The Short Game

Positive times in Ulster:The opening of the new offices at Forestgrove and the ongoing development of the facilities at Greenmount formed the central theme at the adm of the Ulster Branch at Shandon Park last week.

Outgoing chairman PJ Collins, who was returned unopposed, spoke in glowing terms of the Forestgrove offices into which the Ulster Branch moved just under a year ago.

The chairman dwelt on the work at Greenmount and expressed his thanks to the people concerned who had the foresight to launch the project.

"There are 22 acres at Greenmount and we already have three golf holes built. We also have a practice green and bunkers constructed at a cost of £400,000," he said.

None of the seven motions on the agenda were passed although one from Roe Park, asking that players who wished to take part in the Jimmy Bruen, Pierse Purcell and Junior Cup competitions should have to provide documentary evidence of their eligibility during the matchplay stages, as well as in the qualifying round, got backing.

The outgoing chairman Collins (Co Armagh), honorary secretary Eamon O'Connor (Donegal), honorary treasurer Peter Sinclair (Knock) and honorary match secretary Ivor McCandless were all returned unopposed.

Provincial Council: B Hutchinson (Donaghadee), D Irwin (Rathmore), T Jones (Shandon Park), K Stevens (Rockmount), J White (Co Armagh). Match and Handicapping Committee: R Archibald (Shandon Park), B Blakie (Bangor), J Boyd (Ballycastle), T Cassidy (Dunmurry), M Craigan (Malone), I Smyth (Holywood). Delegates to Central Council: J White and D Irwin.

Emerald Pro Tour continues

The Emerald Pro Tour continues at The Island GC this week, with the final outing of the year at South County on Friday week.

The event in the South County will be the club's first "major" and will have a guaranteed first prize for the professionals of €750.

The event is sponsored by McGuirks Golf and they also sponsor the amateur order of merit.

Barron inspires St Peter's

An excellent 79 from Caolan Barron helped St Peter's College, Wexford to victory in the Irish Schools Strokeplay Leinster final in difficult conditions at Rathsallagh GC last week.

Barron's 79 plus an 80 from Gavin Kinsella and an 84 from Chris Drumm gave the Wexford College a one-shot win over the Portmarnock Community School team of Iarlaith Keane (80); Philip Higgins (82) and Darragh Coghlan (82). The Institute of Education were third on 250 with Coláiste Chiaráin fourth on 253.

McLaughlin wins at Ballyliffin

Danny McLaughlin from Letterkenny GC was a winner by three shots of the North Western Alliance outing to the Old Course at Ballyliffin GC last week.

McLaughlin shot a 68 off a 15-handicap to win from Denis Kelly (Strabane), while Michael Carr from Ballybofey/Stranorlar edged into fourth place on a countback from Pat Keating, Barry Ramsay (Letterkenny) and Liam O'Neill from Ballybofey/Stranorlar after all four finished on 72.

Ballyliffin's Conor Mallon put his local knowledge to good use to win the gross with a 74 from North West's Pádraigh McLochlainn and club-mate Alan Doherty.

Dermott Canning, Brian McElhinney and Michael Bradley all finished on 77.

The next outing of the society is at Dunfanaghy on January 6th.

Irish international Kane dies

The deaths have taken place of former international Ray Kane and Bill O'Doherty Murphy, both members of The Island GC, and Vincent Mathers of St Anne's GC.

In a distinguished career that started with victory in the Leinster Boys' Championship at Milltown in 1961, Kane went on to represent Ireland on 54 occasions and Leinster in the Interprovincial Championship 78 times. He won the Irish Close title twice - in 1971 at Ballybunion when he beat Martin O'Brien in the final and on the more familiar territory of Portmarnock in 1974, when beating Mark Gannon.

On the club scene Kane won two All-Ireland medals at Senior Cup level with The Island in 1967 and again in 1983. Murphy penned the centenary history of The Island GC in 1990 in which he recalled, in his own unique style, the history of golf at the club, while Mathers, a single-figure player at his club, was a sports journalist with both the Irish Press and Sunday Express.

Ar dheis de go raibh a n-anamacha

Custom-fitted clubs ideal gift

Fancy getting a new set of golf clubs custom-fitted as a Christmas present? Well if so, the Celbridge Driving Range could be the place to go.

And there to help you out will be two men who will be familiar to soccer fans in this country. Joe McGrath - former Ireland underage manager and ex-boss of Bohemians and Kilkenny City - and his son Derek - who played for many years with Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians among others - run the shop, called the Golf Studio.

They specialise in the new Bobby Jones Range, and will reshape and refit your clubs if required. Based in Celbridge for the last nine months, they are open from 2pm to 9pm, Monday to Friday, and 11am to 5pm on Saturdays, or if you want to book an appointment, phone 01 -6279811.

Fogarty on the double

Delgany's Madge Fogarty showed her prowess in different formats of the game last week with back to back wins at the Co Wicklow club. Victory number one came in the 12 hole singles competition, when a score of 26 points saw her win the event by three from class one winner Ruth Raymond (15), while the other class winners were Helen Doolin (23) and Elizabeth Farrell (35), both with 20 points.

Fogarty then teamed up with Judy Brennan (14) to win the 12 hole fourball competition on Sunday with 21 points, on the back six from Lola Harrington and Anne Dodd.

Wogan takes the chair

Frances Wogan of Lucan Golf Club is the new chairperson of the Eastern District of the ILGU, while Rosemary Hayes of Hermitage GC is the incoming Honorary Secretary, succeeding Therese Morgan (Ardee) who has come to the end of her five-year stint in the position, a period which saw many changes, most notably the introduction of the All-Ireland AA Championships, which proved to be a huge success this year.

McCabe leads by example

Being captain of your club will always be a highlight of a golfing career. And no doubt at this time of the year there are many people around the country reflecting on their terms of office, as the calendar year comes to close.

Newland's lady captain Irene McCabe could reflect positively on her year, especially since she ended it with a measure of success on the course as well.

Last week she featured twice in the winners' circle. On Tuesday, the 21-handicapper just missed out on top prize, losing on countback to Mona Ward (36) in the weekly nine hole competition. However, on Saturday, a score of 20 points was good enough to earn her a one-point victory in class one of the turkey competition, ahead of Mary K O'Mahony. The other class winners were Eileen Williamson (26), Maureen Hughes (32) and Rita Dunne (36).

Another lady captain enjoying her time on the course in the last week was Beaverstown's Aine Ryder, who was second in the 12-hole turkey competition. The 32-handicapper missed out on victory by a point to Helena Molphy (25) who had 24 points.

Fallon extends winning run

There was double success for Brid Fallon in Luttrellstown last week as she continued a highly consistent season.

The 17-handicapper regularly features among the prizes and last week was no exception as she claimed two victories, one in the nine hole singles event, where she shot 19 points to win by two from Eve Mitchell and then last Saturday week, where a total of 26 points was good enough to win the 14-hole event.

Crosbie succeeds twice

Sheila Crosbie enjoyed success in different formats of the game recently in Rosslare. In partnership with Molly Cash, a fellow 16-handicapper, she won the fourball event with 32 points, while three days later in the 12 hole singles event, she won on a countback, after both she and Kit Codd (14) shot an impressive 26 points.