Helen's Bay in Rosslare was the venue last week for the first Darts Celebrity Pro-Am. Darts big names Eric Bristow, Peter Manlay, John Lowe, Bob Anderson, Gary Mason, Colin Lloyd teamed up with the amateurs at St Helen's Bay. The tournament was won by the team from Hotel Crosbie Cedars led by Tom Crosbie with Jim Furlong, and darts player Bob Anderson, who plays to a seven handicap. Their winning score of 88 points beat Ryans Pub, Rosslare, into second place on 87 with Gemini Windows Wexford also on 87 points. The Pro-Am is to continue at St Helen's Bay for the next three years as part of the programme for the international Darts Masters being played in Rosslare.
Amateur golfers at home and abroad are invited to take up the Belfast Millennium golf challenge. The tournament will take place at three of the City's courses - Belvoir Park, Dunmurray and Shandon Park - from Sunday, September 10th to Tuesday, September 12th 2000. After last year's successful inaugural event, golfers from all over Ireland, the UK and the US are expected this year. The tournament is open to male and female members of affiliated clubs who hold an official handicap. Play will be over 54 holes stableford and the cost for local competitors is Stg£60 which includes all green fees for the three days, meal vouchers and an invitation to the prizegiving at Dunmurray golf club.
Celbridge/ELM HALL and Glencullen golf clubs will be welcoming newcomers to this year's Best Cup. The a.g.m. takes place at Malahide Golf Club on March 24th at 7.30 p.m.. Clubs involved should contact Paddy Conlon at 8462842 to confirm their places in the draw.
Michael Murphy reduced the ninth hole at Sutton golf club to just five shots when playing in the Hilary outing on Sunday. Playing to a new Paddy Merrigan designed green, Murphy holed out with a five iron first time around and at the 18th hit the green again with his five iron and holed the putt for a birdie three. Meanwhile, home players took full advantage of their local knowledge when filling five of the top six places in the Joe Duffy Motors-sponsored outing. Victory went to Kieran O'Byrne, who returned a fine 66 off a five handicap. O'Byrne had three shots to spare over club-mates Mark Collins and Aidan Williams, who both finished on 69 as did Rory O'Siochain from Royal Dublin, with Sutton members Mark Coates and Bill Thompson filling the remaining places. Collins took the gross prize. Thompson was also on the winning team with Doug Heather and Teddy Firth
Munster clubs took the major honours at the third annual Ireland Golf Tour Operators' Association dinner at the K Club last week. The main recipients of the IGTOA industry awards were Waterville golf club (best course), Tom Prendergast of Killarney (best club manager) and Dromoland Castle (best golf hotel). Bina Donworth of JD Golf Tours also presented the "Jerry Donworth Award for outstanding contribution to golf tours" to Katherine McCann of Mount Juliet.
Some tee times are still available for the third annual Jimmy Hegarty Spawell golf classic to be played at the K Club on Tuesday, March 28th. Entry fee is £350 for a team of two amateurs and one professional. Entry forms and time sheet is available form Spawell at 01-4901826 or 4907990.
The Irish Pitch and Putt team to play Catalonia in an international challenge at the Irish Glass Bottle Club in Goatstown on July 22nd and 23rd is: Sean Downes (Stackallen) captain, Niall Cuffe (Kilbeggan), Sean Harkins (St Bridget's, Kilcullen), Derry McCarthy (Deerpark, Killarney), Hubert Kelly (Loughlinstown), Denis Monaghan (Shandon), Conor O'Hare (Cloghogue, Newry), Ray Murphy (Templebreedy) Geraldine Ward (Portmarnock), Marian Byrne (St Bridget's). Frank Smith of the host club will manage the team.
