Daly anomaly fixed: After the confusion at this year's competition when some provinces played the Fred Daly Trophy as a five-man event only to find when they reached the final that it was a seven-player competition, a Cahir Park motion passed at last week's Munster Branch adm (annual delegated meeting) will clear up the anomaly.
The Cahir Park motion that the event be played as a seven-player tournament was carried by a large majority in Mallow.
Meanwhile, the hardy annual of full handicaps in fourballs again raised its head with a motion from Killarney GC that full handicaps be use in all fourball competitions being carried.
Officers elected: Chairman: Seán MacMahon; Honorary Secretary: John Moloughney; Honorary Treasurer: Liam Martin; Honorary Match and Handicap Secretary: Michael Cashman. Delegates: Eric Brick (Dooks), Phil Cooney (Lee Valley), Tommy Donnelly (Youghal), Peter English (Limerick), John Fennessy (Clonmel), Liam Harkin (Muskerry), Michael Lawlor (Tralee), Jim Long (Monkstown), Pete MacMahon (Lahinch), Graham McKay (Macroom), Michael Minihan (Bandon), Christy Moylan (Shannon), Michael J Murphy (Tramore), Michael P Murphy (Newcastle West), Pat O'Dwyer (Kenmare), Seán O'Leary (Mahon), Dan O'Sullivan (Ballybunion).
Nolan makes Final Q
Former Irish amateur international, Keith Nolan from Bray booked his place in the final after finishing tied for fifth place in the US PGA Tour Qualifying School Second Stage over four rounds at the Deerwood GC in Texas on Sunday.
Nolan had rounds of 76, 68, 73 and 70 for a two-under-par total of 287, just two shots behind the leading qualifier Chris Stroud.
However, Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare missed out after a disappointing final round of 76 left him on six-over-par 294 and two shots outside the cut for the top 20 places.
Also through is former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird who finished joint second at Southern Dunes Golf Club, Maricopa, Arizona.
Laird had rounds of 70, 66, 67 and 69 for a 16-under-par total of 272, one behind the winner, American Garth Mulroy who scored 68, 67, 71 and 65 for 271.
Only the top 20 and ties from each of the Stage Two events all over the United States go forward to the six-round Final Q School at La Quinta, California, from November 29th to December 4th.
Richie Coughlan from Birr missed out in the first qualifying when finishing in 44th place at the Treyburn CC, Durham, North Carolina after rounds of 71, 79, 73 and 76 for a 299 total.
Chair goes to a vote
The Leinster Branch will have a vote for the position of chairman when the council's nominee Fintan Buckley, the outgoing honorary secretary from the Hermitage Club, will be opposed by Paul Smyth, proposed by Lucan GC at the adm in Westmanstown GC tomorrow night.
The Leinster Council will also seek the approval of the delegates to increase the number of delegates from 12 to 14 with the Metropolitan area going from seven to nine and the Provincial area from five to seven delegates.
Motions down for discussion include increasing the handicap allowance to full in fourballs from Carlow Golf Club (already agreed in Munster); that the provincial levy be increased by €1.50 to €6 by the Provincial Council and from Forrest Little a proposal that in qualifying competitions clubs be facilitated at venues on the same side of the city.
O'Sullivan elected
Cork Golf Club's Mona O'Sullivan is the new chairperson of the Southern District Executive Committee. Her nomination was ratified at the recent agm. The new members of the District Executive are Jenny Cagney (Lahinch GC), Joan Clohessy (Monkstown GC) and Marilyn Keogh (Limerick GC).
It was a memorable week for O'Sullivan as earlier at the agm of Cork Golf Club she was involved in a unique event - herself, her daughter, Oonagh Barry, and her grandaughter, Elaine Seacy, won AIB Monthly Medals which were presented prior to the agm.
Kids learn at Carton
The GUI did their bit last week to try and bring golf to the local community around their base in Maynooth.
A total of 180 children took part in a two-day workshop at the GUI National Academy at Carton House last week as part of the Junior Golf Ireland programme in association with the Kildare Sports Partnership and the Buntús programme.
Six schools from the North Kildare area participated: Scoil Choca Naofa (Kilcock), Scoil na Mainistreach (Celbridge), St Mary's (Maynooth), Scoil San Carlo (Confey), St Patricks (Clane), and Scoil Bhride (Clane).
Each child received tuition from LPGA professional Louise Darcy, and got the opportunity to experience iron shots, pitching and putting at the state-of-the-art facility in Maynooth.
"The purpose of the event was to show children that golf is a fun game, which they can enjoy in a group environment," GUI Honorary Secretary Albert Lee explained. "Parents should consider golf as a sports activity for their children and with a facility like ours, golf becomes accessible to everyone so you don't have to be a member of a golf club to enjoy the game."
Prior to their visits, each of the schools participated in a Tri-Golf schools-based programme which focused on teaching the basic golf swing and rules. This instruction was with plastic golf clubs and they were well prepared coming to the National Academy.
Junior and adult golf lessons are available from the GUI National Academy and those interested should contact 01 5054040 for more information.
Captains outing
The North Dublin Golf Club Captains' Association are holding their Christmas outing on Tuesday, December 5th at St Anne's Golf Club. The tee is booked from 9am to 1.30pm and places are available on the timesheet. The association will hold their agm afterwards at 5pm with dinner to follow at 6pm
Carney the star
The Christy O'Connor Junior Oyster Golf Society season got off to a fine start in Castlebar Golf Club last week. While scores were good it was actually one of the visitors who produced the round of day.
The distinction went to Tom Carney, playing off 22, as he had a fantastic total of 41 points. The best score of the day for members was recorded by Michael Tighe (16) with 38 points, which was one better than John Freeman (9) and Frank Kinneen (15), while 11-handicapper Kevin O'Gorman took the gross with 25 points.
The next outing is in Connemara on Saturday December 9th and places on the timesheet are available by calling David on 091-529609.
O'Neill on the double
It may have been different formats, but it didn't stop Maura O'Neill enjoying a double in the winners' circle at Bray last week. First she won the 15-hole scotch foursomes event with Nikki Gordon (28) with a score of 54.5, before the 31-handicapper secured third spot in the nine-hole singles event behind winner Sheila Conran (29).
Meanwhile, at Beaverstown it was a double success for 31-handicapper Bridget Keogh, who won two 12-hole turkey singles events in the space of three days. Victory number one came last Sunday week when she fired 28 points to win by two from Mary Nolan (22), while last Tuesday she won on a countback from Kate O'Hare (15) after both recorded 25 points.
