The Short Game

Compiled by Shay Keenan

Castletroy opens

The opening of a newly re-constructed Castletroy golf course will take place over three days this week from the tape cutting ceremony on Thursday, after a €2.5 million development which members will find has seen the course extended by 330 metres to 6,284, par 72, off the championship blue markers.

Michael Skehan, chairman of the board of management, with the captains of the mens' and womens' clubs will cut the tape followed by a reception at the clubhouse.

It is just 70 years ago since May 6th, 1936, 45 years after the launching of Limerick GC when it was agreed at a meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce that Limerick needed a new golf course. The first nine holes were played by the founding committee on November of that year.

A lake has been introduced to the right and behind the new 560 yards sixth hole, which is one of two par fives in the first nine. A new long par three 11th is also over a lake which was developed out of a former inhibiting drain.

Part of the cost has gone into a new extended car park and modern machine sheds. In contrast the original clubhouse and pavilion cost £188 70 years ago and the course less 30 acres which cost £66,000 in 1977, was bought for £2,200.

Scully in the picture

An achievement worthy of mention is the performance of Galway Golf Club's David Scully in three recent Senior Scratch Cups.

Gort's 36-hole Senior Scratch Cup in April was won by Athenry's outstanding talent Michael Mulryan when he birdied the 36th hole to shoot 73, 71 and leave playing partner Scully in third place a shot behind after he overshot the green to drop a shot.

On Bank Holiday Monday, May 1st, Scully made amends by winning the Senior Scratch Cup in Tuam after rounds of 72 and 73, heading a quality field.

Last Sunday week Scully again triumphed in Ennis with rounds of 67, 74 and levelled the score by heading Mulryan by a single shot. The acceptance speech was memorable as Scully, who is engaged to be married to Clare native Aine Harvey, asked that the local paper The Clare Champion publish his picture as he wanted his prospective mother-in-law to see what he looked like before the wedding.

Castle Dargan draw

As we near September and Ireland's greatest ever international sporting event, tickets for the Ryder Cup are a much sought after and prized possession. The Castle Dargan Estate in Sligo is offering two lucky entrants to their draw the opportunity to follow course designer Darren Clarke and the European Team as they defend their trophy.

Home to the new Darren Clarke-designed championship golf course, the magnificent hotel and spa retreat will open this July and is running a draw for these must-have passes.

To enter simply log on to www.castledargan.com and complete the form or text the word "golf" followed by your name and email address to 53377 before May 28th. A text costs 15 cent and full terms and conditions are available on the estate's web site.

Darcy delivers

There was a bit of a take over of the prizes in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, over the last few weeks as two ladies managed to share the top prizes in back-to-back weekly singles competition. First Nono McHugh claimed runners-up spot with a fine score of 37 points, while Sheila Molloy was third with 36 points.

The winner was Concepta Darcy with 39 points. However, McHugh and Molloy could really have no complaints about not winning as the previous week they had taken the top two spots. McHugh had been victorious on that occasion with 38 points, with Molloy following a point adrift on 37 points.

Mullingar ladies open

Pamela Scott, one of Ireland's best known high street fashion stores, is about to celebrate its 25th year of sponsorship of the ladies open at Mullingar GC. Since 1982 the open 18-hole Stableford competition has grown in popularity and success with the continued support and commitment of Pamela Scott.

And to celebrate a quarter of a century of association, the sponsors are promising a fantastic weekend of golf and prizes. Fashion, colour and some surprise celebrities will be to the fore during the weekend and with the Mullingar course recently getting its own makeover it promises to be a memorable occasion.

The open takes place over two days on this weekend. To book a place on the timesheet phone the Mullingar Office on 044 48366 (during office hours).

The cost is €25 and presentation of prizes will take place on the Sunday evening in the clubhouse

Clear treble ace

We would all dearly love to get a hole in one in our golfing careers. For many just one would do - but how about getting three? And not just during a long playing career, but in the space of nine months. It would be some feat. Well, that is exactly the achievement of Michael Clear, a long-time member of Thurles GC.

Michael has been scoring aces with great regularity in recent times.

The short par three fifth hole which measures 111 yards and is rated the easiest hole on the course, he has actually aced twice, while at the par three eighth hole - which measures 182 yards and is the second longest par three on the course - he has also had a hole in one. He must surely be the envy of not only his fellow members, but also golfers everywhere, who will be anxious to know what is the key to so many holes in one.

