A quick look at the world of golf
Edwards retires
Amateur golf is set to lose one of its most able administrators after Brendan Edwards announced he is retiring from his post as secretary of the GUI Ulster Branch. He will step down next February after 25 years in the position.
"I feel that it is time to go and I have no regrets about my decision," says Edwards. "Naturally, I will miss the buzz and the excitement, but the job has become quite an onerous one.
"I will probably be found some little job within the branch, but I look forward to having a lot more spare time to myself."
Edwards became secretary of the Ulster Branch in 1983 as successor to the now deceased Alfie Collis, who was the first full-time official of the branch.
As a player, Edwards won the North of Ireland Championship twice and collected 10 Irish Senior Cup medals, plus four Barton Shield trophies. As an administrator, he was a Walker Cup selector for eight years and captained the Irish team in 1982, '83 and '84.
O'Boyle honoured
Killiney was bathed in sunshine last week as 128 players, the most who have played in an 18-hole competition in Killiney, took part in a testimonial day to honour professional Paddy O'Boyle, who is retiring soon after 32 years service.
O'Boyle was joined on the day by friends past and present, including former assistants Peter O'Brien, Dara O'Neill and Ed Pettit, as well as wife Rosemary and sons John and Niall. Following the presentation of prizes, president John Morgan spoke about O'Boyle's early days in Sutton GC, where he learned his golf under the watchful eye of the legendary Joe Carr, before becoming assistant professional at Elm Park, working for Kevin O'Connor.
In 1970, O'Boyle was appointed the head professional at Longford GC, where he spent five happy years before his arrival at Killiney on January 1st, 1975.
Leinster branch agm
The annual general meeting of the GUI Leinster Branch will take place in Westmanstown GC on Wednesday, November 21st. This year there are two vacancies among the metropolitan delegates and two more among the provincial delegates. Nomination for the four vacancies and motions for discussion close on Wednesday, October 24th.
Murray at Greystones
Greystones GC, Co Wicklow, have appointed a new general manager, Angus Murray, who replaces Jim Melody, who has returned to his former post at nearby Woodbrook GC after five years at Greystones. Murray acted as general manager at Grange GC in Dublin for the last seven months. He stepped in on the sudden death of general secretary Shay O'Donoghue. Murray remains a member of Grange GC.
McMullen in lead role
Gertie McMullen from The Island GC is this year's captain of the Leinster Ladies Alliance. Organised to promote winter golf among the scratch to nine handicappers in the Leinster area, the Ladies Alliance has been in place for 56 years and has had some notable members - Mary McKenna, Susie Fanagan, Hazel Kavanagh, Marion Riordan, Ita Butler, Sheena O'Brien Kenny to name a few.
This year's president is Phil O'Gorman (nee Wickham, from Laytown/Bettystown) the former international and current captain of the Ireland team.
New members are welcome as the season gets under way in Royal Dublin on October 22nd (PGA Tankard), followed by the President's prize in Milltown on November 12th. Monthly outings have been organised throughout the season, culminating in the Captain's Day in The Island on April 11th, 2008.
Application for membership and the timesheet for Royal Dublin is available through the honorary secretary, Vonny Kelly - vonkelly@eircom.net, or 087 2843804.
Lowry sets course record
Irish international Shane Lowry set a course record when winning the AIB-sponsored Mount Temple Senior Scratch Cup, shooting a five-under-par 67 for the recently remodelled and lengthened course. A final nine holes of 37 gave the Esker Hills man a winning score of 104, three better than Athlone's James Joyce with Moate's Louis Cunningham taking third place on 110. Locals Adrian O'Reilly and Brian McCormack took the nett prizes with scores of 102½ and 103½ respectively.
Leinster Alliance
The Leinster Alliance's first outing of the season tees-off at the European Club this Sunday. There are five outings scheduled, with the second at the new Knightsbrook GC, Trim, on November 4th, followed by Portmarnock Links on November 25th.
The new year has two outings at Castleknock GC, on February 10th, and the final outing of the season, at Royal Dublin on March 9th. The timesheet for all outings is with Michael Neary at 01-2827297
Carey Cup team
The team to represent Ireland in the biennial Carey Cup matches against the Metropolitan Golf Association of New York (MGA), which will be played at the Donald Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor this Thursday and Friday is: Cian Curley (Newlands), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Paul O'Hanlon (The Curragh), Simon Ward (Co Louth).
The MGA's Carey Cup squad is led by non-playing captain Al Small of Fairmount (New Jersey), and includes 14-year-old Cameron Wilson of Shorehaven, Connecticut, the 2006 MGA/MetLife Boys champion.
Scatterdays
The ILGU are holding what they term "Scatterdays" to introduce young girls to golf over the winter months. Girls do not have to be members of a club, or have a handicap, but just need to be under 13 years of age on January 1st, 2008. These events will be held to promote, encourage and support girls' participation in golf. Attendees can participate in coaching sessions covering the long game, pitching and putting. All sessions will be conducted by qualified PGA professionals and assisted by volunteer ILGU personnel.
To register, simply contact the co-ordinator nearest you East District: November 2nd & 3rd at St Margaret's Golf & Country Club, Co Dublin - Margaret McCormack at mgtmcc22@eircom.net. South District: October 13th at Ballykisteen Golf Club, Monard, Tipperary - Charlotte Crowe charlottecrowe@gmail.com or 086-1961587. North District: October 21st & November 2nd at Blackwood Driving Range, Bangor - Debbie Hanna debbiehanna@blackwoodgolfcentre.co.uk
Midland and West details to follow soon.
Good year for Griffith
Bernadette Griffith was always going to remember the year 2007 as she is Lady Captain of Milltown GC in what is their centenary year. But she has just added another special chapter to her memorable year by landing the 28th National Lancome Scotch Foursomes title alongside club-mate Judith O'Sullivan on Sunday.
Playing in Killarney at the weekend, the Milltown duo fired a highly impressive 42 points, but it was a close call, as they only won on a countback over two other pairings.
Also shooting 42 points were the Kilkee pair of Joan Dinneen and Deirdre Burns, who finished runners-up, and Eimear McGrath and Jennifer King of Enniscorthy.
Kate MacCann and Eavan Higgins from the Douglas club fired a two-under-par gross score of 38 points to produce the best golf of the day.
Caddy for Woosnam
Ryder Cup legend Ian Woosnam will auction off a chance to caddy for him at next year's US Masters.
The 50-year-old, who won his only major at Augusta in 1991, will offer one lucky fan the opportunity to carry his bag in the traditional par three competition held on the eve of the event. Woosnam, who is an ambassador for Welsh golf, came up with the gesture to support the Welsh cancer charity Tenovus - the official charity to Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd.
The prize will be auctioned this month at the Ryder Cup Wales annual gala and awards dinner on October 25th. Anyone interested in bidding and would like further details on how to register your bid, please contact Cath Morgan at Tenovus on 0044 7740 486 672.
