All golfers dream of a hole-in-one, but only a small percentage ever achieve their ambition. However, for the oldest playing member of the Grange Golf Club, Paddy Muldowney, it's becoming a habit. The 91-year-old achieved his third such feat when he holed out his tee shot at the 158 metres fifth hole on a recent visit to Castle Barna Golf Club.
On a week-end visit to the beautiful Daingean, Co Offaly course with his son-in-law Paul Woods, they joined up with members Niall Purcell and Bernard Smith in the monthly medal.
In Paddy's words this is how he aced the fifth - Paddy: How far is the flag? Answer: 158 metres.
Paddy: What direction? Answer: Over that crow there 30 yards away.
Paddy: Might the distance be 158.5 metres? Answer: Hit it quickly before the crow moves.
Swish . . . Paddy: How's that for direction and distance? Answer: We think you got it just right came the reply from his three partners.
He did.
The 21 handicapper also has the distinction of recording aces at the 8th and 11th at the Grange.
Muldowney's ambition is to beat his age in shots taken around the course. When Paddy was 76 he recorded his age at the Grange and 10 years ago beat his age by one shot with an 80 at the same course.
"I'm aming for a gross 91 or less this year and hopefully with the luxury of four putts on the 18th," said the jovial veteran.
Muldowney's first set of clubs set him back a half an crown when he took up the game in 1935. He joined the Grange in 1949 and still plays three or four times a week.
Edmondstown Golf Club are well on their way to achieving a long standing ambition of winning a GUI trophy. On Sunday last they won eight of the nine matches against the Island in the first leg of the Metropolitan Cup final at Edmondstown and now need only two matches from the return leg at the Island on Sunday week to lift the trophy for the first time.
However, the 8-1 result does little justice to the closeness of the outcome at Edmondstown where tie holes were needed in four matches before a decision was reached and another went to the 18th.
Details: Edmondstown 8 The Island 1 (Edmondstown names first) - B Madden bt K Montgomery at 19th; J Cousins bt R Stobie 4 and 3; S Molins lost to C McGuinness at 19th; M Whelan bt D Muldoon at 19th; J Gilhooly bt A McLaughlin 4 and 3; C Kenny bt P Cullen at 21st; R Martin bt P Blake 2 holes; A Wolfe bt M Cronin 2 and 1; S Jackson bt S Sludds 3 and 2.
Galway Golf Club have come up with a novel idea for the Staunton Sports Services sponsored Senior Scratch Cup over 36 holes on Saturday.
This year's event will have a shotgun start and has attracted a number of the top players from the interprovincials at Ballybunion. Garth McGimpsey will line up alongside South of Ireland champion Pat Collier and internationals Eddie Power, Noel Fox, Niall Goulding and Connacht Youth's champion Nigel Howley.
Players will tee of at 10.0 a.m. in the first round and 3.0 p.m. in the afternoon.
Des Smyth has lined up a star studded field for the Des Smyth, Mitsubishi Motors sponsored Classic at Royal Dublin next Monday.
This is the third year of the Classic and it promises to be one of the best with stars from the European Tour, sports world and show business joining Smith at Royal Dublin in aid of St Michael's House and Boys Hope.
Among those taking part are Eduardo Romero, Jose Coceres, Angel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington and Philip Walton.
Concern are holding a Golf Classic at Hollystown Golf Club on Friday next. The competition is fourball stableford and the entry fee is £400 per team of four. Phone 4754162 for details.
