CLUB NEWS ONtheFAIRWAYS
GOLF
NEWROSSSENIORS
In the New Ross Golf Club Past Presidents’ Day held on October 7, many of our senior colleagues were among the prize-winners.
Eleven teams composed of past Presidents and guests took part in the 14th annual running of the event, and all agreed it was one of the most successful to date. We had a few late defections from people and, if they had notified the organisers in time, it would have been much appreciated for the smooth running of the competition and the selection of teams.
Jimmy ‘M’ said he’d get his fellow ‘Dub’, All-Ireland football-winning manager Jim Gavin, down to pick the teams next year.
With a prize for ‘everyone in the audience’ on offer no matter where your team finished, nevertheless it was cut-throat stuff out on the course to gain the bragging rights for 2016.
A four-person team composed of John Murphy (17), Martin Forristal (20), Bryan Hennessy (22) and Brian Dolan (22) shot 97 points (minus six) to emerge clear winners with a final total of 91 points. The club Captain, Derek Ronan (2), accompanied by John Joe Murray (20) and George Peters (26), took second place with 89 points.
On the same total and in third spot came Ned Conway (14), Willie Whitty (18) and lady President Marie O’Connor (30). Fourth prize was won by Davy Doran (11), Jamesie Murphy (23) and lady Captain Mary Maher (30), again with a tally of 89 points. The fifth prize with 86 points went to George Walsh (12), Bill Hurley (19) and Kieran O’Grady (21).
Nearest the pin prizes went to Davy Doran, John Hosey and Andy Doherty. The longest drive on the fourth hole was won by John Murphy, and on the 18th by Derek Ronan.
The putting competition resulted in a tie between Liam Quinn, Seán O hUginn and Tom Kent, and the team of Davy Doran, Jamesie Murphy and Mary Maher, with both teams receiving prizes.
At the prize-giving, club Captain Derek Ronan complimented the organiser and said they all had a marvellous day’s golf and the camaraderie between the teams added greatly to that.
Lady Captain, Mary Maher, and lady President, Marie O’Connor, echoed these sentiments with a few timely words of their own. Incoming President, J.J. Hoyne, and incoming Captain, Peter Goggin, were wished all the best for their term in office next year.
Many thanks go to club manager Joe Foran and his staff, both in the restaurant for a wonderful meal and the bar for helping to make our Past President’s Day 2016 such a memorable one - roll on 2017.
NEWROSSLADIES
Wednesday, October 12, 18-hole stableford sponsored by PN O’Gorman: 1, Mary J. Maher (30), 34 points; 2, Marie Therese Wall (21), 32 points (last nine); gross, Geraldine Mackey, 21 points; 3, Denise Bolger (16), 32 points.
Upcoming competitions: Wednesday, October 19, 14-hole stableford (gross) sponsored by Bailey’s Framing & Gift Centre; Wednesday, October 26, 14-hole stableford (club); Wednesday, November 2, 14-hole stableford (club).
Please note that the 2-2.15 p.m. draw has changed to 1-1.15 p.m.
COURTOWN
Men’s single sweep, Wednesday, October 5: 1, Tom Ryan (20), 28 points; 2, Keith Reid (11), 26 points; 3, Niall Nolan (15), 25 points (back nine); 4, Mike Beetlestone (27), 25 points (back nine).
Gents’ Seniors open, October 6: 1, John O’Riordan (17), 39 points (last nine); Cat. 1: 1, Rory Farrell (13), 36 points (last nine); 2, Alan Lawlor (19), 36 points; Cat. 2: 1, Vinny Kavanagh (12), 39 points; 2, Kieran Murphy (15), 38 points; Cat. 3: 1, Joe Kavanagh (28), 35 points (last nine); 2, Rodney Farrell (20), 35 points.
BUNCLODY
October 8 and 9, men’s singles strokes: 1, Alan Harrington (5), 71 nett; 2, Ray Moore (16), 72 nett; gross, Rory McCarthy (0), 74 nett; 3, Gearóid Grant (19), 72 nett; 4, Willie Harte (11), 72 nett.
October 9, men’s gold medal: (18), 72 nett.
October 11, ladies’ weekly competition: 1, Maria Pinotti (32), 38 points; 2, Leonie Blum (32), 34 points; 3, Fran Crean (24), 32 points.
October 12, Wednesday open singles: 1, Declan Brennan (21, Woodenbridge), 39 points; 2, William White (15, Lisheen Springs), 39 points; 3, Jim Byrne (12, Enniscorthy), 38 points. winner, Ger Tobin
ENNISCORTHYLADIES
Joy Conville was a clear winner of the club-sponsored competition held on Tuesday, October 11. It was another lovely autumn’s day for golf.
Results: 1, Joy Conville (22), 38 points; 2, Mary O’Shea (15), 35 points; 3, Connie Doyle (7), 35 points; 4, Ursula Cousins (14), 35 points. The nine holes qualifier was won by Joan Kavanagh with 14 points.
On the social front there’s great excitement in the club due to the upcoming Anthony Kearns concert which will be held in the clubhouse on Saturday, November 26. Tickets cost €30 and are currently on sale to members.
