ON the FAIRWAYS
ROSS LARE LADIES
December 18, 18-hole singles stableford: 1, Mary O’Shaughnessy (14/8-1), 24 points.
December 22, open fourball: 1, Susan Evans (11/8) and Valerie Doyle (11/8-1), 31 points (back three).
Saturday, December 29, open fourball: 1, Angela Brady (24/14), Ger Hutchinson (16/10), 24 points.
Monday, December 31, twelve-hole singles stableford: 1, Susan Evans (11/7), 27 points.
Tuesday, January 1, team of four, two scores to count (all four on par threes): 1, Paul McLoughlin, Mary McDonald, Margie O’Connor, Joan Walsh, 84 points; 2, Jean Cullinane, Ciarán Lynch, Colm Waldron, Liam Lawlor, 84 points.
Fixture: Tuesday, January 8, ladies’ singles.
It’s winter league competition time again! Sign up with golf professional Jamie O’Sullivan in the Pro Shop for this very competitive, exciting and seasonal event.
Wishing our new lady Captain Niamh Byrne, lady Vice-Captain Carmel Quinlivan, and lady President Mary Kelleher, an exciting 2019.
ROSSLARE
There was a big turn-out for the Captains’ drive-in in Rosslare on Sunday, December 30, and the weather was very favourable.
All four Captains hit great drives, hopefully auguring well for 2019.
Sunday, December 30, team of four: 1, John Galvin (8), Keith Deacon (12), Norrie Goff (15), Vandra Deacon (16), 67 points; 2, Derek Evans (8), Susan Evans (11), Boyd Scott (13), Robin Gardner (18), 65 points; 3, Karen O’Keeffe (11), Jim Murphy (17), Pat Kinsella (22), Jean Cullimore (29), 64 points.
Burrow course – gents: 1, Brendan Doyle (12), 29 points; 2, Thomas Rochford (15), 28 points; 3, Bill Underwood (11), 27 points; 4, Ray Kelly (12), 26 points; ladies: 1, Alma Roche, 26 points; 2, Louise Wilson, 23 points; 3, Agnes Grant-Behan, 23 points.
Monday, December 31, singles: 1, Bill Byrne (13), 26 points; 2, John Benton Jnr. (5), 26 points; 3, Peter Griffin (8), 26 points.
Tuesday, January 1, team of four: 1, Colm Waldron (13), Liam Lawlor (22), Ciarán Lynch (24), Jean Cullinane (29), 83 points; 2, Paul McLoughlin (11), Mary McDonald (17), Margie O’Connor (19), Joan Walsh (23), 79 points; 3, Paul Murphy (+2), David Durack (9), Cormac Quigley (13), Niall Fortune (14), 78 points.
Ping winter series: 1, Conor Jameson (3, Wicklow), 75 gross; 2, Dylan Graham (1, Woodenbridge), 82 gross; 1, Mark Kavanagh (6, Wicklow), 72 nett; 2, Seán Liddy (9, Wicklow), 75 nett.
NEWROSSLADIES
Fixture: Wednesday, January 12, 14-hole stableford, sponsored by The Hollow Bar and Seafood Restaurant. Placing everywhere and new rules of golf apply. Lines are available on the timesheet for a nine-hole competition also.
The ongoing nine-hole competition is also available throughout the week – enter in the nine-hole book.
We are now playing round three of the winter league which must be played by January 23. Remember to enter in the winter league book and mark your card ‘round 3’.
Results of round two will be posted on the noticeboard and included in next week’s update.
Best wishes to all for the new year ahead.
NEWROSS
There was an excellent entry of 700 players who took part in the Christmas Classic which included 79 visitors.
The huge entry was due to the great weather over the holidays and the fact that the course was so dry and in such fine order. Many thanks to everyone who played. There was a good mix of both club members and visitors among the prizes.
Results: 1, Paul Cleary (11), James O’Brien (15), Noel Kendrick (13), Des Grace (15), 115 points (last nine); 2, Joey Wadding (18, St. Helen’s), Paddy Fitzpatrick (15), Frankie Morrissey (9), James Morrissey (5, all Enniscorthy), 115 points; 3, John Murphy (20), Denis Kirwan (12), Willie Whitty (18), Peter Goggin (17), 113 points (last nine); 4, Pat Morrissey (12), Pat Curley (16), Craig Scotten (15), Martin O’Driscoll (13, all Lismore), 113 points.
