Doonbeg owner emphasises need to promote Irish links

Ireland has the best links golf courses in the world according to Buddy Darby, CEO of Kiawah Development Partners and the man behind Doonbeg Golf Club.

Speaking at the Golf Business Conference in Dublin last Friday, Darby said the combination of Irish links golf, five star accommodation and superb food in Ireland should make the country the number one destination for the US golf market that annually spends in excess of US$26 billion on golf travel.
In his address to the conference Darby said Ireland represents real value to the US golfer, particularly those living on America’s east coast. He said the West of Ireland is, in fact, easier and quicker to reach than many of the US courses that are today marketing themselves as links style courses.
He said such courses such as Whistling Straits, Bardon Dunes and Pebble Beach. On American golfers ‘must play’ lists, are far more expensive to play than the Irish links courses that are similarly steeped in the history of the sport.
He said the marketing efforts of Doonbeg had seen a 10% increase in US visitors to the course this year adding that it had worked hard at creating a better value proposition over the past two years and that this had seen room nights increasing by 60% in 2009 and by a further 30% this year.
Meanwhile, Kieran Golden was the winner of the singles competition on Sunday in Doonbeg with 36 points. He was followed in second place by Michael Carrig on 35 points and Vivian Killeen third with a similar score.
There will be another singles competition this Sunday when the tee time is between 9am and 10.12am. The fourball matchplay final will be played the first weekend in December.

Kilrush
The winter league 12-hole competition continues this week at Kilrush while the Christmas turkey/hamper competitions will begin shortly.
The AGM of the ladies club will take place in the clubhouse this Thursday at 8pm. Mass for deceased members will take place in the clubhouse on Thursday, December 2, at 8pm.

Shannon
In the Wednesday turkey singles, 35 points proved a popular score as Eamon Fanneran, Nick Hawes, and Mick Carroll who finished first, second and third, respectively, all scored 35 points.
The ladies 12-hole turkey competition saw Hilary Park victorious with 26 points. She had two to spare from Christina Halpin who relegated Margaret Hope into third place by virtue of a better back six.
Scoring was hot in the men’s singles hamper with 42 points required to figure in the prizes. Junior member James Corry captured the spoils when his round of one over par for 45 points proved to good for the rest of the field.
James covered the opening nine in level par with dropped shots at the first and ninth being offset by birdies at the second and fifth. A consistent back nine of eight pars and a dropped shot at the 14th was sufficient for victory by one point from Michael Allen and Jim McNamara, both recording 44 points. Next came Chris Harrigan, Blaise Phelan and Noel Morgan, all on 43 points to fill fourth, fifth and sixth places. Brendan Fitzgerald was seventh on 42 points while a level par round by Eoghan O’Dea won the gross.
The joint club AGM takes place on Tuesday, December 7, in the clubhouse at 8pm. The children’s Christmas party takes place on Sunday, December 19, from 4.30 to 7.30pm.
There will be a 15-hole singles turkey vouchers competition this weekend.

Ennis
The winner of the Ennis ladies Christmas spirit competition number one was Kitty McNicholas with 26 points. Competition two was won by Helen Harnett with 30 points from Nancy Burke on 29 with Claire Ruane winning the gross with 20 points.
In the ladies’ seniors competition last week, the winners were Phil Butler, Eileen McMahon and Claire Ruane with 49 points from Mary Gardiner, Patricia O’Donnell, Nora Kelly and Anne Kehoe with 53 points with third spot filled by Bridie Keane, Joan Murphy and Vera Griffin with 54 points.

Dromoland
The winner of the weekend turkey competition at Dromoland was Seamus Mungovan with 40 points from Ger Copley who had a similar score. Eugene Pewter was in third spot, also with 40 points while the junior winner was Aidan O’Mahony with 41 points.
There will be a turkey 18-hole singles Stableford competition this weekend.

Spanish Point
Activities continue to be well supported at Spanish Point and, so far, most competitions have gone ahead as scheduled with a good entry for the senior open last week.
The winner was Seamus Cleary (19) with 35 points from Michael Egan (20) Kilkee on 32 points. The weekend turkey competition was played in ¾ player team scramble format and in good conditions, scoring was impressive.
The winners were Fergal Hehir (13), Michael Hehir (10), Brendan McKenna (18) and Noel McMahon (17) with 51.2 nett. In second place were Eoghan O’Loughlin (4), Brendan Sexton (13), Brendan Reddan (16) and Tony Crowley (17) with 52 nett.
There will be a turkey singles this weekend.

