SHORT GAME:A new "Harrington Room" is to open at Stackstown Golf Club, the Dublin club where the three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington honed his early golfing skills.
The "Harrington Room" will house items outlining the career success to date of Harrington and the special relationship between the Harrington family and Stackstown. The "Harrington Room" will comprise a gallery and library which will include memorabilia donated by Pádraig and the Harrington family.
Meanwhile, aspiring young golfers in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown will welcome the news that a new sports access programme was announced yesterday at Stackstown. The initiative will reward those youths participating in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's sports after-school programme (known as "Drafts") with expert coaching at Stackstown, Stepaside and Marlay Park golf courses.
The coaching will be provided by the resident professional/assistant professionals attached to Stackstown and by members of Stackstown also.
O'Sullivan and Power honoured in US
IT was a good week for East Tennessee State University students Sinead O’Sullivan and Seamus Power when they were both named Atlantic Sun Conference Golfer of the Month for February.
O’Sullivan, from Galway, collected her second career individual championship as the ETSU women’s golf team finished ahead of five ranked opponents.
O’Sullivan became just the second ETSU female to win two individual championship medals in her career, finishing tied for first in the Kiawah Island Classic.
Meanwhile, Power, from West Waterford, posted a top-10 finish to earn the men’s golfer of the month honour for February. It is the fourth time in his career that Power has earned this honour.
Power put together back-to-back solid efforts for East Tennessee in Arizona and Puerto Rico. In Arizona, the junior posted a second round six-under-par 66 on his way to a score of 211 and a tie for sixth place and then fired a four-under-par 68 in the third and final round of the Puerto Rico Classic.
* THE draw for this year’s Best Cup will take place in Malahide GC on April 1st at 7.30pm.
Open spring classic at the Island
THE Island Golf Club will hold an Open spring classic on its links course in north Dublin over five weeks in March and April.
For an all-in cost of €450 (paid in advance) a team of four (any combination) will play five rounds of golf on Monday, March 16th, Tuesday, March 24th, Monday, March 30th, Tuesday April 7th with the final round on Monday, April 20th. One of the advantages is that substitutes will be allowed if team members are not available after the first round. Prizes for first, second and third each week with extra prizes for the best four out of the five cards returned.
Time sheet is available at 01-8435002 or email cathy@theislandgolfclub.com.
* THE Irish Seniors team to play the Scottish Seniors at Cruden Bay on 18 19 April 18th and 19th is: Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine), Helen Jones (Strabane), Mary Madden (Ballinasloe), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Mary McKenna (Donabate), Pauline Walsh (Headfort). Roma English (captain), Mary Gorry (Manager).
O'Donovan wins Hilary Society event
ON a testing day a number of excellent scores were returned in the Hilary Society outing to Seapoint on Sunday.
The winner was Conrad O’Donovan of Royal Dublin with a nett 72 off a five handicap. A close second was Seamus Ward of Laytown Bettystown who returned a nett 73 also off five handicap. Ward unfortunately took a nine on the par-five 10th hole by playing a wrong ball. Third off a handicap of plus two was Robert McCarthy from The Island with a nett 75. Best gross went to Dara Lernihan of the Castle with 72 which featured an eagle three on the eight hole.
The pro prize was won again by Gary Cullen with 74 while the team prize went to the last threeball of the day, Alan Pitcher from Forest Little with and Alan and John Grant from The Island with the best of three 65s. The next outing is at Royal Dublin on March 15th and the timesheet is with Martin Kelly.
