The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Some of the initial founding members include John Madden (Temple Gate Hotel), Hans Schmid (AerRianta/Shannon College of Hotel Management), Peter Considine (Considine’s Bar Abbey Street), Michael Moloney (Dalcassian Ruan and former national VFI President) and Sean Kelly (Kelly’s Corner). Some of the other founding members have since passed away.
The society continues to go from strength to strength, with upwards of 30 members.
There are around 12 annual golf outings, which are keenly contested and run between the months of February and November.
The CLVGS is also very proud of the support it gives many charities including Bothar, Clare Crusaders, Cystic Fybrosis, Down Syndrome and this year’s charity, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
The current officers are Kevin Kenny Doonbeg (captain), Hans Schmidt (president), Cyril Cusack (secretary) and John Madden (PRO).
Last week’s anniversary outing was won by Ann Kelly from Brian Kielly’s bar in Market street, Ennis. The president’s prize will be played for at Shannon on August 13.
Senior Cup
Castletroy hosted the area competition in the Senior Cup last weekend. In the opening rounds on Saturday Shannon were 4-1 winners over Lahinch, Castletroy had a 3-2 win over Ennis while Adare Manor beat Dromoland by a similar score.
In the afternoon, Castletroy were 4-1 winners over Shannon while Charleville had a 3-2 win over East Clare, with Limerick recording a 4-1 win over Woodstock. Limerick went on to beat Castletroy in the area final on Sunday.
Woodstock
In the open singles at Woodstock on Wednesday last, the winner off the white tees was Eoin Glynn (5) with 39 points from Aaron Donegan (7) with 38 while Jim Carmody (7) won the gross with 36.
The July medal was played for at the weekend and the winner with 67 nett was John McGrath (12) from Tony Nugent (4) with 68 and Ray Casey with 68. Cathal O’Connor (2) won the gross with 74.
There will be a club singles this Saturday while the annual Spancilhill Shield will be played for between Woodstock and East Clare at East Clare on Sunday.
In the ladies’ 18-hole Stableford competition, the winner was Áine Donegan with 38 points from Áine Burke with 34 while the mixed scramble last week was won by Noel Kelleher, Patsy Nugent, Jim Carmody and Ramona Gleeson.
Shannon
All roads lead to Bandon this Sunday when the Jimmy Bruen team, under Noel Morgan, assisted by Mike Corry, play in the Munster semi-finals against Lismore.
The Fred Daly Junior boys’ team had a narrow 4/3 win over Lahinch in the Clare area final played at Woodstock on Sunday. They will play in the North Munster final in East Clare next Monday.
In the Wednesday open singles, the winner was Michael McInerney (14) with 44 points from Joe Hynan (26) with 42 points and Bryan Power (4) with a similar score. Ed Hickey (scratch) won the gross with 36 points.
East Clare
In the men’s singles stroke competition at East Clare, the winner was Ben Kilkenny (9) with 67 nett from Sean Kelleher (17) with 68 and Bryan Tobin (12) with 69.
In the competition off the yellow markers, the winner was Dave Phillips (21), with 41 points.
In the ladies’ golfer-of-the-year competition, Peg Hanrahan was the winner with 39 points from Deirdre Cooney, with a similar score and Mary Beatty with 38 points.
The winners of the ladies’ open three-ball competition were Evelyn Skehan, Bess Fennessy and Mary Rogers from Brigid Minogue, Catherine Murphy and Geraldine McNamara.
The Friday scramble winners were Michael O’Donoghue, Steve Symes and Frances Gaffney from Brendan Moloney, Jackie McHugh and Hilda McHugh, with third place filled by Tony McNulty, Noreen Ryan and Noreen Doyle.
The winners in the men’s seniors’ competition were John Brett, John Fielding and Pat Browne. This weekend, there will be a men’s 18-hole singles competition.
On Sunday, July 28 the club will have a visit from ILGU president and MBE recipient Mary McKenna. She’ll be attending the club to play a game of golf and speak to members there. She received an MBE last year for her contribution to the sport in the British Isles.
Dromoland
The winners of the weekend three-ball scramble at Dromoland were Tim Crowe, Declan Murphy and Diarmuid McMahon with 58.25 from Declan O’Leary, Liam Murphy and Damien Ryan with 58.375. Third spot was filled by Aidan and Martin O’Mahony and Brian Kelly with 60.55.
The winners in the ladies’ yellow ball team-of-three competition were Julie Newman, Kitty Quinn and Madeline Lyons from Mary Arthur, Beate Porter and Mary Dowling.