The Monday opens are continuing for October. Keep up to date with activities and results by checking out our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Enniscorthy.Golf. Club/), follow us on Twitter @enniscorthygolf or Instagram (enniscorthygolfclub).
ENNISCORTHY
We are holding a fundraising concert in the clubhouse, featuring Ireland’s finest tenor Anthony Kearns accompanied by pianist Patrick Healy, on Saturday, November 26, at 8 p.m.
Ticket numbers are limited, restricted to members only for a limited period, and will cost €30 each on a first-come, first-served basis. A member may purchase a maximum of two tickets per person. Tickets will cost €30 and are limited to two tickets per member.
There will be a turkey shoot competition on Sunday, October 23. The ordinary rules of golf will not be adhered to. Booking became available on October 14.
There will also be a raffle for free range bronze turkeys from a local supplier that should weigh 14 to 16 lbs. by Christmas time, only €2 a line or three lines for €5, and the draw for these will be held at the gents’ Seniors Christmas party on December 15.
It is P.G.A. winter series time again. This is a 14-hole stableford competition which started on October 15 and continues every second weekend thereafter. There will be three individual prizes per week.
Your top two scores over all games played count towards the top 30 players who qualify for the February grand final. These two scores will be added to the grand final score to determine the winner. There will be prizes for the overall top ten.
Our Monday ladies’ and gents’ open singles is proving very popular judging by the number of participants. The competition is scheduled to be on almost every Monday until well into the winter months.
The entry fee is €5 for members and €10 for visitors, open to all membership categories. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this competition then please bring them along. Where else would you get such great golfing facilities for €10? The next competition is on October 24.
The next gents’ open Seniors will be on Thursday, November 10, and will be sponsored by the club.
It has been decided to hold an E.G.M. with regard to providing access to the clubhouse for those with physical challenges who have difficulty using the stairs on Sunday, October 23, at 5 p.m. Members have, by now, received the required two weeks’ notice of the meeting via e-mail.
If you have something to say on the topic then this is your chance. If for some reason you cannot make that date, then write in a letter to the Hon. Secretary and it will be read out. Only those present can vote on the night and you must be a full member to have that privilege.
As the decision arrived at will affect all members, it is the responsibility of every full member to be as informed as possible and to vote. The options to be voted on will be displayed in the clubhouse for every member to read, discuss and inform themselves.
The Monday ladies’ and gents’ open singles stableford, October 10, sponsored by E.G.C.: 1, Adam Jordan; 2, Terri Talbot.
All prize vouchers for this competition are available for collection in the Pro Shop.
Gents’ monthly Seniors (singles), October 13, sponsored by Jim Hogan (108 played; S.S. 37 points): overall, Gordon Radloff (17), 41 points; Over-50s: 1, Jim Gahan (20), 36 points; 2, Michael Field (Wexford, 19), 35 points; Over-60s: 1, John Cullen (12), 39 points; 2, Pat Quirke (6), 38 points; Over-70s: 1, William Dunne (14), 38 points; 2, Brian Hogan (15), 35 points (back nine); Over80s: 1, Paddy Wildes (24), 38 points; 2, John J. Bolger (Courtown, 18), 38 points.
The Brittle Bones winners were Michael Doyle, Matty Mernagh and Richie Peare with 50.5 on Monday last week. The Brittle Bones Christmas dinner will take place on Thursday, December 1.
It has been agreed to change the order of the course temporarily for the month of November in order to get feedback from our members. The present 16th and 17th will become the fifth and sixth. The present fifth then becomes the seventh and so on until you come to the present 15th which will become the 17th.
BALLYMONEY
Wednesday nine-hole (mixed): 1, Richard Temple (16), 20 points; 2, Sammy Walker (9), 17 points; 3, Stephen Greene (18), 17 points.
The weekend v. par singles was affected by the heavy rain of Friday night, with the course not opening until 11 a.m. on Saturday. Preferred lies and bunkers G.U.R. were in place, and Sunday saw a very strong wind, however all the best scores were posted on Sunday.
Tom Keogh (20) won on a fine score of six up, with Kevin Byrne (21) holding off Tommy Dunne (9) and Richard Temple (16) on countback for second, all on five up.
ROSSLARE
The hamper competition was played in Rosslare on Sunday.
In Category 1 (under 10 handicap), Liam Duggan (6) had birdies at the fourth, seventh and ninth in a one over par round of 73 for 39 points.
He beat his brother, Anthony (6), by two points, with Brendan Rossiter (scr.) shooting a three under par 39 points in third position.
In Category 2 (10 handicap plus), one of our new members, Cormac Quigley (17), had birdies at the eighth, 15th and 16th and, despite blow-outs at the eleventh and twelfth, he won with 41 points. Con Murphy (12) was second on 40 points, and John Howard (15) was third on 39 points.
Saturday fourball: 1, John Barron (8) and Kevin Foran (14), 46 points; 2, Derek Evans (10) and Boyd Scott (16), 45 points.
