Agreement reached:The boards of the South County Golf Club (2004) Ltd and Kilternan Golf Club Limited, have signed a heads of agreement which will permit Kilternan members play their golf at South County. Kilternan Golf Club's current arrangement with Powerscourt Golf Club is due to expire at the end of this year. The agreement envisages that this is an interim step in a process that will result in securing a permanent golfing home for Kilternan Golf Club members.
The South County Golf Club was opened in 2002 and was designed by Dr Nicholas Bielenberg, and is situated on the Lisheen Road in Brittas Co Dublin. Kilternan Golf Club, established in 1988, has in recent years played their golf at Powerscourt under an agreement with Powerscourt Golf Club plc. Tom Moore, president of Kilternan GC, said: "This outline agreement, once approved, will secure the golfing future for our members." Ronan Smith, chairman of SCGC (2004) Ltd said: "SCGC looks forward to working with Kilternan GC to conclude an agreement that will be beneficial to the members of both clubs."
Keogh has 13 aces
In answer to our recent query on the most holes-in-one Aidan Keogh from Newlands GC can account for a remarkable 13. At Newlands he had 11 which included two in the one week (Monday and Wednesday) and one each at Lucan and Clontarf.
A good year
Three members of The Island GC, Eileen Lowe, Teri McDonnell and Des McManus, will be hoping 2007 brings as much reward as the year just past. Lowe won the golfer of the year for a third successive time while McDonnell claimed the Mary McKenna Trophy in the North Dublin Past Captains Prize at Malahide GC in April and followed with victories in the Hayes Cup, the Challenge Cup and the Mixed Matchplay in partnership with husband Eddie.
Lowe, now playing to a seven handicap, won the Trustees prize, the Daily Mail Foursomes with Irene Poynton, the Moore Cup and the Silver Spoon and medal. Past president, captain and trustee McManus showed the young guns the way home in the Webster Cup. In his early 80s, McManus saw off a field of close to 200 when beating David Graham in the final after accounting for vice-captain Henry Collier in the semi-final.
Unions merge
It may be five years since it was pledged as part of Wales' successful Ryder Cup but the associations that run the men's and women's game in Wales have finally merged to form the Golf Union of Wales. The merger was promised as one of the bolder moves to portray Wales as a progressive golfing nation capable of maximising the benefits brought by the Ryder Cup being staged at the Celtic Manor in 2010.
Bringing together the Welsh Golfing Union and the Welsh Ladies Golf Union was always going to meet opposition in what is, traditionally, a conservative sport but now the major obstacles have been cleared and the Golf Union of Wales came into being on January 1st.
Local knowledge vital
Local knowledge proved vital when the BMW-sponsored Hilary Golf Society began their winter series at St Anne's on Sunday. In difficult conditions of strong wind and rain Shane Kerrigan (St Anne's) shot a six-over-par 77 off a three handicap to win the net by one shot from Martin Kelly (Forrest Little) and Paul Browne (Laytown and Bettystown) with Colin McCarthy (St Anne's) next on 76. The gross was won by Michael McEniff, also from St Anne's, with 77 while the professional prize went to Gary Cullen with 80. The team score was won with 66 by Kerrigan, Trevor Dooley (Forrest Little) and Clem Walshe (St Anne's)
Team events scrapped
THE European youths and young women's team championships are being scrapped. There was a move to shelve these two events some years ago but opposition from several countries affiliated to the European Golf Association prevented the plan from going through. But the EGA has confirmed that neither of these titles will be contested again.
In another significant change the European men's and women's team championships, currently played on a biennial basis, will in future will be staged every year. European Mens' Amateur Team Championship will be held in Western Gailes, Scotland, from July 3rd to 7th while the women's championship is scheduled for Castelconturbia in Italy from July 10th to 14th.
Captains off to flyer
Two North Dublin captains got their year off to a flying start when figuring prominently in the opening competitions of the year. At Portmarnock Bill Twamley showed a clean pair of heels to the field in the first round of the Winter League with 41 points. The Island men's captain Denis McFerran, who took office on New Year's Day, led from the front to also win the first competition of the year. McFerran, with partner Donal O'Meara, the honorary secretary, shot 36 points over 13 holes to edge out Brendan Farrell and Tony Sheridan by two points.
Faithlegg chosen
THE PGA EuroPro Tour is set for a stopover in Ireland this year for the first time with Faithlegg Golf Club, on the banks of the River Suir in Co Waterford the selected venue. The 54-hole event will take place at Faithlegg - which was opened 13 years ago - from Wednesday May 16th through to Friday May 18th. The top 50 players, plus ties after two rounds, will play on the final day.
"Faithlegg is a tremendous setting for our first tournament in Ireland and I know the course will be a big test for the players," said PGA EuroPro Tour managing director Eddie Hearn. "It has been an ambition of ours to spread into Ireland having successfully staged events in Portugal and the Azores last year. There are a number of top players from Ireland competing on the PGA EuroPro Tour and this tournament will give them the chance to shine on home soil this year," added Hearn.
The tournament will be preceded on May 15th by a pro-am giving sponsors and local companies the chance to play alongside the top young players in golf.
ILGU confirm deal
The ILGU will continue to run the National Fourball Championship following the confirmation of a three-year sponsorship deal with Miele Ireland. The competition is now entering its fourth year and previous winners of the National Fourball include Roscommon in the first year and Castle which, having won the last two years, will be hoping for a third consecutive victory this year.
Chief executive of the ILGU Sinead Heraty believes the sponsorship deal with Miele will offer a huge boost to the sport of ladies golf. "We are delighted to have Miele's support for such an important competition in the ladies' golfing calendar," she said. The All-Ireland Ladies Fourball Championship begins in April and will consist of eight rounds. The regional finals will be held on August 14th at Slieve Russell, Co Cavan. The semi-finals and final will be held on September 15th and 16th at Mount Juliet. Each club may enter one team of eight players. The combined handicap of each pairing will be no less than 19 and no more than 46.
