Course care and protection
As the fairways and greens remain soft after recent unseasonable rain, it continues to be as important as ever that we endeavour to protect our course and keep it in the best possible condition.
Golf was once described as “a game in which a ball one and a half inches in diameter is placed on a ball 8,000 miles in diameter – the object is to hit the small ball but not the larger one”. We all know this is untrue of course and totally impractical – we hit the larger ball all the time! Not a problem so long as we remember to ‘repair’ the larger ball – it’s back to the same old mantra. Please, please – all golfers remember to ‘replace’ your divots and ‘repair’ your pitch-marks.
We would also like to remind our patrons to try to avoid our bunkers but if you insist on using them please remember to rake them afterwards and replace the rake in the bunker. Our ground staff take great care in presenting us with a course in super condition – lets help them to keep it that way.
MEN’S CLUB NEWS
Results Easter Monday, 10th April - 3 Ball Better ball 1st David Mansfield, Richard Mansfield and Kieran Casey 35pts. Results 14th, 15th and 16th April - 18 Holes Open Singles 1st Liam A O’Sullivan (11.3) 45pts. 2nd David J Ahern (26.7) 44pts. Cat A <13 Noel Manning 43pts. Cat B 14-19 John Barry 42pts. Cat C 20+ Gary O’Connor 42pts. Next weekend 21st, 22nd and 23rd April 18 Holes Open Singles and Singles Matchplay Qualifier.
This week (beginning Monday, 17th April) we will commence or regular summer Tuesday 12-hole competitions and our Wednesday Qualifier where each Wednesday’s 18 hole competition winner will go through to a final to be played in September/ early October. We remind members that domestic cuts (which applied during the darker days and shorter rounds of our golfing year) have now been discontinued and we return to WHS handicaps for the foreseeable future.
We would like to extend our congratulations to Colman O’Farrell who had a hole-in-one on the third hole last weekend.
INTERCLUB COMPETITION
Our JB Carr team takes to the fairways for their first competitive match of 2023 on Friday next, 21st April away to Mahon GC at 2pm. Provisional pairings for the day are as follows: John O’Keeffe/Pat Luddy, Jim Anderson/ Declan Mooney, Tony Lewis/Jer Kearney, Kieran Casey/William Hanley, John Nyhan/Pat Cleary, Eamon McGrath/Michael Fogarty and Bat Power/Kieran Dolan. As ever, supporters are welcome (encouraged even) and please wear club colours if possible.
CLUB MATCHPLAY COMPETITIONS
The entry sheets for this year’s Club Matchplay are on the large notice board in the clubhouse. Included is Fourball, Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes. Entry must be in before 31st April. Upon entry €10 will be deducted from each player’s account on May 1st. Players must adhere to dates set for each round - failure to do so will lead to disqualification - no exceptions. This year’s Matchplay Convener is Captain Pat Kavanagh his decision is final.
Matchplay Singles this year begins with a weekend qualifier which means you must enter the weekend competition on the weekend 21st, 22nd and 23rd April (which is next weekend). The entry sheet for the Matchplay Singles will be at the computer to sign (this must be signed by the player at the time of entry to the weekend competition). The top 32 qualifiers of those who have signed the sheet will go forward to the Matchplay Singles. Entry fee €10 will be deducted from the accounts all 32 qualifiers on the 31st May.
Our Pierce Purcell team were given a walkover by our drawn opponents, Faithlegg GC for our recent fixture last Saturday, April 25th. This was due to unfortunate and untimely news for one of our opposition’s members, to whom we extend our sympathy.
LADIES NOTES
The first ladies’ interclub match for 2023 was played last Sunday, 16th April against Youghal by our Intermediate team - Eithne Bermingham, Liz Maher, Noreen Anderson, Kate Biggane and Mairead Perry. The team was captained by Catherine Kavanagh. The playing conditions proved difficult for all with thick fog and poor visibility. Despite playing golf of an exceptional standard, the Mitchelstown Ladies were defeated by a strong Youghal team.
