Short game

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Tralee to push ahead with upgrade

TRALEE Golf Club has always planned for the future and, hot on the heels of being named as the seventh best course in Ireland by Golf Digest Ireland, it has announced it is to proceed with a further upgrade that will be spaced over five years.

Phase one of the five-year upgrade will involve the reshaping of the 10th hole and the construction of a practice academy on land adjacent to the 10th hole.

The general manager of Tralee GC, Anthony Byrne, revealed this week that Brandon Johnson, of the Palmer Group, has been appointed to plan the reshaping of the 10th hole and the practice academy.

“We know that we have a priceless jewel here in Barrow and you must never, ever, allow a priceless jewel to lose any of its lustre,” he said. “That underpins everything we do here.”

Tralee jumped from number 10 to seven in the Golf Digest listing of Irish courses.

Merger results in one governing body

THE merger of the English Golf Union (EGU) and the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) was approved last week at simultaneous general meetings of both organisations. The merger will come into effect on January 1st and will create England Golf, one national governing body to represent all amateur golfers in England.

The merger proposal was approved by 86 per cent of the voting members of the EGU meeting at its headquarters in Woodhall Spa; and by 100 per cent of the voting members of the EWGA, meeting at the National Motor Cycle Museum at Solihull.

Both organisations had to approve the proposal by a majority of at least 75 per cent for it to be successful. The decision was hailed as a triumph for golf and a vital step forward for the game.

The merger vote followed a long period of consultation and preparation, which began in 2009 when a steering group was formed of members of both organisations.

European Championship set for Carton House

FOR the first time in its 25-year history the European Amateur Championship will come to Ireland next year.

The Montgomerie Course at Carton House is the venue for the the best amateur players on August 8th-11th.

Some of the biggest names in the world of professional golf have captured the European Individual title on their way to global success – including US Open champion and world number two Rory McIlroy.

The championship is one of only four on the World Amateur Golf Rankings points system with “elite” status – the other three being the Asian Amateur, British Amateur and US Amateur Championships.

Irish players have been particularly successful at the event. McIlroy’s win in 2006 earned him a place in the 2007 British Open, in which he announced his talent to the world with a fine opening round of 68 on the Carnoustie Links. He went on to win the Silver Medal as the leading amateur player.

But his was not the first – but the fourth – Irish victory at the championship, with Brian McElhinney capturing the title in 2003, Stephen Browne in 2001 and Paddy Gribben in 1998.

Past winners include five-time Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia, France’s European Tour stalwart Gregory Havret – runner-up at the 2010 US Open – and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson, a four-time winner on the USPGA Tour.

Westport pair ahead of the Race

WESTPORT’S Liam Friel and Thomas Walsh dominated an international field to become Race to Portugal champions at the Algarve’s Monte da Quinta resort.

Friel and Walsh, who both play off a handicap of 13, scored 120 Stableford points over two rounds on Quinta do Lago’s South course, winning by 12 points from their nearest challengers, John Kent and Brian Ridout, from The Drift, Surrey.

The Westport pair beat off the challenge of 18 other teams from across Ireland, Britain, Belgium and Sweden, gaining a two-shot advantage over the field on day one, in scoring 61 points.

They then really turned the screw in the second round by scoring 59 points in testing conditions to increase their advantage to 12 points.

Friel was in particularly fine form on day one, scoring 38 points which gave him the platform to cruise to individual glory with 70 points, six better than second-placed Richard Joyce, from Effingham Golf Club.

The Race to Portugal will return to Monte da Quinta in 2012 and organisers are looking for more clubs to hold free qualifying events for their members.

To get your club involved contact organiser Cyril Griffith on 07824 385101.

Retirement of Co Louth stalwart

ONE of Ireland longest serving secretary managers, Michael Delaney, has retired from the Co Louth GC in Baltray. Delaney arrived in Co Louth at a time not dissimilar to the present economic climate with unemployment high and demand for membership low. He expertly guided the club through these times until eventually membership was at its peak.

The first highlight of his era was the centenary year in 1992 which he did with his usual aplomb and also two Irish Opens in 2004 and 2009, plus the annual East of Ireland Amateur Championship. All in golf wish Michael and his wife Helen many years of happy retirement.

Kennedy at home at Rosapenna

KNOWING you own course proved beneficial on Saturday when the North West Golfing Alliance held their latest outing at Rosapenna Golf Course in Donegal. Playing the Old Tom Morris Links course, it was two members from the host club who featured in the gross section.

Taking top spot was scratch golfer Enda Kennedy, who recorded a fine score of one-under-par 70 to win by three strokes from Michael McGeady (scr, McCambridge Duffy). Making it a good day for Rosapenna was Derek McNeill, playing off two, who was in third place on 74.

In the nett section, nine-handicapper Delwyn Montgomery from North West GC shot a 67 to edge out Strabane’s Conor Sharley, playing off eight, on a countback. In third place was Letterkenny’s Michael P O’Donnell (14) on 68.

Next up for the Alliance is a visit to the Old Links at Ballyliffin on Saturday, December 3rd.

Meanwhile, Deirdre Walsh, playing off a handicap of two, was the winner of Rhona Fanagan’s President’s Prize at the Leinster Ladies Alliance outing to Milltown. She shot 36 points to edge out nine-handicapper Anne O’Neill on a countback. Walsh and O’Neill were a point ahead of Gertie McMullen (5) and Mary Goode (5), who were the next best on 35 points. Emer Kirwan was the gross winner with a score of 31 points, off a handicap of five.