East Clare Golf accommodation attracts 6,500 visitors

Holiday accommodation provided by East Clare Golf Club  attracted 6,500 visitors last year, providing a huge economic boost to the locality.

Holiday accommodation provided by East Clare Golf Club  attracted 6,500 visitors last year, providing a huge economic boost to the locality.
The huge contribution of golf to East Clare tourism was disclosed at a reception in the club to officially announced the festival of golf from June 18 to 22 next.
The festival will kick off on Monday, June 18, with The Relations Cup, a four-ball betterball Stableford competition. Any combination will be allowed as long as the pair are related to each other.
On Tuesday there will be a seniors (over 55) fourball when there will be a ladies’ and men’s competition. There will be a three-person scramble on Wednesday, June 20, followed by a singles Stableford competition on Thursday, June 22. The festival will conclude on Friday with a fourball betterball with a nine-hole mixed scramble on the Friday evening.
The presentation of the week’s prizes will be celebrated with a barbecue on the Friday night.
Details of the festival were revealed by club captains Kevin Mannion and Catherine Minogue at a briefing in the club last Friday attended by club president Peg Hanrahan and committee members.
At Friday’s reception it was announced that he holiday accommodation development attracted over 6,500 visitors last year that brings a significant economic boost to the region.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles at East Clare last week, Bill Cullen (12) was the winner with 40 points from Mike Carey (16) in second place with a similar score. Joe Carey (16) was third with 39 points.
In the men’s seniors competition the winners were Brendan Moloney, Steve Symes and John Brett from Jackie McHugh, Pat Stritch and Frank Cox with third spot filled by Teddy Murphy, Flan Mullane and Tom Moloney.
In the ladies stroke competition, Siobhán Shanahan (16) was the winner with 61 nett from Mary Brennan (25) with a similar score. Other winners were Mary Mannion (16) with 72 (category 1); Catherine Minogue (23) with 74 (category 2 and Ina Reddan (36) with 73 (category 3). The ladies 14-hole winner was Mary Farrell.
In the senior ladies competition last week, Pat Williams won from Bernie Bohan with Ina Reddan in third spot.
The winners of the Friday scramble were Mary Hogan, Pat McNamara and Jim Greene from Ger Hogan, Mary Farrell and Kay Grimes with third spot filled by Breda Reid, Denis Collins and Mary Stritch
The men’s club will host a golfer of the year competition this week when the ladies will play for captain’s (Kevin Mannion) Prize and this is an 18-hole singles event.

Bruen Shield
Lahinch hosted the North Munster section of the Bruen shield at the weekend when all Clare clubs were involved.
In the opening games on Saturday Kilrush, Kilkee, Woodstock and Shannon beat Doonbeg Links, East Clare, Kilrush and Ennis respectively and the score in each game was four matches to one.
In the afternoon, Dromoland Castle were 3-2 winners over Lahinch while Kilkee had a 3-2 victory over Spanish Point.
On Sunday, Woodstock were 3-2 winners over Shannon and Kilkee beat Dromoland on a 4-1 scoreline. In the group final on Sunday afternoon, Woodstock were 3-2 winners over Kilkee.
In the North Munster final, they will play Adare Manor who qualified from Nenagh and this match will take place on May 23 or 24 at a venue to be confirmed.

Dromoland
NCRBI Breast Cancer Day at Dromoland was a great success when 164 ladies played.
The winner was Julie Fitzgerald (16) with 33 points from Joan Ryan (14) with a similar score. In third spot was Dervla O’Neill (24) and she also had 33 points.
The two-day crystal competition takes place on this Saturday and Sunday and a timesheet is in operation.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles competition the winner was Jason O’Leary with 35 points from Tim Kennelly with a similar score. Con Ryan was in third spot with 34 points. The over 18-handicap section was won by Noel O’Connor with 34 points
While the junior winner was Jack McGuinness with 42 points.
This week’s competition will be a singles Stableford.

Spanish Point
Last weekend, Lahinch hosted the Clare section of the Jimmy Bruen inter club competition and the local team managed by Brendan Reddan and Eamonn McMahon met Kilkee in the second round on Saturday afternoon.
This was a close match and with the score at two games all everything came down to the final game with Pat Greene and Seán McMahon battling back from two down with four holes left, to go up the 18th all square.
This was halved as was the 19th and, with Pat’s putt for a half at the 20th hitting the hole and somehow staying out, Kilkee went through to the Sunday morning semi-final. The next inter-club action will be on Saturday, May 26, when the Pierce Purcell team managed by Micheál Hehir take on Doonbeg Links at 9.45am in Kilkee.
The mixed weather has affected the numbers playing the various open days but with the holiday season approaching the popular Tuesday seniors open for male and female golfers will get busy again. Last Tuesday, Brendan Reddan (15) with a good score of 35 points in windy conditions was the winner and on Friday, Gerry Meade (16) won the Friday open with 36 points.
In the club singles, the winner was Gerry Meade (16) with 38 points from Jim Marrinan (16) with 37 points and Gerry Gallagher (22) with 36 points. Next weekend is the David McCarthy Memorial, that will be a three-ball scramble, played in a nine-hole re-entry format and time sheets are in the clubhouse.
Participants in the Dan Gallery Cup club match play are reminded that the first round dead line is May 27.

