SHORT GAME:THE annual Insomniacs Golf Event takes place at Westport Golf Club next Saturday at 4am. The competition – in its 17th year – is a great favourite with the members and normally attracts a number of non members who wish to avail of this unique experience.
Traditionally the purpose of the event was just to have a bit of fun and this theme continues this year, with an entry fee of € 10 being charged which includes a full Irish breakfast after the round.
Westport Golf Club will certainly be the place to be next Saturday morning for what should be a most unusual experience for those who have not participated before.
There is a timesheet in operation and golfers are requested to register their entry by contacting the club on 098 28262.
THE Don Patterson Open juvenile competition, sponsored by FPM Chartered Accountants, will take place at Warrenpoint GC on Thursday, August 9th.
Played over nine hole there are three categories for boys and girls at under-nine, under-11 and under-13 on December 31st, 2011. Closing date for entries is July 30th 2012. Entry fee £5/€ 8. In addition free coaching will be provided on the day.
Details are available on www.fpmca.com
Grange Dublin Boys’ Championship
RYDER Cup star Paul McGinley is inviting ambitious young golfers to follow in his footsteps by playing in the Allianz-sponsored Grange Dublin Boys’ golf championship, on the course where he learned his golf.
The 36-holes annual event takes place at The Grange GC on Friday, August 3rd, for players of 16 handicap and under.
It will be the 19th staging of one of the most popular events on the boys’ golf calendar and McGinley, who has maintained his strong ties with the Grange club, says: “I am delighted to be associated with the event as it is crucial that golf is supported at underage level. I commend my sponsors Allianz and my club Grange for their on-going commitment to this championship.”
THE Island GC is the venue for an open team of four event in aid of the Hospice on Monday, July 29th. Cost for the team is €200 and places on the time sheet are available by phoning Sarah at 087-2113691.
Clarke to receive PGA award
BRITISH Open champion Darren Clarke – who will defend his title at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s next week – will receive the PGA Recognition Award at this years annual PGA luncheon in London.
The Ulsterman, who was due to receive the award last year, follows in the footsteps of other Claret Jug winners Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin and the late Seve Ballesteros in winning the award which celebrates his outstanding contribution to the game.
Clarke will pick up the accolade on Friday, December 21st, at the Grosvenor House Hotel which stages the PGA annual charity fundraiser which among others helps the PGA Benevolent Fund.
“We had considered Darren for this award long before his Open triumph because he had already made an immense contribution to golf,” said PGA chief executive Sandy Jones. “His outstanding success in becoming Open champion in 2011 meant his commitments prevented him from collecting this award last December.”
The PGA is also hosting lunches at the Queens Hotel, Leeds, on December 13th, the Hilton Hotel, Manchester, on December 14th and Hilton Hotel, Glasgow, on December 19th. For more information on booking a place at any of the four PGA lunches email info@ptevents.co.uk or call 0044 161 941 4535.
McGimpsey holds on to win Irish Seniors Amateur
CLANDEBOYE, overlooking the town of Bangor, was the setting for Garth McGimpsey’s second win in the Tourism Malaysia-sponsored Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship last week.
McGimpsey, a member of Bangor Golf Club, held a one-shot lead over Billy Donlan of Birr going into the final 18 holes of the curtailed 36-hole championship. But it was Adrian Morrow of Portmarnock who would challenge McGimpsey, and in a nip-and-tuck final day the two rivals were tied after 34 holes.
On the par-four 17th hole, both found the fairway with their drives. Morrow played into 25 feet while McGimpsey applied pressure, giving himself a three-foot putt for birdie.
Morrow left his putt on the high side, and subsequently horse-shoed out with his par effort, leaving the easiest hole on the course with a bogey while McGimpsey duly holed out to take a two-shot lead down the last.
Again both players found fairway off the tee, and Morrow had a glimmer of hope when McGimpsey’s approach missed the green. Morrow put his approach into the greenside bunker at the front left, and both made bogey fives to give McGimpsey a two-shot win. John Mitchell from Tramore finished third on 149 after rounds of 74 and 75.
Nigel Duke from Killiney won the over-60s trophy, Peter Cowley from Cork won the over-65s and Hugh Mackeown from Portmarnock won the over-70s.
Jones claims Irish Close title
HELEN Jones from Strabane, winner of the Irish Open title in 2010, played superb level-par golf to capture the Irish Close title with a 4 and 2 win over Violet McBride from Belvoir Park in the final at Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club last week.
In the semi-final Jones, who topped the Seniors Order of Merit for the past two years, came from two down with two to play to beat Donabate’s Pat Doran at the 21st, while McBride also went to a tie-hole to see off the challenge of Portumna’s Suzanne Corcoran at the 19th.
In the Plate final Valerie Shannon from Lahinch was a 2 and 1 winner over Honoria Fogarty from Castlecomer.
Junior Pro-
Am tees off at St Helen's
AFTER a very successful 2011, the stage is set for this year’s Junior Pro-Am event. The series kicks off on the July 12th at St Helen’s Bay Golf Resort and makes its way to Cork, Wicklow, Dublin and to St Helens Bay for the Grand Final in September.
There has been a very positive reaction to the series from the participating clubs, juniors, professionals and the general golfing public alike. The series is played over four regional qualifiers with each team consisting of three juniors and the assistant professional.
The series is open to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 years with official handicaps. The top three teams in each qualifier go forward to the Grand Final at St Helen’s Bay on September 22nd.
Regional Qualifier Dates: July 12th: St Helens Bay, Wexford; July 26th: Monkstown GC, Cork; July 31st: Charlesland GC, Wicklow; August 17th: Malahide GC, Dublin.
