Arnold praises firm: As the season warms up, players will be getting their clubs regripped in preparation, and here Lamkin Golf Grips (used by Arnold Palmer) have come up with a special offer.
As part of their commitment to the fight against prostate cancer, Lamkin is donating a percentage of the after-market regrip sales to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The goal, says Palmer, is to raise at least $1 million to help fund today's research and tomorrow's cure. "The generosity of corporate sponsors like Lamkin is making a difference and every golfer can help the cause. Thanks to efforts like this the foundation has raised more than $200 million over the last 11 years," Palmer said.
Leinster Alliance: The 2006 Leinster Alliance season commences at the European Club on February 26th with tee-times from 10am to 12.30pm. And this year, Junior golfers with a single figure handicap will be welcomed, and will also compete for a special prize in this category. This year's captain of the Alliance is Alistair Smyth, from Portmarnock, a long-time member of the alliance. Other outings are at Tulfarris GC on April 9th, Rathcore GC on May 7th, South County GC on June 18th (The Irish Times Shield), Roganstown GC on September 10th and Carton House on October 8th. For tee-times and further information contact Michael Neary at 01-2827297 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Carton House honoured: Carton House GC has been awarded the prestigious "Committed to Green Award" by the International Committed to Green Foundation. Carton House is the first Irish club to win this honour - a distinction which is awarded to European clubs that adopt best environmental practice.
The foundation's mission is to promote environmental responsibility and sustainability in golf. The foundation is working to encourage more courses throughout Europe to adopt best environmental practices. The programme, supported by the European Commission, was launched by EU Commission president Jacques Santer and Valderrama president Jamie Ortiz-Patino in 1997.
Committed to Green is the only independent European, golf specific, environmental programme available for golf clubs. Twenty-six courses in six European countries have secured full Committed to Green recognition while many more are working to achieve recognition.
Conroy in control: Former Dublin footballer Tommy Conroy kept a cool head on Sunday to win the first Hilary Society outing of the season to Laytown and Bettystown. Conroy, a six handicapper from St Anne's, shot a nett 66 to win by one shot from veteran Turlough Boylan from Naas in the BMW-sponsored event. Declan Moran from The Island won the gross with a 69 while Padraig O'Hagan (K Club) took the professional honours with a best-of-the-day 68.
There was double success for Ballybofey and Stranorlar GC members in the North Western Golfing Alliance outing at North West GC on Saturday last. Taking top prize in the nett category was Marty Carlin, a seven handicapper, who won with a score of 64. That gave him a one-shot victory over the host club's Derek Morrison (scratch), while in third place in the category was City of Derry's David Brady (14), also with a score of 65.
Meanwhile, in the golfer of the year race with just one event to go, Donal Boyle, with 42, holds a good lead in the gross section over Derek McNeill, who is next best on 37, while Enda McMenamin is third on 34. In the nett race, Alan Doherty on 26 leads. The last outing is on February 18th in Portsalon.
Kavanagh in form: Good scoring was the order of the day a the Mid West Alliance outing on Sunday, as Castletroy's John Kavanagh won the gross section with a score of 64 which was two better than Ennis' Ray Hennessy, while in joint third spot were Pat Murray of Limerick and Tipperary's Jon Murray. And the score of 64 proved popular on the day, as that was the mark recorded by Ennis' two-handicapper Noel Pyne, who won the nett category, but he only won on a countback from Richard McInerney (4) of Castletroy. Next outing for the alliance is their final one which takes place on March 5th.
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