Thirteen-year-old Greg Cooney was the toast of Milltown last week as he holed in one during the club's Parent & Child competition. If golfing skills are passed on in the genes, that shouldn't have surprised too many of the members as Greg was only doing what his father and grandfather had done before him. Over the last forty years all three Cooneys have aced the short 12th at the south Dublin venue.
The late Jimmy Cooney, who won an All-Ireland senior hurling medal with Tipperary in 1937, first achieved the feat in 1959. Jimmy's son, Seamus Cooney, who won the Leinster Boys' title in 1969, recorded his hole-in-one in the same year. As he looked back from the 13th tee last Sunday week, Seamus was thrilled to see young Greg, playing with his mother Marese Cooney, extend the family tradition.
If Greg he continues to follow his father's example he has a bright future - Seamus retained his Leinster Boys' crown and then got his handicap down to two. He still holds single-figure status.
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