Short game
Compiled by SHAY KEENAN
Ireland win first senior home title
IRELAND, bronze medallists at the recent European team championships, captured their first senior women’s home internationals title at Elie Earlsferry, Scotland, last week. Following their 6-1 and 5-3 victory over England and Wales on the first two days, Ireland beat 2009 champions Scotland 7-1 on the final day to complete the triple crown and bring the Sue Johnson Trophy to Ireland for the first time.
Carol Wickham was voted MVP with six points from her six matches while Sheena McElroy, Pat Doran and Suzanne Corcoran took five points from their six matches with Helen Jones on four points.
England beat Wales 6-2 to finish second while Scotland were third due to their win over Wales on the first day.
IRELAND: Captained by Terry Sexton (Dún Laoghaire), Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Pat Doran (Donabate), Kate Evans (Frilford Heath), Helen Jones (Royal Portrush), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Gertie McMullen (The Island), Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown).
THE Ladies Golf Union will announce that Trish Wilson (England) is set to succeed Gillian Kirkwood as chairwoman at the agm next February 23rd in Dublin.
Westport honour former professional
A presentation to PGA professional Alex Mealia took place at Westport Golf Club last Friday. Following 21 years’ service as the head professional in Carrowholly, Alex stepped down earlier this year.
An integral part of the club, Alex was to the forefront of many new initiatives that were developed in Westport both on and off the course. He represented Westport in a number of pro-am events over the years and was a driving force in the development of the junior golf programme.
The club was ahead of its time in securing Alex’s services and the decision to commit to having a registered PGA professional on site established Westport’s reputation as been one of the premier golfing destinations in the West of Ireland.
Alex’s biggest contribution to the Carrowholly club was the vital role he played in bringing the Irish PGA Championship to Westport back in 2002, won by Paul McGinley.
Irish Links Initiative Conference
ROSSLARE Golf Club will host this year’s Irish Links Initiative Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 16th and 17th. The Irish Links Initiative, which was set up in 2008 to “preserve, protect and promote links golf in Ireland”, hosts an annual conference to share knowledge and experiences with all of the links courses on the island.
Each year the conference is hosted by one of the country’s links courses which is also used in practical demonstrations for the delegates.
In Rosslare the practical demonstrations will concentrate on how the club has reverted back to traditional links Fescue grasses on greens, aprons, tee boxes and even the fairways. Delegates will also look at the club’s coastal erosion work and the reconstruction of tees. Also on the agenda for the conference is a demonstration of the “greentester”, a device which allows greens superintendents monitor the reliability of their putting surfaces all year around.
The “greentester” has been developed in Ireland to fulfil the requirements of the RA’s “holing out” test. The conference is open to all links courses in Ireland whether members of the ILI or not. Full details can be found on the ILI website at www.irishlinks.ieor email Tracy Coburn at tracy@uneekmarketing.co.uk or tel (00 44) 7803 237 247.