Lahinch
The ladies Miele fourball team defeated Kilrush last weekend to progress to the next round of the competition.
The Great Irish Links Challenge was held over the past week. This was the second year of the event and golfers from USA, Canada, England, Sweden, Australia and Ireland played Lahinch, Doonbeg and Ballybunion over three days.
Feedback from all participants was very positive and plans for next year’s event, which will take place between May 7 and 9, have already commenced.
Lahinch GC is hosting the sixth gathering of the Lady Mackenzie this week. Members from Alwoodley, Claremont, Crystal Downs, Green Hills, The Meadow Club, Pasatiempo, Royal Melbourne, St Charles, The Valley Club and Titirangi arrived on Monday evening for the flag raising ceremony at 6.30pm followed by dinner in the clubhouse.
On Tuesday, they toured the local area including the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. Golf took place on Wednesday and continues today, Thursday followed by a farewell dinner and prize presentation.
This week the club extended congratulations to Peter Alliss, Honorary overseas life member, on his induction into the World golf hall of fame this week in St Augustine, Florida.
Last Thursday’s men’s open was won by James Phelan (20) from Ardfert with 37 points.
Tom Holly won the men’s singles Stableford competition on the Castle Course (20) on Saturday with 38 points.
Sunday’s singles’ Stableford competition at the Castle course was won by Michael Duffy (15) with 36 points from Ger Shanahan (15) with 35 points.
The winners of the ladies team-of-four competition on the Castle Course were Grainne, Georgina Condon, Jean Basheer and Maria Nolan with 82 points.

Doonbeg
Diarmaid O’Donnell and Pat Cotter were the winners of last Sunday’s fourball competition at Doonbeg Links.
Declan Conway was the recent winner of singles competition.
Lahinch beat Doonbeg Links in the recent annual Challenge Cup competition held in Lahinch this year. Doonbeg Links were beaten by Kilrush in the Jimmy Bruen competition held in Lahinch last Saturday.
The ladies’ and mens’ Captains prize (Seamus Griffin and Mary Arthur) will be played for on this Sunday May 20. A timesheet is in operation and bookings can be made through the Pro Shop.

Kilkee
The winners of the fourball competition at Kilkee at the weekend were Paul Clancy (7) and Eddie Clohessy (16) with 44 points from John Keene (16) and Michael Culligan (17) with a similar score. In third spot were Stan O’ Neill (16) and Dermot Gaffney (17), also with 44 points.
The winner of the singles competition was Michael Morrissey (21) with 34 points, from Len Owens (17) on 33 points and Tim Ahern (14) with 33 points.

Ennis
Ennis seniors held a team-of-four competition last week when the winners, with 79 points, were John Normoyle, Frank Coffey, John White and Conor Murphy. They had three to spare over TJ Waters, Ned Ryan, PP Cahill and John Keane In third place on 75 points were Gerry Gilligan, Sean Bawn, Willie Delaney and Pat Maguire followed by Charlie McEnery, Tony Blake, Aidan Guilfoyle and Pat McInerney who also had 75.
On this Thursday, May 17 the Teresa Howard Memorial Trophy will be played for and a timesheet is in operation.
The ladies held an 18-hole Stableford competition last week when Bernie Brooks won with 37 points from Teresa Felle on 36, Monica Finnerty on 36 and Eileen Holly on 36.
Last week’s ladies seniors competition was won by Carmel Cummins, Joan Murphy and Mary Colton from Carmel Verling, Ann Daly and Monica Gallagher with third spot filled by Nora Kelly, Kathleen Frehill and Claire Carmody.
Margaret Lacheiner was the winner of the Friday open ladies singles with 36 points from Margaret Cooney.
The lady captain’s (Monica Gallagher) prize to the men was played for at the weekend and the winner was Martin O’Neill with 67 nett from Martin O’Neill with 67, Ollie Kenneally on 68 and Brian Kilker on 70. TJ Scanlan won the gross with 79.
In the Friday open singles, Tony Kenny from Gort won with 42 points from Flan Glynn on 41, Philip Brigdale on 41 and Conor Flaherty with 40. Ian Spillane won the gross with 34 points.
Phelim O’Neill won the May monthly medal with 66 nett.