Ballyliffin renovation

Faldo Design has just completed the renovation of The Old Links at Ballyliffin GC on the north west coast of Co Donegal. Nick Faldo has had strong ties with the club for a number of years and Faldo Design was the obvious choice when the club decided to enhance and upgrade The Old Links in 2003.

The essential aim of the partnership with Faldo Design was to improve the course's strategic qualities by way of a complete re-bunkering programme.

Faldo Design has created several new ocean-side tees to better emphasise the natural beauty of the location. The front nine holes were renovated in 2005 and the reaction from members and visitors has been extremely positive.

The back nine has just been completed on schedule and the club is confident that the finished course now sits comfortably amongst the very best Irish links courses.

Newlands get going

Some 129 teams set out in this year's FBD Barton Cup with their sights set on taking the coveted cup away from the 2005 winners Newlands. After the first round the holders are still there and now face a tough tie against the Curragh.

Last year's runners-up Greystones are also still involved and are set to play Killiney for a place in the last 32.

Elsewhere there are some interesting second round clashes, not least the two all-Dublin ties of Slade Valley v Stackstown and Sutton v Skerries. There is also a Kildare "derby" at this stage of the competition which sees Athy and Naas going head to head.

Rosslare & Enniscorthy are the Wexford flag bearers and are aiming to become the first club from the Model County to take home the Barton Cup. They take on Woodenbridge and Rathdowney respectively in round two.

All games are due to be played by the weekend of May 20th-21st.

Shanahan strikes

In a dramatic finale to the Kilkenny Scratch Cup on Sunday, Mark Shanahan (+1) of West Waterford wedged to two feet at the first for a winning birdie in a play-off against Gerard Lawlor of City West.

Playing off one handicap, Lawlor was a long-time leader in the clubhouse at one under par following rounds of 73 and 68 until Shanahan matched his score late in the day with rounds of 72 and 69 which featured a chip-in birdie two at his penultimate hole.

Michael McGinley (Scr) from Grange shot a great second round of 68 for third on one over par, edging out Colm Clancy (Stackstown) and Niall Gorey (Kileen) who finished on the same score.

Local veteran Padraig O'Rourke, a winner of the event as far back as 1977, came close to also getting in to the play-off, but two dropped shots on the back five of his second round meant he had to settle for sixth place also on one over par.

Donegal ladies event

The eighth Donegal three-day annual ladies classic will be run over three competitive days from this Thursday to Saturday on three different local courses, Portsalon GC, Dunfanaghy GC and Ballybofey/Stranorlar GC.

As usual there will be many valuable and varied individual and team prizes daily as well as the overall tournament prizes. Once again AIB are the main sponsors of this popular tournament.

Holohan hits form

Making a mockery of the handicaps at Portumna GC in recent times and proving she has a real talent for the game is Riona Holohan. She only started playing golf seriously in the past year or so, but already she has managed to reduce her handicap dramatically. In total she has shaved an incredible 15 shots. In the past year she has gone from a handicap of 33 to 18 and last Sunday she actually had a score of 49 points which not surprisingly won the singles competition, but was also the highest ever winning for a lady in a club competition.

Meanwhile, Portumna last week opened their newly-designed 16th hole which was changed over the winter months.

The new hole boasts a bigger green, while it has also been lengthened, a hill has been removed just below the ladies tee and a number of young trees have been introduced. It has proved a popular addition with all members of the club.

Mayo seniors open

Details have just been announced of the Co Mayo Open seniors tournament which will take place at Westport GC on May 31st. The competition is limited to a field of 100 golfers with overall nett, overall gross and age category prizes.

The event is sponsored by Hastings (Westport) Ltd. The entry fee is a15, with an 18-holes singles Stableford format. The timesheet is now open and places can be booked on 098 28262.

Officers in action

The annual captains and honorary secretaries outing took place last Monday at Athy GC and the South County pairing of Ciarán Curtis and Mark Doyle were winners in the morning session with a score of 42 points, while Richard Walshe and Billy Stamp from Coollattin were victors in the afternoon with 44 points.

[ skeenan@irish-times.ie ]