Inclement weather disrupts competitions

The inclement weather conditions of the past week disrupted competition schedules at golf clubs across the county. Many of the proposed competitions did not take place. Club officials will be keeping their fingers crossed conditions will improve this week as the 2012 schedules get underway.

Kilrush
There was a mixed scramble in aid of a club defibrillator on December 27 when the winners were Michael Hogan, Tom Clarke and Margaret Clune from Tom Prendeville, Paddy Carmody and Ailish Lorrigan. In third place were Pat Shannon, Murt Collins, Pat Shannon (Cranny) and Brendan McNamara.
To date, €1,300 has been raised for the project, led by Mary Collins. Plans are now being put in place for the hosting of the North Munster section of the Munster Junior Cup on the weekend of June 30 and July 1.

Portumna
The winners of the December three-ball were Odran Duice (14), Eoin Slattery (15) and Padraic Cahalan (28) with 55 points from Mike Fannon (17) Kevin Cooney (14) and Frank Donoghue (14), all from Curra West Golf Club, with 53 points. This competition will run until the end of April.
The captains and president’s drive-in will take place on Sunday, February 5. The captain for 2012 is Frank Ryan, the lady captain is Ena Moran while the club president is Mike Carty.
The club celebrates its centenary in 2013 and work is underway on compiling a club history.
Historian John Joe Conwell has been given the task of writing the history and an appeal has been issued to anyone who has old photographs and/or documents on the club to make them available. All material will be returned. Further information is available from 09097 41059, any committee member or from Jim Hynes.

Ennis
Ennis Seniors held a three-ball modified scramble last week when the winners,  with 69 points, were Tommy Purcell, Aidan Guilfoyle and Conor Murphy. In second place with 68 points were Pat McInerney, Michael Kenny and Jim Casey followed by Sean O’Gorman, Michael Torpey and Tom McGrath on 67 points. Seniors captain for 2012, Willie Moloney, will drive-in to office on this Thursday at 10.30am.

Spanish Point
The awful weather conditions over the Christmas period affected the playing schedule at Spanish Point, with only a few competitions taking place. On St Stephen’s Day, the singles Stableford competition was well supported and scoring was good, with the winner Fergal Hehir (16) bringing in 37 points followed by Eoghan O’Loughlin (4), who shot 34 points. Last weekend, the singles was won by Brendan Sexton (14) with a score of 34 points.
Captain Noel McMahon got his official duties for his year underway when he hosted an enjoyable presentation in the clubhouse, which included the golfer of the year, an award won by Bernie O’Halloran.  Noel presented the Christmas hamper to Brendan Sexton. A full list of the post-Christmas competitions now available, starting with the drive-in of lady captain Nuala Kilroy and captain Noel McMahon this Sunday at 12 noon. This will be followed by a scramble with a draw for partners and a prize-giving function later.

East Clare
Martin Mason (19) and Paul Madden (15) won the men’s 14-hole fourball at the weekend with 37 points.
The winter league has commenced and during January the competition format will be a 14-hole fourball for men, ladies and mixed.

Lahinch
The St Stephen’s Day fourball was won by Paul (5) and Colm McInerney (11) with a score of 38 points.
In a singles competition on Tuesday, Kevin Glynn (9) won with 37 points from Thomas McInerney (12) on 36 points and Eugene Judge (8), who also scored 36 points.

Clare Teachers
The Castle Course in Lahinch will be the venue for an outing of the Clare Teachers’ Society on this Friday, when the tee will be available from 10am to 11.30am. This will be a team-of-three competition and tee times can be booked from Joan at 086 3167365.