A fashionable centenary drive-in at Portumna

PORTUMNA Golf Club celebrated the first event of its Centenary Year with the captain’s and president’s drive-in last Sunday. This is a very special year for the club and the committee has organised a series of events throughout 2013.

The drive-in was held in bright but chilly conditions and was well supported by club members and friends of captains, Martin Carty and Pauline McEvoy and club president, Suzanne Corcoran.

They arrived to generous applause by pony and trap dressed in period costume and played their first tee shots with vintage clubs.

Over 90 members played in the three-ball scramble organised for the special occasion and at its conclusion, all retired to the clubhouse for a social evening.

This was followed by a music session and members were dancing and enjoying themselves into the evening. During a brief interlude, the presentation of prizes took place and Tony Harte received the men’s golfer-of-the-year award for 2012.

The winners of the front nine competition, held in conjunction with the drive-in, were Dick Quinlivan, Stephen Madden and Mairéad O’Connell, followed by Jackie Gilchrist, Pete Gibbs and Joe McCormack.

The back nine winners were Eamonn O’Grady, Martin Quinn and Ena Moran from Mick McGivern, John Hynes and Catherine Dunne.

Spanish Point
WITH the first bad frost of the winter season, the competitions last weekend at Spanish Point were cancelled but earlier in the week, the Tuesday seniors’ open was well supported with the scoring reflecting the calm conditions. In first place with 42 points was Willie McNamara (15) and he edged John O’Brien (12) into second place on a count back, with John also scoring 42 points. The spring schedule of competitions continues with the senior open each Tuesday and all timesheets are in the clubhouse.

Ennis
ON Thursday last, Ennis seniors’ group held a fourball competition. The winners with 42 points were James Ball and Tony Kehoe followed by Maurice Walsh and Luke Coote with 41, Sean Fitzpatrick and John Keane with 41, Paschal Russell and Frank Landy with 41, Tony Coote and Don Ryan with 41, Michael Carmody and Sean Daly with 40, Bill Leacy and Tom Fox with 40 and Noel Connellan and Seamus Frehill with 40.

In the weekend’s men’s 14-hole fourball competition, the winners were Flan Glynn and Pat McInerney with 37 points from David Considine and Senan Ryan, who had a similar score.

 

Kilrush
THERE was a big turnout at Kilrush on Sunday for the drive-in of 2013 captains, Michael McGrath and Margaret Donnelly. In conjunction with this, there was a team scramble, which was won by John Robinson, James Murtagh, Barry McMahon and Margaret Clune from Murt Collins, Sean Lyons and Nicola O’Leary. In third spot were Michael Hogan, Finbarr McMahon, Margaret Donnelly and Anne Hogan, followed by Noel Haier, Gearóid Williams, Mary Collins and Joan O’Malley.

Last week’s men’s seniors’ outing was won by Tom Prendeville, Noel Thornton, Noel Haier and John Robinson from Jimmy McSwiggan, Aeneas O’Connor and Bill Murphy with third spot filled by Michael Ryan, John Stapleton and Fr Tom McGrath.

There will be a men’s open singles competition on Sunday. The Spring League will commence on Sunday, February 3, and will run for four weeks followed by a play-off in March. Teams will consist of five with a minimum of one lady per team. The ‘Scrap Saturday’ club fundraiser takes place this Saturday. Further details are available from Murt at 086 1520347.

Gort
THE winner of the men’s singles at Gort at the weekend was Gerry O’Donnell (16) with 46 points from Noel Geoghegan (15) with 43.

There will be a similar competition this weekend.

In the ladies’ section, the spring league is underway and will continue until March 21.

Lahinch
IN the ladies’ singles v par competition at Lahinch last week, the winner was Bridget Hoey (19) with one-up from Oonagh Mee (22) with a level score with third spot filled by Catherine McKenna (12) who was one down. The gross was won by Angela Cullinan.

In the men’s monthly medal on Saturday, the winner was John Gilmartin (8) with 67 nett from Enda Hegarty (19) with 68 nett.

Dromoland
THE members of the team leading after Round 1 of the winter league at Dromoland are Sean Conway, Aiden McMahon, Jimmy McManus, Frank O’Grady and Dermot O’Neill. They have a combined score of 115.

The weekly winner for week one was Gerry McInerney with 41 points.

This Sunday is week 2 of the Mid-West Alliance.

East Clare
THE winners of the men’s two-ball scramble at East Clare at the weekend were Kieran Kennedy and Tony Duggan.

In the ladies’ seniors’ outing, the winners were Joan Kinsella, Lillian Nihill and Connie McKenna from Hilda McHugh, Georgina Wright and Mary J Minogue.

The winter league second round continues this week and the format is a 15-hole fourball with two scores to count from men, ladies and mixed.

Shannon Chamber Classic
THE 2013 Shannon Chamber golf classic will take place at Shannon Golf Club on Thursday, June 20. 

This will again be a team event and the timesheet is now open.

Corofin
COROFIN Golf Society will get the 2013 season under way on Saturday when members will meet for a get-together at Gort Golf Club at 11.30am. Anyone interested in joining the society for the new season is also welcome to come along.

Pitch and putt
MICHAEL Kerin was the winner of the strokeplay competition at the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday when Paddy Sheedy was in second place. Marty Fawl won the gross.