Laytown Scratch Cup: Rory Leonard, who defeated Jim Carvill in a play-off to take last year's title, will be a strong favourite for the Laytown and Bettystown Scratch Cup on Sunday, April 30th.
Some vacancies are still available on the time-sheet for players of a handicap of three or less. Prizes to the value of €1,800 are on offer for the 36-hole event, with a special prize for any player who breaks the course record, held by Joe Moore at 64. The entry fee is €30 (to include a light lunch) and details are from Helen on 041-9827170.
Addressing the ball
The R&A and USGA are considering making the minimum diameter of a ball 1.80 inches in the next revision of the Rules of Golf, due to take effect in January 2008.
A spokesman said: "The enormous driving distances of the top players are making a mockery of some of our traditional golf courses. Hazards which were in play just a few years ago are now being carried by these long-hitters. By increasing the diameter and therefore the surface mass of the golf ball, the resistance through the air will also be increased, and therefore the flight distance will be curtailed. It was felt that altering the golf ball was an easier option than making changes to clubs."
A spokesperson for the Confederation of the Golf Ball manufacturers said: "We have been expecting this announcement for some time, and are already making plans to alter our manufacturing process to produce larger balls."
GAA challenge
The ever-popular FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge will go international this year when a round of the competition will be held with teams from Europe and the US taking part.
Now in its seventh year, many stars of the games, including DJ Carey, Benny Tierney, Dermot Earley, Paul Flynn and Liam Doyle, have competed in the fourball event.
The competition is run at a provincial level, with over 120 teams competing each year.
Thurles GC will host the Munster final on Friday, July 14th; Tulfarris GC are hosts to the Leinster final on July 7th; the Ulster final will be at Castle Hume GC, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, on June 23rd, and the Connacht final is at Claremorris GC on August 11th.
The overseas final is scheduled for Faithlegg GC on Friday, September 8th, and the winners of the provincial finals will go on to compete in the All-Ireland final on September 9th and 10th at Faithlegg.
Further information at www.gaagolf.ie or by email: gaagolf@eircom.net
Ryder crystal
With the US Masters decided and the first Major of the Ryder Cup year completed, anticipation of the arrival of the world's greatest sporting event to Ireland is fast building. Last week, the European team's vice-captain, Des Smyth, took time out from his busy diary to launch Waterford Crystal's 2006 Ryder Cup Commemorative Collection.
Smyth was in Dublin to sign serial number one of the limited edition signature piece. With only 500 produced, the hand-engraved crystal centrepiece depicts the treacherous approach to the 18th hole, with the K Club clubhouse in the backdrop.
40 years of Links
The Links Golfing Society celebrated its 40th year by raising a massive €751,163 over the past year. The fund-raising over the last 10 years by the society has now reached a remarkable €10 million.
The breakdown for the year: Padraig Harrington Classic €105,750; Joe Dolan Classic €33,760; Des Smyth Pro-Am €139,100; Tesco Charity Day €100,000; Renault Sports Awards €221,000; Brian O'Driscoll Classic €73,000; Pat Kenny Celeb-am €40,003, Links Society €40,050.
Rovers classic
Shamrock Rovers are holding their annual classic on Friday, May 5th, in St Margaret's. The four-person team event is taking bookings and the cost per team is €500. Opportunities are also available to sponsor a tee-box or a green for €200. Contact Mick McCarthy at 086 156 4668 or Dave Carpenter at 083 332 2558.
Dugsa dates
In 1922, under the chairmanship of James Percy of the Press Golf Society, the Dublin United Golfing Societies Association (Dugsa) was born. From those humble beginnings 84 years ago, the association has grown to see 80 societies competing each year for the Challenge Cup. Even the legendary Joe Carr felt compelled to compete for the cup.
This year, under president Joe Murray of Artane GS, the competition moves to Hollystown. Qualifying is on Monday and Tuesday, April 24th and 25th, with the leading 36 teams contesting the final on May 8th.
