GUI introduce new type of golf clinic at Carton House:THE GUI National Golf Academy has introduced a new type of Full Day Golf Clinic, which incorporates the best of the National Academy, and the Championship courses at Carton House.
Having staged over 150 full-day clinics in the last two years, the Golf Academy is now introducing a clinic, combined with a playing lesson with a professional
This allows the participants the opportunity to spend some quality time with a pro at the Academy, before going out on one of the championship golf courses at Carton House with the professional to hone their skills for real and get some first-hand advice and extra tuition.
As there is golf involved, there are only four places available in each clinic.
The morning practice session is followed by golf – with the teaching professional – later in the afternoon.
The clinics are normally priced at €199, but as an introductory offer, you can book from now until the end of March and save 10 per cent on the price – at just €179.
There are also deals on Short Game clinics. These three hour sessions covering chipping, bunker shots, wedges around the green and difficult lies are normally priced at €140, but there is a current deal for €85.
Full details on both special offers are available by contacting the GUI at www.gui.ie or phoning them at (01) 5054040.
Printers off to The K Club
THE School of Printing is 100 years old this year and is organising a few events in celebration.
A Reunion Golf Classic will be held in The K Club on Friday, March 25th, and all former students are invited.
The day includes breakfast bap, round of golf on the Ryder Cup course, followed by dinner and prize-giving.
There is a shot-gun start at noon, with the first prize sponsored by Manroland. Cost per team of four is €500 and €45 for non-golfers to attend the reunion dinner. Contact freddiesnowe@eircom.net 0879151609 or andrew.horan@dit.ie.
Meadow blooms in New Orleans
STEPHANIE Meadow – the Alabama newcomer who was a reserve in last year’s Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team at Essex County Club – won her second US college tournament in a row last week, the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
The teenager, from Jordanstown, finished the tournament at five-under-par 211, after rounds of 72, 66 and 73, and her second-round 66 included a front-nine 30, which included two putts of over 25 feet. The round ended with two bogeys, but it still marks Meadow’s lowest score so far in a college event.
The one-shot win over top-ranked Megan McChrystal, who carded rounds of 69, 70 and 73 and is a likely Player of the Year candidate, speaks volumes for a Freshman of the Year run. But Meadow is not chasing end-of-the-year accolades.
“The key is not to get greedy and try and make things so much better, just keep gradually improving on what’s been working,” Meadow said. “If I keep playing well maybe I can win again.”
Joint-third on 213 were The Duke pair of Laetitia Beck and Lindy Duncan. Beck fired rounds of 66, 76 and 71, while Duncan carded 73, 72 and 68. Meadow helped Alabama to second place in the team event (872), four off winners South California.
Kelly takes second event
CO LOUTH’S Gerard Kelly, a student at UCD, won his second event of 2011 in the RaboDirect Hilary Golf Society outing at Seapoint on Sunday.
Kelly carded five birdies on the challenging Termonfeckin links for a four-under-par round of 68 and he now holds a commanding lead in the race for the season’s Gold Medal even at this early stage in the season.
The runner-up in Seapoint on Sunday was Daragh O’Malley, a five handicapper from Royal Dublin, who birdied the last three holes to record a nett 70, while in third place was Fergal O’Connell (6) from Forrest Little on 71.
Alan Kiernan – a scratch golfer from Forrest Little – won the gross with a one-under-par 71, this despite dropping shots at three of his first five holes. However, he bounced back to return home in a four-under-par 32.
The best professional score on the day was returned by Beaverstown’s Gary Cullen (right) with a three-under-par 69.
Cullen also led home the winning team with a 12-under-par 60, helped by Greg Cooke from St Anne’s and OConnell.
The next outing for the Hilary Society is a visit to Royal Dublin on Sunday week.
Applications for the timesheet are available by email to hilarygolf@gmail.com
Ashby shares 20th spot in Florida Student
DUBLINER Liam Ashby, a student at Carson-Newman College, shared 20th place on 218 with scores of 69, 74 and 75 in the GolfWeek Spring Invitational men’s college tournament at Reunion Resort, Florida last week.
Another Irish student, Shane Smyth (Lynn University) from Co Louth, finished in joint-61st place on 228 with scores of 76, 75 and 77.
The tournament was won by two shots by Alex Carpenter (Abilene Christian University) with a 13-under-par total of 203, made up of rounds of 72, 66 and 65; an impressive feat after four-putting the first green for an opening double bogey. Two back were Dermot McElhennon and Coker College’s Jake Murphy.
Barton College and Lynn University tied for the team title on 857, six shots ahead of Abilene. Carson-Newman College did not do so well finishing 13th of the 17 competing teams with a total of 893.
Phelan shows up well at Sawgrass
IRELAND’S Kevin Phelan, from Waterford and a student at North Florida University, was the highest finishing British and Irish player in the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational at Sawgrass Country Club last week.
Phelan, a Walker Cup team place contender, had rounds of 71, 76 and 73 for a total of 220 over the par 72, 6,960-yard course to finish joint 17th in the field of 85 players.
Philip Choi from the University of Florida won the individual title by three shots with rounds of 68, 71 and 70 for a seven-under-par total of 209.
Arkansas, on 867, won the team title ahead of Auburn (869) and Louisiana State (871). North Florida, with a total of 904, finished 12th in a field of 15 teams.
THE 11th annual Philip Walton Dundrum House Hotel Golf and Leisure Resort Pro-Am will take place this year on Tuesday and and Wednesday, July 12th/13th. Entry fee is € 900 per team of three.
