Short Game

More golf news in brief

GUI issue warning to clubs regarding leave of absence

THE GUI have sent out a warning to all clubs and golfers about the implications of leave of absence.

Leave of Absence: It is a matter for each club to decide whether to allow a member who has been granted leave of absence to retain his handicap and which would provide the opportunity to compete in Open competitions. In such circumstances, that member will be liable for the union subscription and provincial levies.

If a club decides to grant a member total leave of absence, his GUI member card must be returned to the GUI headquarters. If the period of leave of absence exceeds six months, he will be required to obtain a new handicap in accordance with Clause 16 of the Congu Unified System.

GUI Card Impersonation:

Any member of a club affiliated to the GUI shall face a minimum 12-month suspension of handicap if he allows:

(a) another person to use his GUI member card in competition

(b) borrows a GUI member card to be used by another person in competition.

This is noting that Clause 24.1 (b) of the Congu Unified Handicapping System states: "The handicap of a player shall be suspended by a union, area authority or a player's home club if in its opinion he has conducted himself in a manner prejudicial to the interests of his union, area authority or a player's home club or to the game of golf."

Mother and daughter at Donabate

THE annual mother and daughter foursomes competition at Donabate Golf Club takes place on Friday, July 3rd. The 18-hole event has been running since 1982. The Moran Trophy, which goes to the winners, was presented by the late Maureen Moran, a prominent member of Donabate, in memory of her late husband Freddie.

Last year’s winners, Joan and Kerry Cahill from Laytown and Bettystown will defend their title. Entry has remained at €35 per couple. Places on the timesheet are available from Pauline Byrne on 01-8318992, or 087 966 6982.

** THE 17th All-Ireland Mother and Son Medal competition, sponsored by Hibernian Aviva, will be held in Malahide Golf Club on Friday, July 10th.

The competition is open to all mothers with a ILGU handicap. Sons must be over 15 years on July 10th and have a GUI handicap. Book online at www.malahidegolfclub.ie, or telephone 01-8461611.

ILGU secure sponsor for medal event

AN OPPORTUNITY for individual women to land an All-Ireland medal beckons next year after the Irish Ladies Golf Union and Suzuki Ireland announced details of a new sponsorship.

The “ILGU Medals sponsored by Suzuki” will take place in clubs around the country every month throughout this summer, and will culminate in an All-Ireland final which will take place next May.

The competition is open to all club golfers through the normal monthly medal competitions and winners will qualify to play for the gold or silver pin at the national final.

Speaking at the launch, Sinéad Hearty, the ILGU chief executive, said, “The club medals competition is at the grassroots of every club and allows golfers of all ability the opportunity to win a prestigious club competition. We are delighted to continue our association with Suzuki as a major sponsor of ladies golf at club level.”

Special offer at Tullamore

TULLAMORE GC, who will play hosts to the Bulmers All-Ireland Cups and Shields finals on September 16th-19th, and Tullamore Court Hotel have teamed up with a special offer for the Monday Open competition at Tullamore GC.

Players taking part can avail of a Sunday night special of €45pps to include full Irish breakfast at the Tullamore Court Hotel or €65pp to include golf on Monday in Tullamore GC.

And for more good value in green fees, just across the town at Esker Hills, home course of Irish Open winner Shane Lowry, the Thursday Open competition in on offer for just €20. Details from 057-9346666.

Ireland's amateur elite in action

SEVERAL of Ireland’s elite women tee off this morning at the 106th British Amateur Championship at the Royal St David’s Golf Course at Harlech in North Wales.

The Maguire twins are set to make their debut in the event. Lisa and Leona have been in fine form. Leona captured the Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship and the French Under-21 Championship, while Lisa recently won the Irish Close.

Also hoping to do well is Royal Co Down’s Danielle McVeigh, who already this season has won the Welsh Open and had top-five finishes in the Scottish Open and St Rule Trophy.

The trio will be hoping to impress selectors and book their place on the Britain and Ireland Team, to be announced on Monday next, which will compete against a European Team for the Vagliano Trophy in Hamburg, July 24th-25.

Ireland’s other representatives are Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Aedin Murphy (Carlow), Deirdre Smith (Co Louth), Jenny Gannon (Co Louth) and Rachel Cassidy (The Island) as Ireland seeks a first British Amateur champion since Lillian Behan was victorious back in 1985.

Munster kick off GAA challenge

THE MUNSTER leg of the FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge gets this year’s competition under way at at Dundrum GC in Tipperary on Friday, and a host of GAA clubs from the province, including Kildorrery (Cork), Dunhill (Waterford) and Cashel (Tipperary), have entered teams in a bid for All-Ireland glory.

Last year former Waterford goalkeeper Brendan Landers led his Lismore team to a storming victory, pipping Cork clubs Midleton and Mitchelstown by two points in a fiercely competitive day of action.

Lismore went on to represent the province in the All-Ireland final in Faithlegg in September, where they lost out to Leinster champions St Brigid’s of Dublin, who claimed their second title in impressive style.

A Munster team hasn’t won the competition since 2003, when Midleton GAA Club brought the trophy home, three years after Boherlahane/Dualla of Tipperary won the inaugural tournament.

Fixtures and venues for this year’s competition are:

Munster: June 12th at Dundrum Golf Club, Tipperary.

Leinster: June 26th at Naas Golf Club.

Connacht: July 4th at Roscommon Golf Club.

Ulster: July 24th at Concra Wood Golf Country Club, Castleblaney.

The final will take place at Faithlegg GC later in September.