Golfers hoping to return to the greens

With improved weather conditions forecast, hopes are increasing that a return to sporting activity is not far away.
The golf courses of the county have been closed for the past month, as first the severe floods and then the heavy frost and snow put paid to any hopes of playing.

Woodstock
Weather permitting, there will be an 18-hole singles Stableford competition at Woodstock this weekend.
The first committee meeting of the year will take place on Tuesday next at 8pm.
The elected officers for 2010 are: captain, John O’Connor; ex-officio captain, Tony Nugent; president, Jimmie Kelly; ex officio president, Danny Moran; secretary, James Meade; treasurer, Brian Aherne; handicap secretary, Eugene Quinn; competition secretary, Joe Kelly; committee, Kieran Cunnane, Seamus Kelly, Brian McElhinney and Cathal O’Loughlin.

Shannon
The Shannon captains’, Joe Sheehan and Marie Hogan, drive-in to office was cancelled last week due to the inclement weather. A new date will be announced shortly.
Weather permitting, there will be a men’s singles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A poker classic will take place on Sunday, January 31, commencing at 5.30pm.

Ennis
The competition at Ennis on Sunday will be an 18-hole men’s four-ball Stableford competition and a timesheet will operate.

Spanish Point
The captains’ (Mary Saunders and Gary Carroll) drive-in, which was cancelled recently due to the inclement weather conditions, will take place on Sunday at 12 noon.
There will be a nine-hole competition in conjunction with the drive-in.

Portumna
Due to the severe weather, the course at Portumna has been closed in recent weeks.
The drive-in by captains for 2010, Pete Gibbs and Marie Kelly, together with President Judith Barry, will take place on the first Sunday of play at 12.30pm. There will be a team event on the day.
On the following Sunday of play, the men’s hamper and spring league will take place.
The spring league will be a classic team of four competition run over nine weekends, with the best seven cards to count.
The open three-ball runs until the end of April, with two teams qualifying each month for the grand final in May.
Representatives of Portumna Golf Club will be presented with a Connacht Tribune Club of the Year Award in the Ardiluan Hotel in Galway on Saturday, January 23.