SHORT GAME

A roundup of today's other golf news

All go at Heritage Resort, naturally

STARTING this week, the Natural Golf School at the Heritage Resort will be a hive of activity as it launches a series of events aimed at providing fun competitions for accomplished golfers as well as introducing people to the game.

The series, which runs until March 29th, includes daily skills competitions, all of which are free to enter, including a chipping challenge every Monday, a nearest the pin competition every Tuesday and a longest drive competition every Wednesday.

It also includes a Ladies Day every Thursday, a Family Day every Sunday and a Seniors Series, which will run every second Friday for those aged 50 and over.

The objective, explains PGA professional Eddie Doyle, is to inject some fun into practice and make the game both affordable and inviting for beginners.

“Many of our events are free to enter or carry a nominal fee to encourage people to come along and get involved.

“The Natural Golf School is one of the best golf practice facilities in Ireland and we want everyone to enjoy it. Everyone who enters will also receive vouchers worth up to €100 for use at the golf school this year.”

For more details contact the club on 057 8645300 or email thenaturalgolfschool@theheritage.com

Little Aston to stage PGA play-offs

LITTLE Aston near Birmingham is to stage the climax to the PGA schedule, the Srixon PGA Play-offs, in October.

Launched in 2006, the PGA Play-offs bring together the best three players from the PGA’s seven regional Order of Merits in the quest to find Britain and Ireland’s number one club player.

The play-offs also give the top players a shot at the European Tour elite, while a number of Challenge Tour invitations are also on offer to the leading players.

Last year, Scotland’s Chris Doak claimed the title at Royal Liverpool, where Clontarf’s Eamonn Brady was fourth.

This year’s event will be held on October 21st-22nd, as 21 golfers pit their wits over 36 holes of the Harry Vardon-designed course, which has staged British Open Regional qualifying, the English Amateur, Brabazon and the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship and British Boys Championship.

Golf Holidays offer the full package

LOOKING to head to Spain for some golf and wanting to take the hassle out of organising everything once you arrive?

The new Irish company Golf Holiday Complete arrange holidays in the Costa del Sol, organising green fees, accommodation, quality golf club hire, transport and, indeed, tournament entries, if required.

They have contacts at a host of clubs on the Costa del Sol. For details contact the Dublin office at (01) 230 1378 or email info@golfholidaycomplete.com, or se their website at www.golfholidaycomplete.com

THE ILGU and Junior Golf Ireland are holding a special information meeting at Mallow GAA sports complex this Saturday at 11am.

All lady captains and Junior convenors are invited. The meeting will provide a unique opportunity for representatives from all the clubs in the Southern District to share information on the promotion of Junior Girls golf.

Rosslare boys triumph in Spain

ROSSLARE GC boys team, national winners of the Fred Daly Trophy in 2008, continued their successful run when claiming the the Home Nations Interclub Championship at La Manga, Spain, recently.

In extremely testing, windy conditions, the competition, played over three days, went right to the wire with the overall result requiring a countback.

To win, Rosslare, represented by Gary Collins, Conor Kelly, Eamonn Kelly, Ross Young, Ian Cuddihy, Brendan Quinlivan and Mark Holohan, needed to beat Wales, represented by Pontypridd, by 4-2 in the final match . . . and they did.

Rosslare beat Pontypridd 4½-1½ to take the under-18 Nigel Dolton Trophy on a countback after both sides finished with two points. Rosslare totalled 10½ points to Pontypridd’s 8½, with England’s Willow Valley third and Peebles GC from Scotland fourth.

The Rosslare winners were Collins, Conor Kelly, Eamon Kelly, and Holohan, while Cuddihy halved his match.

Conor Kelly also won the Paul Casey Trophy for the best individual gross score. Kelly totalled 248 to win from club-mate Collins, with Russell Gordon from Peebles GC, Scotland, third on 254.

Cuts in colleges recruitment

THE global financial crisis was one of the main talking points at the American colleges golf coaches annual convention in Orlando, Florida, last week.

Many say they’ll be asked to reduce the amount they spend on recruiting, a particular hardship for colleges that have relied on international players to help fill out their squads.

“It’s been kind of in vogue to go to the British boys’ and British girls’ championships in recent years, but I’m guessing that won’t happen this year as much,” said one coach.

“The real problem here is that the wealthy colleges will still have the money to go ahead and do it but not-so-well-off colleges are going to get left behind.”

QUENTIN Carew shot a nine-under-par 63 to win the Midland Senior Alliance outing to Moate last week. The three handicapper from Edenderry had five shots to spare over Des Morgan from Mullingar with Maurice Kelly from Killeen third on 69.

The nett prize went to Mark Lenehan with a 64 off an eight handicap from Conor O’Rourke and Andy Murray both on 67.

Murray heads field after testing day at Doonbeg

INTERNATIONAL Pat Murray from Limerick won the gross in the Mid-West Alliance outing to Doonbeg on Sunday.

His total of 37 points in testing conditions gave him a one-point win over Galway’s Eddie McCormack, with Stephen Moloney from Castletroy third on 35.

The best nett went to Cahir Park’s Niall Morrison with 38 points from John Greer from Kilrush, also on 38, and Damien Glynn from Galway on 35.

NIAMH Kitching from Claremorris GC was the only Irish player to make the final round of the Portuguese Amateur Open Championship at Quinta do Peru Golf Club, near Lisbon over the weekend.

Ireland international Kitching had rounds of 80 80 87 for 247 in a competition that was reduced to three rounds because of the inclement weather.

Anna McCormack, on 157 after rounds of 84 and 83, Victoria Bradshaw on 169 and Aoife Lowry 179 all missed the cut.

Six bogeys in the last round killed off Scotland’s only representative Kylie Walker’s hopes of at least matching last year’s seventh place.

The Buchanan Castle player signed off with a 76 after earlier rounds of 76 and 77.

Her 13-over-par total for the 54-hole tournament put her in 13th place behind French winner Rosanna Crepiat who had scores of 74, 72 and 71 for one-over-par 217.