Contact honorary secretary Hugh Harkin on 848 1370.
Donnelly strikes
Gary Donnelly of Slade Valley GC was in excellent form at the Leinster Alliance outing to Tulfarris last week. Donnelly, a six handicapper, fired 43 points - 24 on the back nine - to win by six from clubmate Seán Noonan and Michael Collins from Borris. The gross went to Derek Rath from Old Conna with 35 points from Kingsley Lewis from Skerries on 32 and Killiney's Nigel Duke, also on 32. Martin Leung won the professional prize while the special award for juniors went to Kevin Nolan from Dún Laoghaire. The next outing of the society is at Rathcore GC on May 7th. Time sheet with Michael Neary at 01-2827297 (9am-5pm).
Local knowledge
Local knowledge proved highly beneficial at the recent IAGCS outing to Waterville. The event, which pits a club's captain, professional, secretary and greenkeeper, saw Alan Landers (captain), Liam Higgins (professional), Noel Cronin (secretary/manager) and Mike Murphy (course superintendent) fire 84 points over their home course to win by just a point from Mount Juliet, represented by Pádraic O'Connor, Seán Cotter, Seán O'Neill and Aidan O'Hara. Serge Bruzzi, Don Wallace, Pádraic Fahy and Billy Connell of Galway GC were third on 82pts.
Captains team up
Two can often be better than one, so when two of the country's lady captains joined forces they proved that despite being busy off the course they could still be successful on it.
Last Tuesday Lucan Golf Club held an open scotch foursomes and the host club's lady captain Maura Coffey teamed up with Marie Felle Brady from Black Bush, and they finished in the winner's circle with a score of 36 points.
Sadly, it wasn't quite good enough to win as that honour went to Patricia Collins, also a member of the host club, and Dolores Delehanty of Knockanally, who had 38 points, two better than Vera Guinness (Rush) and Royal Tara's Margaret Keane and the two lady captains. Almost 100 competitors participated in what was a highly successful event that attracted members from 22 different clubs around the country.
And the lady captain of Arklow, Siobhán Murphy, playing off 30, also featured last week in the club singles competition, firing a nett 74, to finish third behind winner Patrica Daly (14), who won with a 71, just one shot better than Monica Sandilands (21).
Coughlan conquers
Winning, and winning in some style, last Tuesday at Kilkenny Golf Club was 35 handicapper Stella Coughlan, who was a runaway winner of the weekly singles. Playing some top-class golf, she left the rest of the field trailing in her wake as she eased to victory. Her impressive total of 43 points left her five points ahead of the rest of the competitors. Her nearest challenger was Rebecca Mulholland (29), who despite having 38 points had to settle for runners-up spot. Third with 36 points was Kathryn Teehan (11), while the gross winner was Eileen Rose Power (scr) with 30 points.
Riordan reigns
Limerick County Golf Club proved a testing venue last week for the Munster Ladies Championships, but that didn't stop Irish international Marian Riordan playing some superb golf to claim the Senior title.
The Tipperary golfer was particularly on form last Friday in her semi-final and then in the final. In the last four she carded five birdies on her way to a 3 and 2 win over defending champion Heather Nolan. And she continued the birdie blitz in the final against Athenry's Fiona Carroll, who had beaten Pamela Murphy of Ennis 5 and 3 in her semi-final. Once again she had five birdies on her card as she claimed the title 4 and 3.
Ironically, she had been forced to battle really hard to reach that stage, as in her firsttwo matches she was only a one hole winner over Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), and was then taken to the 20th by Maura McNicholas in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, it was the young sensations from Castlehume who dominated the Junior event. The 11 year-old twins Lisa and Leona Maguire made it all the way to the final, with Lisa eventually winning 4 and 3 against her sibling to become the youngest winner since Bridget Gleeson Healy 20 years ago.
