Mid-West Alliance at Dromoland

The Mid-West Golf Alliance for 2013 has been organised again to be played at Dromoland Castle Golf Club.

 

This year there will be two separate tournaments. The 0-4 handicap category will be a gross competition played over five rounds with the best four gross scores to count. The 5-9 handicap category will be also played over five rounds with the best four nett scores to count.

This year, the organising committee of the Mid-West Alliance has decided to include women golfers, who are off 0-9 handicap provided they play off the same tees as the men.

Last year’s winner was Tony Cleary of Dromoland Castle who birdied the last hole to beat the two professionals, Dave Foley and Timmy Rice in what was a fantastic finish to a great event.

Due to the large interest already in this year’s new format, those planning in playing in the event should ring Dromoland Castle on 061 368444 to book their tee times. The dates are January 20 and 27, February 17 and 24 and the final day is on March 10.

Ennis
Ennis Seniors Christmas Hampers competition was postponed last Thursday due to inclement weather. It will be held this Thursday (today) from 9am to 11.30am followed by the Christmas dinner at 5.30pm.
At the recent annual general meeting the following officers were elected: captain, Sean Fitzpatrick; vice-captain, Timmy Kelly; committee, Tom Fox, Padraig Ryan, Michael Carmody, Joe Dilleen, Ollie Kennelly, Pierce Cahill and Willie Maloney.
Meanwhile, in an 18-hole turkey fourball at the weekend, the winners were Kieran F Ryan and Senan Ryan with 52 points from Tom Saunders and Brendan Pyne with 51 points. In third spot were Seamus Hanrahan and Seamus Frehill with 50 points, followed by Liam Barry and Garret Barry with 49 points, Gerry Bredin and John Dempsey with 49 points, Niall Connellan and Mike Hehir with 49 points, with seventh spot filled by Leo Herbert and Johnny Guerin with 48 points.

Dromoland
The winner of the turkey competition at Dromoland at the weekend was Richard Flynn with 44 points from John O’Shaughnessy on 41 points and Tony Cleary on 39 points. The winner of the junior section was Brian Meaney with 28 points.
The turkey competition will continue until Sunday, December 16, while entries are now been taken for the Winter League.

Woodstock
The annual general meeting of the ladies’ section at Woodstock was held recently when Margaret Ann Killeen was elected as captain for 2013 in succession to Ann Marie Russell.
Others elected for 2013 are: secretary, Clare Hall; handicap secretary, Marianne McGough; competition secretary, Anne Marie Russell; treasurer, Liz Dinan; ex-officio, Anne Marie Russell; committee members, Patricia Leyden, Patricia Graham, Bernie Power, Kathleen McMahon and Ramona Gleeson.
Meanwhile, the winner of the golfer of the year title is Mary Sadlier who also won the silver spoon. The bronze medal winner was Kathleen McEnery. The Sheelagh Garvery matchplay winner was Nancy Burke and the Christmas hamper winners were Mary Sadlier, Áine Burke, Áine Donegan and Joan Barrett.
Tony Nugent (4) and Seamus Kelly (14) were the winners of the two-person scramble at Woodstock at the weekend with 59nett.
There will be a modified fourball this weekend with a club singles scheduled for the following weekend.

Shannon
The winners of the men’s 15-hole fourball at Shannon at the weekend were Aidan and Karl Moloney with 42 points. They won from Colm Reidy and Pat Madden who had a similar score. In third place with 41 points were Colm O’Flynn and Denis Quinlan, with fourth spot filled by Jason O’Donnell and James Bullman, who also had 41 points.

Gort
Bernard Byrne (16) was the winner of the 18-hole singles Stableford competition at Gort at the weekend with a score of 46 points. He had one to spare over John Dempsey (15), with Tom Finneran (12) in third spot with 43 points, followed by Michael Bindon with 42 points. John Greer (5) won the gross with 35 points.
There will be a similar competition this weekend.