The ‘v par’ competition on January 5 and 6 was sponsored by ‘The Saturday Regulars’. A total of 128 golfers took part in the competition, with exceptional conditions for January.
Results: 1, Tadgh Cahill (12), seven up; 2, Jim Byrne (9), five up; 3, Paul Griffin (15), four up; gross, Michael Ryan, one down; Cat. 1, John Flynn (8), three up (last nine); Cat. 2, David Feeney (13), three up (last nine); Cat. 3, Tom O’Connor (18), three up (last nine).
Rounds two and three of the winter league sponsored by Hartley’s Motorcraft will be played over the next two weekends.
Split the pot was won by Bill Hurley, Mick Malone, George Walsh and Hugh Byrne who collected €78.
The much-anticipated rule changes are now in effect, and golfers must make themselves familiar with these changes which should lead to a better pace of play and enjoyable sporting experience for everyone concerned.
NEWROSSSENIORS
We resumed activities after the Christmas break on Thursday, expecting that it would take players time to wipe away the cobwebs and get into the swing of things again.
Not a bit of it, as these veterans were mad for action and produced excellent scores in the competition which featured nine teams fighting for the prizes on offer.
Even though they had to contend with overcast misty conditions and heavy dew lying on the greens which made putting a lottery at times, there were only single points separating the first three teams figuring in the shake-up. One team got disqualified for incorrect scores on their card, otherwise they would have picked up a prize.
The team of Jimmy Furlong (13), Mikey Lee (19), Larry Shannon (21) and Jim Kehoe (25) took the honours, finishing in first place with 100 points.
Pipped at the post and placed second with 99 points were Michael Kavanagh (17), Michael Gannon (18), Jamesie Murphy (24) and Martin Burke (25).
A further point back (98) and placed third were Dick Cuddihy (12), Martin McGrath (15), Tony Sexton (22) and Robert O’Dwyer (22), who held on by a point from the next team on 97.
The nearest the pin prize was won by Tony Sexton on the ninth hole, and we had a very unusual occurrence on the eleventh hole where both Denis Kirwan and John F. Roche put their tee shots exactly 54 inches from the pin. Both collected prizes, recording birdies in the process.
Prior to the outing we observed a minute’s silence in memory of our friend and colleague, Mick Martin, who passed away during the week at the great age of 93.
He will be fondly remembered by all the seniors with whom he enjoyed many a game of golf down the years. Mick was a thorough gentleman and a pleasure to be in company with, and his passing was deeply regretted by all in New Ross Golf Club. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
BALLYMONEY
December 23, twelve-hole competition: 1, Kevin Byrne (19), 32 points; 2, Thomas Doolan (17), 31 points; 3, Ken Layton (15), 27 points.
December 26, nine-hole competition (front nine): 1, Rob Bradley (17), 25 points; 2, Liam Redmond (12), 23 points; 3, Robbie Kehoe (13), 22 points, holding off Garry Doyle on countback.
December 28, nine-hole competition (back nine): 1, Robbie Kehoe (13), 25 points; 2, Liam Redmond (12), 19 points; 3, Garry Doyle (24), 19 points.
December 29-30, 13-hole competition: 1, Eugene O’Brien (12), 29 points; 2, Robbie Kehoe (13), 28 points; 3, Paul O’Brien (16), 25 points, holding off Kevin Byrne on countback.
December 29-30, three-person scramble (open): 1, Sammy Walker, Anthony Fortune, Ed Walsh, 59.7; 2, Robbie Kehoe, Seán Furlong, Martin Conroy, 60.8; 3, Anthony G. Doyle, Paul Sutton, Francis Gammell, 61.1.
Midweek nine-hole competition (mixed): 1, Jason Doolan (21), 23 points; 2, Anthony G. Doyle (21), 22 points; 3, Thomas Doolan (18), 22 points.