Woodstock
The winner of Sunday’s hamper competition at Woodstock was Martin Dormer (17) with 40 points from Tony Barrett (18) who had 39 points. In third spot was Thomas Barrett (19) with 38 points.
There will be a turkey singles Stableford competition this weekend.

Clarecastle
Clarecastle Golf Society will hold its Christmas hamper outing at Spanish Point on this Saturday. The first tee has been reserved from 9am. A timesheet will operate on the day and members are asked to text 086 3246015 with their preferred tee time. Tee time notifications will issue, by text, on Friday afternoon.

Senior Winter League
Rory Kennedy (Woodstock) returned the winning score of 36 points at last week’s outing of the Clare–Galway Seniors Winter League that was played at Gort.
He was followed by local pair Kevin Mulkerrins and Michael O’Grady with 35 points and 34 points respectively and Paul Higgins, Ennis with 32 points. Next came Luke Coote, Ennis and Dave Hennessy, Gort with 32 points each.
The final places were filled by Gort pair Finbar Gantley and Frank Higgins with 30 points each and Ennis pair Peadar Cosgrove and Larry O’Farrelly with 29 points and 28 points respectively.
Denis Nagle, Kilrush won the gross with 23 points.

Portumna
The weekend’s men’s competition at Portumna was played over 14 holes. Albert Kelly (10) was the winner of the 0-10 category with 35 points. Pat Healy (14) won the 11-14 category with 32 points, Mike Coniry (19) won the 15-18 category with 31 points, John Hynes (19) won the 19 and over category with 32 points and Des Clarke (19) won the seniors section with 35 points.
In the ladies 14-hole competition, Mary Jo Kelly was the winner with 28 points from Geraldine Feeney on 27 points.
The annual meeting of the men’s club was held last week when Christy O’Rourke was elected as captain for 2011 with Frank Ryan as vice captain. Francis McClearn was elected as secretary with Joe Slattery as treasurer.
The annual meeting of the parent club will be held in the clubhouse on Tuesday, December 7, at 8pm and motions and nominations must be submitted to the secretary in writing at least seven days before the meeting.
The men’s Christmas hampers competition and the annual final fling outing will take place on Sunday, December 5.

Ennis Seniors
Peadar Cosgrove, Tommy Purcell and Willie Moloney teamed up to return a winning score of 45.8 in the three-ball scramble organised by the Ennis Men’s Senior Social group.
In second place on 46.5 were Michael Vaughan, John Stack and Tim Kelly while third on 47.3 were Seamus Hanrahan, Noel Pilkington and Pat McInerney. Fourth spot was filled by John Joe Keane, Oilliee Kenneally and Brendan Colton on 47.7 from John Keane, Frank Whyte and John Keane (ESB) on 48.

Gort
Ray Quinn with 38 points won the open singles at Gort with Kilrush club member Tony Kenny second with 37 points.
Last week’s club singles went to Gerry Huban with 41 points with Trevor Cummins on 40 points edging out Gerard Connors on the back nine for second spot. Fourth was Owen O’Donnell with 38 points while Jason McLynn claimed the gross with 33 points.
The parent club annual general meeting will be convened in the clubhjouse on December 6. Mass for deceased members will start at 7.30pm with the annual meeting at 8pm.
In the ladies section, Mary F Coen and Maureen Brennan carded 36 points to win the mini hampers, a 13-hole singles Stableford fourball. Second three points adraft were Bernie Diskin and Ann Kerins.

East Clare
At the men’s club annual general meeting last week, William O’Brien was installed at the club captain for 2011.
Meanwhile, 15 handicapper Brendan McInerney triumphed in the single competition at East Clare on Sunday returning 43 points, one ahead of Martin Mason who plays off 19.
In the ladies senior Sue Casey, Ann Culloo and Marty Stritch collected the spoils from Mary Hogan, Ina Reddan and Lillian Nihill.
The winter league is continued at the moment with men’s, ladies and mixed fourballs.

Pitch and putt
Ger Hanrahan was the winner of the club competition at the Clare Road on Sunday from Gerry Considine with David McElligott in third.
Meanwhile, the club’s annual general meeting will be held this Sunday at 9am and all members are encouraged to attend.