Lahinch
The ladies’ Christmas party team-of-three competition at Lahinch last week was won by Mary Sadlier, Marie O’Connor and Jenny Cagney with 78 points. They had five to spare over Deirdre McDermott, Maeve Byrne and Rhona Carmody with Nollie McCarthy, Georgina Condon and Olivia Lucas a further point back on 73 points followed by Oonagh Mee, Karina Doyle and Edwina O’Brien on 72 points, with fifth position filled by Grainne Hennessy, Jean Basheer and Miriam Hillery on a similar score. Val Shannon won the prize for nearest the pin with the longest drive won by Elayne Hickey.
Angela Cullinan received the silver medal and silver spoon awards, while the bronze medal was won by Patricia O’Donnell. The birdie tree winners were Kitty Morris, Marjorie Ahern and Olivia Lucas while the golfer of the year award was won by Val Shannon.
In the men’s monthly medal, a singles stroke event on the old course on Saturday, the winner was Michael Hennessy (6) with 69 nett from Frank Keane (9) with a similar score. In third spot was Michael O’Loughlin (13) with 70 nett.
In the men’s turkey singles Stableford competition on Sunday the winner was Gerry Buckley (9) with 41 points from Michael O’Loughlin (13) with a similar score. In third spot was Tom Holly (20) also with 39 points while Padraig Hayes (8) was fourth with 38 points.

Kilrush
The men’s seniors Christmas outing at Kilrush was held last Wednesday when Tom Prendiville was the winner with 22 points from John Robinson on 20 and Jimmy McSwiggan on 20.
The AGM of the men’s senior club took place in the clubhouse on Wednesday. The incoming senior captain is Jimmy McSwiggan and the incoming senior President is Denis F Nagle.
The weekly singles competition will run from Sunday to Saturday inclusive and re-entry is allowed.

Spanish Point
The competition at Spanish Point at the weekend was a singles stroke for the Christmas hampers and it was the final major of the 2012 season.
With pleasant weather conditions and a big turnout scoring was good and a count-back was needed to decide first and second. Gerry Meade (16), showing a return to form in recent weeks, carded a score of 63 nett, five under, to win from Bernie O’Halloran (19) 63. In third place was Paidí McGough (12) 65 nett, followed by Patrick O’Boyle (19) 67 nett.
In the senior open on Tuesday the winner was Tony Crowley (20) with 32 points. Responding to demand, the Friday open is still on the weekly programme and was won last week by Eoghan O’Loughlin (3) with 36 points. A turkey singles is this weekend’s competition and timesheets are in the clubhouse.

East Clare
The winner of the men’s 14-hole singles at East Clare was Paul Madden (15) with 36 points from Paul Husband (23) with 34 points.
In the men’s seniors outing last week the winners were Teddy Murphy, Jackie McHugh and John Fahy from Jim Greene, Eamon Long and Martin Kelly, with third spot filled by Tony McNulty, Seamus Bohan and William McLysaght.
In the ladies seniors, the winners were Connie McKenna, Lillian Nihill and Bernie Bohan from Breda O’Loughlin, Iris Benson and Ann O’Connor with third place filled by Mary Collins, Pauline Nugent and Noreen Ryan.
The captains (Derek Kenny and Mary Collins) drive-in takes place this Sunday. The draw will take place at 12 noon with the drive-in at 1pm.

Portumna
The men’s Christmas hampers competition at Portumna was well supported and scoring was good, In the 0-10 category the winner was Pat Quinlan (7) with 32 points. Ger Brehony (14) won the 11-14 category with 32 points, Henry Torpey (17) won the 15-18 category with 33 points, while TJ O’Callaghan (27) won the 19 and over category with 32 points. In the senior’s section, PJ Hogan (26) was the winner with 31 points.
The ladies had their final fling competition to mark the end of Ena Moran’s term as captain. The golfer of the year was presented to Mary Madden at the AGM as well as hole-in-one awards to Audrey McGrath and Mary Madden.
Incoming captains, Martin Carty and Pauline McEvoy and president Suzanne Corcoran are looking forward to an exciting 2013, the club’s centenary year.

Clare Teachers
The Clare Teachers Society will hold a Christmas scramble at Ennis on Saturday when the draw for partners will take place at 9.45am.

Pitch and putt
The winner of the stroke place competition at the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday was Michael Kerin from PJ Considine, with Paddy Sheedy in third spot. The gross was won by Marty Fawl.
The Christmas competition will take place on this Sunday. The club’s AGM will take place on Sunday, December 23, at 9am.