May Day sees in summer season
After a cool, damp spring, summer has officially arrived with May Day. Temperatures have risen slightly, and growth has accelerated. Spirits are lifting and greens and fairways continue to improve further. The rough has fluffed up and placing is no longer permitted – summer brings its own challenges to the game. No-one ever said summer golf was easy but the late Seve Ballesteros was known to have his own comment on the rough – “I wish the fairways were more narrow – then everybody would have to play from the rough, not just me”.
ANNUAL CLUB CLASSIC
Our annual fundraising Club Classic takes part again this year in association with the Jimmy Walsh Memorial Cup on Thursday 11th and Friday, 12th May.
We are delighted that this year, McCarthy Insurance Group are the main sponsors of our Club Classic which is in memory of Barry O’Keeffe. Barry was a great friend of Charlie McCarthy, Head of McCarthy Insurance Group and very close to our President John Brooks with whom Barry worked with for over thirteen years having retired from the Gardaí. Barry served as a sergeant in Mitchelstown. He was a member of Mitchelstown Golf Club since 1976 and represented the club in a number of teams over the years. He was always on hand to give advice and guidance when called upon. He really enjoyed his time with the Seanoiri golfers. He was involved in a number of charities where he did sterling work. Barry will be especially remembered for his great humour, wit and sociability.
This is one of our major fundraising activities of the year and we appreciate the full support of our members and our sponsors. We would like to remind our club members and other participants to be mindful of and support our sponsors throughout the year. I am sure the event will prove to be a success (as was last year’s event) and hope a good day will be had by all. The format is threeball better ball with booked tee-times to 12.30pm and shotgun start both days at 5pm. Food is provided after play and presentation of prizes will be at 9.30pm on Friday. Best of luck to all participants and enjoy your day.
There will be a raffle to run in conjunction with the Classic with very attractive prizes. First prize is fourball at Powerscourt GC (value €500). Second prize is 2 tickets to the Irish Open at the K-Club (sponsored by AIB Mitchelstown). Third – €100 voucher for Amber, Mitchelstown. Up to 15+ other prizes on the night including spirits, wines, green fees, vouchers and much more. Please support – thank you.
INTERCLUB COMPETITION
Our Pierce Purcell team came out of the starting blocks last Sunday, 30th April with intent, for their home match v Co Tipperary GC (Dundrum). Mitchelstown’s first pairing secured the third win of the match on the 18th when David Walsh putted to within 6 inches from off the green. The remaining two matches were called in for halves to give MGC a 4-1 victory. Well done to all who played under the excellent management team of Kieran Dennehy and Mike Lyons!
Next up for the Pierce Purcell team is an away fixture against Williamstown to be played before 21st May.
Our Fred Perry team are in action against the Gold Coast GC on Sunday, 7th May at 2pm (home). Our next JB Carr fixture is also at home v Cobh GC on Monday, 8th May at 2pm. Mitchelstown Junior Cup team take on Williamstown GC at 2.30pm (at home) on Saturday 13th at 2.30pm. Our ladies Challenge Cup team travel away to West Waterford GC on Sunday 14th May for a 2pm tee-off. We thank all the players who turn out to play for and represent our Golf Club, and the team managers who give of their time and effort to coach the teams and organise the fixtures. We appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes.
As ever we encourage club members to turn out in club colours to show support and appreciation for the teams. Golf is not only a participant’s game – live golf is a most enjoyable spectator sport and a good walk enhanced.
MEN’S CLUB NEWS
Results - 28th, 29th and 30th April - 18 Holes Open Singles. 1st David Ahern (26.5) 43pts. 2nd Paul Craig (19.8) 39pts. Gross Stephen Slattery (5.3) 33gpts. 3rd Graham Brooks (20.7) 38pts. Next weekend - 5th, 6th and 7th May - 18 Holes Open Singles.
DRAW FOR MATCHPLAY SINGLES 2023
Oliver Walsh v John Cotter, Jim Moran v Noel Manning, Paddy O’Callaghan v Fergal Whelton, Vincent Ryan v Larry Hickey, Leo Walsh v Richard O’Farrell, Sean Leonard v Tristan Nolan, Oliver Boland v Colm Ahern, Colm McCarthy v John Courtney, Joe O’Gorman v Brian Lee, Anthony O’Brien v Pat Lawton, Brian Lillis v Adrian Gamble, John McCleary v Willian Riordan, Kieran Casey v John Lineen, David O’Sullivan v Adam Gubbins, Rory McMahon v John Hanley, Donal Herlihy v Terry English.
Matches for the men’s singles matchplay to completed before Monday, 28th May – no exceptions as we need to keep the competition moving and not encroach unduly on the other matchplay competitions! Please see noticeboard in clubhouse full information on all match-play competitions.
LADIES NOTES
Results of ladies foursomes played on April 15th, 16th and 19th - Annette Crotty and Breda Kennedy 36 pts (on back 9). Well done ladies. Best of luck to our Ladies Challenge Cup team who travel to West Waterford GC in their second-round match on Sunday, 14th May at 2pm. Any support for Eithne and her ladies is always welcome – don’t forget your club colours!
SEANÓIRÍ
Results of seanoiri competition on Thursday, April 27th as follows; winners are John Hennessy, Eamon McGrath and Michael O’Sullivan - 53.3. 2nd - Sean Buckley, Kieran Casey and Richard Mansfield 53.7. On the table for next Thursday are Peter Darrer, John Seymour and Gorm Priesler. Please remember - South Munster Seniors Open on Tuesday, May 9th. Club Classic on 11th and 12th May. Let members club together and enter teams or sponsor a tee box.
45 CARDS
The last 2 finals of the 45 series of card games were played last Sunday evening in the clubhouse. The two winning pairs were Kieran Casey and Michael English, and Colm Aherne and Kieran Casey. Peace has now descended upon the clubhouse, and we take our breath for 6 months in preparation for charging into battle again next winter!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
The Club Classic, our major fund-raising 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. June 30th and July 1st , 2nd and 5th Play in Pink. July 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 - 12th Lady Captain’s Prize. 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. (Please note corrected date for Lady Captain’s Day is Saturday, 12th August – not 13th as listed last week and dates for Play in Pink clarified).
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.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
We are always on the lookout for volunteers for our bar rota for Saturday and Sunday mornings. The shifts are not too onerous and are infrequent but a valuable (and valued) contribution to the running of our club. It is a post which offers some additional insight into the ‘behind the scenes’ running and functioning of the club and a super opportunity to meet more members and create a sense of belonging. If interested, please contact Dolores at the office on 025-24072.
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 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.