The next ladies’ interclub matches take place at Mitchelstown Golf Club next Sunday. The Minor team will be up against Templemore at 1.30pm with the Challenge Cup team teeing off against Cahir at 2pm. The teams’ managers are Deirdre Mullins and Eithne Bermingham. We wish both teams the best of golfing luck next Sunday.
SEANÓIRÍ
Results of Seanoiri Competition on Thursday, April 13th were: winners Richard Cahill, Stephen Murphy and John O’Keeffe - 35.09 nett. 2nd were Richard Carey, John McCarthy and Billy Morrison - 40.07 nett. 3rd were Peter Darrer, Pat Cleary and Tom Twomey 40.59 nett. On the table for next week are John Hennessy, and Michael O’Sullivan. Don’t forget the South Munster Seniors Open in the club on Tuesday, May 9th.
45 CARDS
There are still a number of outstanding semi-finals and finals of 45 games to be completed. We have set a date and time for same and would be grateful if as many as possible players could attend to complete on Sunday 23rd April at 6pm. If you cannot or do not wish to attend, we will put in a substitute for you to facilitate closure of these games for this season.
The players who are still involved are Ciaran Dolan, Kieran Casey, John Lineen, Tony Lewis, Kieran Dennehy, C McCarthy, M Fuller, J O’Keeney, Billy Walsh, Richard Mansfield, Colm Aherne, Bernie Caffrey, Michael Kiely, Pat Kavanagh, Catherine Kavanagh, Eamon McGrath, Clem Leonard, Tom Nugent, Michael Cremins and Michael English. Best of luck to all involved (best behaviour is also expected on the night)!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
The Club Classic, our major fundraising event for 2023, will take place on May 11th/12th so please put the date in your diary. This event was one of our most successful last year. It was enjoyed by all and proved to be a significant fund raiser for the club. We would encourage members to contribute to the success of the event again, by entering teams, and by letting us know of any potential sponsors for the event.
May - 11th and 12th Club Classic. 19th, 20th and 21st Kevin O’Donovan Memorial Cup. June - 3rd, 4th and 5th Laya Mini Classic (3 Ball Better Ball). 23rd, 24th and 25th Murphy Cup. July - 30th, 1st 2nd Play in Pink. 7th, 8th and 9th 4 Ball to Bally B. 21st and 22nd Captain’s Prize. 28th, 29th and 30th David O’Sullivan Memorial Cup. August - 13th Lady Captain’s. 25th and 26th President’s Prize. September - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Scratch Cups. 16th and 17th Sean O’Brien Memorial Cup. 22nd, 23rd and 24th Mitchelstown Credit Union Mini Classic.
JUNIOR GOLF
At Mitchelstown Golf Club we welcome all juniors from an early age interested in taking up the sport of golf. Our junior golfers are an integral part of our club and very important to the future of the club. We are currently in a program to increase the number of juniors in our club. All new beginners to the game are very welcome to come and try out for a few weeks.
We meet for coaching and play on Saturday afternoons at 4pm until 5.30. We endeavour to provide an enjoyable introduction and everlasting experience for our juniors so that the game of golf will always be embedded to carry on into adulthood, or to return to later in life. As we enter the late spring, we will work to get handicaps for all our current members, host some competitions and fun events. If you are interested, please call Barry O’Brien at 086-8237636.
INTERESTED IN TAKING UP GOLF?
We have now embarked on our more active time of the golfing year and we are keen to hear from anyone interested in taking up the sport. We regard golf as a sport for all ages and all abilities. We pride ourselves as a friendly, warm, welcoming club with a superb 18-hole parkland course at our disposal. We regard golf as an all-year sport even though winter imposes some limitations on our activity with shorter daylight hours, intermittent wet conditions and occasional frost. We look forward to hearing from anyone interested in taking up the sport whether joining for the first time or re-joining after a period of absence.