GOLF | Club Round-Up
Nuremore Golf Club, Greenore Golf Club
Nuremore Golf Club
The Easter competition was played over three days and one would expect that the scoring would reflect the numbers but 38 points won for the first time in 2017.
Alan Birdy has been a ‘new name’ on the block for the past six or seven years. Alan is blessed with a powerful swing and a terrific will to win but unfortunately for him he does not get out on the course often enough and so he remains off 12.
Alan knows in his heart and soul that he could could walk rings around a lot of the lower handicappers. His attitude is that, while he loves golf, there are an awful lot of greater priorities in his life just now.
When he gets the time to devote to his pastime then no doubt he will make a fabulous mark. On Sunday morning he had eight nice pars and a birdie but two double bogeys meant he had a decent, if not spectacular, 38 points.
Right on Alan’s coattail was a golfer who is proving to be the steadiest of the lot this year, Damien Kerley.
One thing you can be sure of if you are playing with Damien is that nothing is ever the same from hole to hole. In his constant pursuit of perfection Damien is all experiments.
I remember playing with him years ago in Blacklion when on the ninth hole he asked would he fade or draw the ball. When I asked him why not try to hit it straight he replied that there was no crack in that so I did not offer my twopence halfpenny worth thereafter. Once again Damien’s ever-changing game paid dividends as he was second with 37 points.
In third place was Paul O’Donoghue also with 37 points. After winning the Captain’s Prize last year Paul faded from the scene for a while but I noticed that he is finding his feet again and a liking the podium.
For a long while ‘eagles’ were a rarity around Nuremore. Two weeks ago two were spotted and on Tuesday evening there was one on the 17th hole.
Captain, Shane Cassidy was one down in a four ball when he took a blind pitch on the 17th hole. Lo and behold, to the absolute disgust of his opponents, the ball found it’s way to the bottom of the cup for a fabulous two and a succession of high fives from Shane and his partner!
Greenore Golf Club
Results of The Fr Bob Callan Cup, kindly sponsored by Oliver Dullaghan on Sunday, April 16th — 1st: Frank O’Hagan (21) 42, Gross: Padraig Kelly (5) 31, Cat 1: Shane McVerry (5) 36, Cat 2: Paul Rogan (15) 36, Cat 3: Hugh Thornton (22) 36.
Results of the 18 Hole Stableford played on Saturday, April 15th — 1st: Cian Dullaghan (0) 36, 2nd: Dean Mulligan (5) 35.
Results of the Open Gents Singles played on Tuesday, April 11th — 1st: Patrick Murphy (16) 39, 2nd: JP Toner (22) 37, Gross: Ryan Gribben (+2) (Warrenpoint GC) 37, 3rd: David Barron (1) (Warrenpoint GC) 37.
This Sunday is The IPGA Tankard, kindly sponsored by Avendi Technology and Colum Rafferty. On Saturday there will be an 18 Hole Stableford and there is an Open Gents Singles every Tuesday.
Starting this Friday, April 21st and continuing every Friday there will be a weekly nine-hole qualifying competition. Evening tee is reserved for two hours from 4pm for those with time restraints. Competition entry is accepted all day. This competition is qualifying.
On Bank Holiday Monday, May 1st, there will be an Open Fourball any combination, kindly sponsored by Homecare Independent Living and the next Open Seniors will be Monday, April 24th.