB CALL PAGE