Short Game

A roundup of this week's other golf news

Malahide Red to get revamp

AT a recent egm, the members of Malahide Golf Club in North Co Dublin, voted overwhelmingly to revamp the Red Nine of the 27-hole facility.

The meeting was presented with the Jeff Howes Golf Design plans on video, with the proposed changes to the individual holes shown in 3D using the company’s latest “helicopter fly-by” technology.

This second phase of the redevelopment of this original Eddie Hackett course is due to begin this month and should take four to six weeks to complete.

The proposed redevelopment sees the redesign of the surrounds of four greens, the construction of four new greens and three new teeing complexes.

Also in the plans is the addition of 10 fairway bunker complexes, the remodelling of two of the existing lakes and the construction of two new lakes, a stream and a boardwalk.

Celebrities queue up for Best day

THE final pieces of the jigsaw have been put in place ahead of this month’s George Best Golf Invitational with renowned “trick-shot king” Jeremy Dale signed up to put on one of his world-famous shows at Galgorm Castle Golf Club on Thursday, August 27th.

The show will be staged at Galgorm Castle’s driving range after competitors complete their rounds.

The show is also open to the general public free of charge.

The invitational event will take place in a pro-am format, with 20 teams competing alongside a PGA professional.

A number of leading celebrities from the sporting world are also competing. Pat Jennings, Dennis Taylor, Joe Swail and George Best’s former Manchester United team-mate Alex Stepney will be present at Galgorm Castle.

For further information please contact Golf Event Management on 079 2345 0900 or

email info@golfgem.co.uk.

Galway complete Senior and Barton double

GALWAY made it a Barton Shield/Senior Cup double in Connacht when they edged out arch-rivals Co Sligo in Senior Cup final after beating Athlone in the Barton Shield decider.

It looked to be Sligo’s day when Serryth Heavey and David Dunne gave the Rosses Point men a 2-1 lead after Joe Lyons won the top match for Galway.

Leading in the other two matches playing the last, Galway staged a great recovery. When Damien Coyne won on the 19th word filtered through that Eddie McCormack had birdied the 18th to take his match down the 19th. He and Gary McDermott halved 19, before McCormack brought a loud cheer from the Galway gallery when he won the 20th with a par.

- JAMES MONAGHANfrom The Island and Rory McNamara from Headfort have been selected to represent Ireland in the International Juniors of Belgium at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium on August 26th-29th.

Monaghan will make his International debut while McNamara will be looking to go one better than 2008 when he finished runner-up.

In addition to the individual event, Monaghan and McNamara will compete as a team in the Nations Trophy, which they will look to retain, following McNamara’s win alongside Andrew Hogan in 2008.

Mark Campbell (Stackstown) won the event in 1998, while Justin Kehoe (Birr) won in 2000.

Debra Masters day at Carton 

THE inaugural Debra Ireland Masters will take place on Friday, September 18th, on the Montgomerie Course at Carton House just outside Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Ronan Flood, caddy of Pádraig Harrington, was on hand for the official launch of the event, which will raise much needed funds for those living with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

Teams will compete in a fourball stableford event over the course which was designed by 2010 Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie.

The day includes golf, prizes and a four-course dinner which will take place that evening in the clubhouse with guest speakers.

The winning team will take home the perpetual Debra Ireland green jackets and the Debra Ireland Cup, along with other fantastic prizes.

In true Masters tradition, the winners will have the opportunity to defend their title in the 2010 Debra Ireland Golf Masters.

Teams entry costs just € 850 for a team of four, including golf and dinner.

If you would like to receive more information or sign up a team call 01 4126924,

email: conor@debraireland.org or log on to www.debraireland.org.

O’Beirne claims Lumsden Cup

THE Lumsden Cup was held recently in Royal Dublin and produced a local winner in David O’Beirne. The four handicapper finished with a 36-hole total of 142 to finish three clear of clubmate Paddy Walshe (5), with The Curragh’s Jamie Rothwell claiming third place.

Westmanstown’s David Reilly was the gross winner on 150.

THE Irish final of the International Pairs will be held at the Lough Erne Golf Resort near Enniskillen. Qualifying events take place next Monday at Lough Erne again, and on Wednesday, August 26th, at County Tipperary in Dundrum.

Bookings for both can be made on 057 8730643.

New sides in Miele regional finals

The Miele Ireland Interclub Fourball tournament is entering the final stages, with the last four clubs from 230 entrants competing in the regional finals tomorrow.

The Eastern final sees two new sides to feature at the latter stages of the competition when a strong Stackstown side takes on a talented line-up from Arklow at Greenore.

Teeing up alongside them will be the Northern finalists Mannan Castle, who recently captured the Leinster Girls Interclub title following a nail-biting victory over Malahide.

However, Mannan Castle will need to be at their best, as they are up against Ballybofey and Stranorlar, who have some experience at this stage having captured the Northern title in 2005 and 2006, and will be looking for another crown.

DEFENDING champion Jim Carvill from Warrenpoint cruised to victory at the Grange Golf Club to claim his third successive win in the 54-hole Leinster Mid-Amateur Championship after three rounds of 74.

Carvill’s total of 222 gave him a six-shot winning margin over Joe Crangle from Fortwilliam and Richard Williams from Woodlands on 228.

Randal Cross from Enniscrone and local Patrick MacCann tied for fourth place on 229.