Weekend fourball better ball: 1, Ron Breen and Charlie Logan with an outstanding 49 points; 2, Eugene O’Brien Snr. and Ger O’Brien, 45 points; 3, Rob Bradley, Anthony G. Doyle, 43 points.
Winter league fourball - Group 1: Peter and Andrew Byrne beat Richard McDonald and Troy Kenny; Leighton Gleeson and Eugene O’Brien beat Robbie Kehoe and Stephen Greene; Philip Moore and Ed Lysaght (substitute for Garry Doyle) beat Mark Sinnott and Brendan Whyte.
Group 2: Ron Breen and Charlie Logan beat Eugene and Ger O’Brien; John Farrell and Karl Flynn drew with Paul and Thomas Doolan; Rob Bradley and Anthony G. Doyle drew with Arthur Ring and Alan Rapple.
The A.G.M. was held at the clubhouse on Saturday afternoon. The outgoing Captain, Marty Lawlor, thanked all the committee for all the hard work of the year and welcomed Liam Morris as incoming Captain. Liam nominated Richard McDonald as his Vice-Captain.
Treasurer Anthony Fortune reported a healthy state of affairs financially. Club President Ron Breen thanked everyone for their support and, together with Honorary Secretary Charlie, addressed the new rules and the upcoming vote on the amalgamation of the G.U.I. and the L.G.U.I.
Richard McDonald received his order of merit prize for 2018. The outgoing committee was proposed and seconded to remain in place.
All at Ballymoney Golf Club would like to wish everyone a peaceful, happy and prosperous new year.
COURTOWN
The Christmas and new year periods have been exceptionally busy for the club. The course has remained in excellent condition thanks to the hard work of James and his greenkeeping staff, and the mild weather has really brought out the numbers which has been reflected in the very fine scoring and tightly-contested competitions.
The singles competition which took place on the weekend of December 22 and 23 was won by our Captain, Colman Doyle (24), with a very fine score of 35 points off 14 holes.
Runner-up was Eugene Hogan (17) with 33 points (last nine). Des Roche (5) was third, also with 33 points (last six), and fourth was Karl Caulfield (9), also with 33 points.
John Kinsella (20) won the open singles competition on St. Stephen’s Day with 35 points.
The open two-person team event which took place from December 27 to 30 was won by the partnership of Joe Keegan (6) and Martin Lipsitt (16) with 45 points.
Runners-up were Ray McGrath (10) and Paul McDonagh (16) with 44 points, third were Liam Cooper (9) and Ian Crimmons (16) with 43 points, and fourth were Mark Read (15) and Colman Doyle (24) with 42 points.
The open singles held on New Year’s Eve was won by Lee Bodger (3) with 31 points (last six), with Kevin Kelleher (11) second, also on 31 points, and John Maher (12) third on 29 points (last nine).
The Wednesday sweep held on January 2 was won by Martin Sheehan (6) with 27 points, followed by Jimmy Moore (14) with 25 points (last three), Seamus Grogan (15) with 25 points (last nine), and Eric Poole (12), also with 25 points.
The open Seniors on January 3 resulted in a win for Pat Ryan (15) with 32 points, with Mark McGrath (22) in second place with 30 points, and Joe Sinnott (19) in third with 29 points (last three).
Finally, in the ladies’ and gents’ singles competition held on the weekend of January 5 and 6, first prize in the gents’ section went to Colin Sunderland (8) with 34 points, followed by Ian Crimmons (16) in second with 32 points (last nine), and Cillian Hughes (5) in third, also with 32 points (last six).
The prize for best gross score went to Alan McDonald (1) with 29 points. The winner of the ladies’ competition was Denise Kavanagh (11) with 27 points.
The EBS Colman Doyle Finance Ltd. winter league is reaching its final stages and is hotting up nicely, with pairings for the sixth round to be played on Sunday, January 13, available for inspection on the BRS Bookings page.
The seventh and final round of the group stages will be played on Sunday, February 10, with the winter league final itself being played on Saturday, February 16, followed by the customary dinner and presentation of prizes. With 96 competitors involved, a big turn-out is expected for the final day’s play and celebrations.