John Brady represented Ireland in a ‘friendly’ against England played in the Isle of Man. He won two points out of three and in the singles beat the English Under-16 champion 3/2. Well done to John who is having a great year.
On September 30, the club lost it’s longest-serving staff member when Billy Bent retired. Billy joined the course staff in 1973 and in the past 43 years has been a loyal and dedicated servant.
He has seen many changes in the course since, not least the impact of coastal erosion on the beach which is now thankfully under control. We wish Billy and his family a very happy retirement and thank him sincerely for 43 years of employment.
ROSSLARELADIES
Tuesday was another very windy day with gusts coming in off the sea. Joan Bowe came first with 37 points.
I played with her and how she managed to hit the ball so straight every time, when ours blew all over the course, I don’t know. Well done Joan, beautiful golf! To reflect the conditions, the next best scores were 33 points, and a big well done to those too!
Please note ladies who play on the Burrow course, the alternate day for the Tuesday competition is now to be the Saturday prior to the Tuesday. It is a nine-hole competition, using holes one to four and eight to twelve. This competition is now being computerised. Further details are on the poster up in the Burrow course hut.
Please note for interest there is a sheet up in the ladies’ locker room showing the competition scoring analysis. That is, it shows how our course played over the last five years.
It shows how each hole ranked using the par for the hole, with rank one being the most difficult and 18 the least difficult.
Tuesday, November 1, is a singles stableford competiton. It is the start of playing 16 holes for the winter, with prizes of turkeys.
Saturday, October 8, open fourball: 1, Kathleen Cullimore (18/16) and Rosemary Spelman (25/23), 40 points (back three); 2, Moira Fortune (16/14) and Liz Murphy (22/20), 40 points.
Sunday and Tuesday, October 9 and 11, singles stableford: 1, Joan Bowe (13), 37 points; 2, Eleanor O’Connor (18), 33 points (back six); gross, Niamh Byrne (9), 21 points; 3, Fionnuala Callery (31), 33 points (back nine); 4, Catherine Haugh (22), 32 points (back six).
ST. HELEN’S
Well done to the two Marks, who are stocking up early for Christmas. The timesheet for our final classic of the year - the Halloween scare team event on Saturday, October 29 - is filling up fast.
There are a limited number of slots still available, so give Larry or Cormac a ring at 9133234. We look forward to a great night in the clubhouse after the golf, with fancy dress and a monster raffle topped off with music and the craic.
We offer our condolences to Dougie and the Benson family on the recent death of his father, Tony. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Saturday, October 8, hampers: 1, Mark O’Donoghue (16), 41 points; 2, Seán Moore (10), 39 points; 3, ‘Buzzer’ O’Brien (9), 37 points (countback); veteran, Jimmy Kearney (15), 37 points.
Sunday, October 9, turkeys: 1, Mark Phillips (12), 40 points; 2, ‘Buzzer’ O’Brien (9), 39 points (countback); 3, Mark O’Donoghue (15), 39 points; veteran, Donal O Murchú (16), 35 points.
Wednesday, October 12, open singles: 1, Pádraig Tiernan (13), 37 points; 2, Mick Brosnan (13), 36 points (countback); 3, Niall Ellard (5, Rosslare), 36 points; veteran, Mike Concannon (23), 34 points.
Saturday, October 15, open singles: 1, Mark Phillips (12), 40 points; 2, John Sinnott (6), 38 points (countback); 3, Niall Walsh (15), 38 points; veteran, Gerry Byrne (15), 34 points (countback).
Sunday, October 16, turkeys: 1, Mark Phillips (12), 35 points; 2, Tony Dorazil (27), 34 points.
Fixtures: Wednesday, October 19, open singles; Saturday, October 22, hampers; Sunday, October 23, open singles; Wednesday, October 26, open singles; Saturday, October 29, Halloween classic.
WEXFORD
The second Christmas hamper competition took place over Saturday and Sunday. With the weather favouring those who played on Saturday, it is not surprising that the winner came from Saturday’s players.
The winner of the Christmas hamper with a magnificent score of 46 points was Anthony Neville. Apart from his hamper prize, Anthony will also be receiving a note from our own Santa in the person of the Handicap Secretary. Congratulations, Anthony.
In second place was the evergreen Eamon ‘Iggy’ Hopkins on a score of 39 points (back nine), with Larry Byrne also on 39 points in third place. Barry Malone took fourth place with 38 points, and the vet’s prize was won by Nick Harpur.
Wednesday’s fourball was won by the Curracloe pairing of Terry Lyons and John Bolger with a score of 38 points.
Friday’s three-person team event was won by habitual winners Tommy Hynes, Pat ‘Kenny’ Walsh and Jackie Molloy with a score of 63 points.
The Seniors’ 15-hole competition on Tuesday was won by the in-form P.C. Browne with a great score of 37 points. Aiden Cogley was second with 34 points.
A reminder to all members and friends that our Christmas party will take place in the clubhouse on Saturday, December 10. Tickets are available at the bar.
Details of the Christmas menu are available on our website: wexfordgolfclub.ie.