Shannon
The Professional’s (Artie Pyne) prize was played for at Shannon at the weekend when the winner was Michael Carroll (18) with 65. He won by two strokes from Dermot Murphy (18) with Darren Keane (7) in third spot with 67 followed by James Kirby (15) with 69, Andy Carr (14) with 69, Noel Morgan (13) with 69, Brendan Healy (17) with 70 and Gerard Flanagan (17) with 70.
Jamie O’Shea (2) won the gross with 75 from Ed Hickey (2) who had a similar score.
In the ladies section the winner was Anne Daly (23) with 72 nett from Mary McGuane (28) with 75 nett, Colette Colleran (19) with 76 nett, Patricia Enright (34) with 76 and Maura McMahon (16) with 76. Michelle Pyke (10) won the gross with 88.
In the Wednesday open singles, Christy Power (14) was the winner with 41 points from Damien Glynn (3) with 40 points and Kevin Thompstone (16) with 39 points. Paul O’Neill won the gross with 37 points.
The open singles on Monday was won by Feidlim Hillery (17) with 43 points from Colm O’Flynn (5) with 42 points, David Jones (12) with 41 points, John Garry (13) with 41 points and David O’Gorman (12) with 40 points. Jason O’Donnell (2) won the gross with 37 points.
In a team-of-four competition last week, the winners with 92 points were Aidan Mannix (7) Louis Halpin junior (3), J O’Gorman (11) and G Meehan (15). In second place with 91 points were S Hawley (11) P Cassidy (12), F Murphy (15) and J McCormack (18).

Friends of Clare GAA
The 22nd annual Friends of Clare GAA golf classic is taking place in Newlands golf club in Dublin on this Thursday May 17. Forty teams will play on the day and amongst those participating will be Clare hurling manager, Davy Fitzgerald.

Portumna
The 18-holes singles stroke competition for the JB Stronge Cup at Portumna was won by Padraic Cahalan (26) with 65 Nett from Graham Carty (15) with 68 nett. First gross Ger Lynch (6) 75, Pat Healy (12) with 70 nett, and Alan Pardy (23) with 71nett.
The gross was won by Ger Lynch (6) with 75 and he was followed by Brian Duggan (2) Nenagh with 76.
In the seniors competition the winner was Francis McClearn with 38 points from John Hynes on 36 and Henry Torpey on 36.
In the Monday open singles, Pat Begley (19) from Adare won with 37 points from Adrian Madden (10) with 36 points and Dermot O’Donoghue with 34 points. The gross was won by JP McLoughlin (scratch) with 36 points.
Portumna senior ladies cup team, managed by Mary Madden who had a historic win over Roscommon last week. The team members are Suzanne Corcoran, Ann Cassidy, Anita Carey, Carmel McLoughlin and Carmel Cunningham.
In the open singles competition, the winner was Ann Cassidy (3) with 36 points from Maura Byrne (23) with 35 points and Siobhán Forde (13) with 34 points. Suzanne Corcoran won the gross with 32 points.
This week’s competition is 3 Ts (Suicide Awarness) 18 hole singles Stableford.
Bridget Broderick and Mary Conwell will manage the Minor Cup team, who meet Gort in the first round.

Gort
The winner of the open singles at Gort last week was Derek Kinsella (18) with 42 points from Eanna Melville (12) with a similar s core and Michael Kelly (18) with 40 points. The gross was won by Adrian Conway (8) with 32 points.
There will be a men’s fourball Stableford competition this weekend.
Last week’s ladies singles was won by Mary Fahey Coen (16) with 38 points from Phil Mulkerrins (27) with 37 points and Margaret Kelleher (19) with 35 points. Hannah McInerney (10) won the gross with 24 points.

Clare teachers
The Clare Teachers society will have an outing to East Clare on this Saturday, May 19, when the tee will be available from 10am. The format will be singles Stableford.

Sixmilebridge
The Sixmilebridge Society held an outing to East Clare last week when the winner was Dermot McNamara from Richard Hayes with Fergie Cooney in third spot. The nines were won by John McInerney and Bobby Deegan and the category prize winners were Willie Feeley, Danny Reddan, Aiden Whelan and Russ Throw.

Kilrush
Finbarr McMahon was the winner of the singles competition at Kilrush on Sunday with 37 points. Tom Coffey was second with a similar score with third spot filled by Gearóid Williams who had 35 points
In the ladies singles competition on Thursday, Margaret Clune was the winner with 39 points from Ger Burke with 35, Margaret Clancy with 35 and Carmel Lillis with 35.
The winners of the Friday mixed competition were Sean Moran and Anne Brennan from Michael Hemmings and Mary O’Sullivan with third spot filled by Pat Shannon and Geraldine Burke.
In the men’s senior competition, the winners were Brendan McNamara, Pat Shannon and Bill Murphy with 71 pointgs from Denis Nagle, Peter Glynn and Noel Enright with 70 points. Third place was filled by Tom O’Dea, Noel Cooney and John Robinson with 69 points. The best individual score came from Jim McSwiggan with 26 points
The club’s Jimmy Bruen team beat Doonbeg Links in the opening round last week before losing to the eventual group winners, Woodstock.

Clarecastle
Clarecastle society will hold its next outing (Founders Day) at Ennis on Monday next, May 21. The first tee is reserved from 2pm to 3.30pm.
Members and guests intending to play should text 086 3246015 with their preferred tee time slot. A draw for playing partners will take place on Sunday with members and guests being notified of tee times later that evening.

Pitch and putt
Paddy Sheedy was the winner of the strokeplay competition at the Clare road on Sunday from PJ Considine with Marty Fawl winning the gross.
The club scratch cups will be played for on Saturday, May 26, from 9am to 2pm.