“Twas the summer of 1990”
The ladies committee of 1990 wanted to encourage more women to take up golf and they organised a beginners group starting in May of that year. Their endeavours were well rewarded, they received a huge response from ladies in Fermoy and its hinterland and also stretching beyond it to Glanmire and Cork.
The late Eileen King was lady captain and both she and vice-captain Sheila Le Gear made us feel extremely welcome, as did the other ladies who had come to help us ‘ raw novices’ get to grips with the game. We were nervous and unsure, but we were made feel at ease very quickly, one lady recalls us being given a very simple piece of advice on that first night “keep hitting until you get the ball in the hole”. We must have done a lot of damage to the fairways on those evenings, hacking our way around the front nine full of enthusiasm for our new pastime.
Monday evenings were keenly anticipated and looking back, perhaps through “rose tinted spectacles” those evenings always appeared to be sunny, but it was certainly a summer that opened up a new chapter in the lives of those who attended. The welcome we received, and the social element contributed in no small measure to our enjoyment as we would all gather in the clubhouse following play for coffee and a chat.
Lady captain Eileen would then present prizes to the winners, how thrilled we were if lucky enough to be in the winners’ enclosure, the prizes were markers or a packet of tees but on the night receiving one felt as good as a placing in the Irish Open.
Many of our group later became very active in the running of the club, and we can count many club officers amongst us. Several ladies moved further afield, a small number found the game wasn’t for them and sadly some have gone to their eternal reward. But each and every one of us who remains holds very fond memories of that wonderful summer which introduced us to the fabulous game that has enriched our lives.
Last year in 2020 several of us got together to organise a celebration for our thirty years playing golf. The plan was to have a social ninehole competition followed by a dinner in the clubhouse, inviting those who no longer play golf, and those who have moved from the area to come and celebrate with us.
We had planned to hold the event in July, following the men’s Munster finals that were being held in Fe rmoy. The course would be at its most magnificent with such a major tournament taking place just prior to our get together.
Sadly Covid-19 ended our plans and we deferred until 2021, alas its unlikely to happen this year either. Hopefully with the rollout of the vaccine nationwide this terrible virus will be eradicated, and someday soon we can come together and reminisce over that wonderful summer, when in our total innocence we thought shooting a 5 at the par 3 second hole was wonderful.