Kilkee
In the July 4 open day at Kilkee, the winner was Carol Phelan (25) with 36 points from Valerie Stokes (14) with 36 points and Dympna Walsh (20) with 35 points. The gross was won by S Lines (11) with 19 points while the category winner was Della O’Connell (36) with 35 points. The nines were won by Helen Hanrahan (27) with 17 points and Angela O’Connell (18) with 22 points.
The winner of the nine-hole competition was Fidelma Duggan (30) with 19 points. Susan Lennon (2) won the prize for nearest-the-pin while the longest drive was won by Valerie Stokes (14). The next open day is set for July 15 when the format will be 18-hole Stableford and the timesheet is now open.
In the men’s singles competition, the winner was Liam Browne (13) with 34 points from Ger Hackett (8) with 33 points.
In the fourball competition, the winners were Mick Ahern (13) and Barry Harte (12) with 46 points from Jimmy Murray (10) and Noel Roche (13), also with 46 points. In third spot were Bobby Fleming (14) and Connie Holmes (20) with 45 points.
In the seniors’ Paddy Carey, Michael Hennings and Sean Keogh were the winners from Tom O’Carroll, Jimmy Lowe and Michael Morrissey.
Ennis
The winner of the lady captain’s (Mary McMahon) prize at Ennis was Margaret Anne Killeen, who is captain at Woodstock. She returned a score of 142 nett to win by two strokes from Marianne McGough, with Pat Leacy third a shot further back.
In fourth place was Imelda Colleran, followed by Sinéad Hegarty, Carmel Verling, Bríd Cunningham, Geraldine O’Mahoney, Elaine Whelan and Beatrice Foley. Ciara Pender won the gross with 81.
In the beginners’ section, Bernadette Lyons was the winner from Angela Galligan while the guests’ section was won by Catherine Cleary from Ann Nix.
Lahinch
The winners in last week’s Granard Cup qualifier (NCBI) on the Old Course at Lahinch were Connie Fahy (19) and Bernadette Scanlan (26) with 42 points.
In Wednesday’s open singles Stableford on the Castle Course, the winner was Pat Lucey (7) with 43 points.
The men’s open singles on Thursday was won by John Royliston (7) from Galway with 36 points from Jason Considine (5) from Woodstock with a similar score. Ross Burke (12) from Spanish Point was third and he also scored 36 points. Donal Vaughan won the gross with 27 points.
Saturday’s men’s singles Stableford competition was won by Ken Donoghue (19) with 37 points from Nile Sexton (7) with 37 and John Morris (8) with 35. Patrick Glynn won the gross with 31 points.
In the ladies’ singles Stableford competition on Saturday, Angela Cullinan (13) was the winner with 40 points from Connie Fahy (19) with 35 points.
The winners of the men’s fourball on the Castle Course on Sunday were Ray (2) and Jack Hennesy (12) with 45 points.
In the Liscannor Cup mixed foursomes stroke competition on the Old Course on Sunday, the winners were Patrick Glynn (6) and Sinéad Sexton (1) with 72½ from Tom Holly (18) and Mary O’Brien (22) with 74, with third spot filled by Jerry O’Donnell (20) and Maire Hanrahan (21) with 75½
Spanish Point
The winners of the Friday evening nine-hole scramble last week were Patrick Darcy, Patrick Hogan and Jim Dowling with a score of two-under gross. The winner of the lady captain’s prize to the men was Paidi McGough with a score of 60 nett, followed by Martin O’Gorman with 65 nett, Harry Crowe with 66 nett and Bernie O’Halloran with 70 nett. The Pierce Purcell team are in the Munster semi-final in Bandon this weekend and club members are urged to travel to support the team.
This week, the club was graced with the presence of the Willie Clancy singers and there has been some excellent entertainment provided.
This weekend, there is a team event on for members and details are available by contacting the clubhouse on 065 7084198.
Kilrush
In the men’s seniors outing at Kilrush last Wednesday, the winners were Kieran Lillis, Noel Enright and Billy Clarke from Tom O’Dea, Noel Cooney Pat Shannon and PW Glynn, with third spot filled by Tom Prendiville, Tom McGrath and Noel Haier.
In the ladies’ singles last Thursday, the winner was Freda Moran with 37 points from Mary Nolan with a similar score followed by Carmel Lillis with 35 and Anne Marie Donnellan with 34. The category winners were Anne Brennan with 34, Sheila O’Grady with 34 and Ursula Lineen with 33.
The Rush Cups, a mixed competition, were played for last Friday when the winners were Tony McMahon and Ursula Lineen from Ollie and Mary McNamara. In third spot were Jim Young and Margaret Donnelly followed by Michael Studdert and Nicola O’Leary. The gross was won by Greg Young and Annie Gallagher.
In the open singles on Saturday, the winnner was Kevin McCarthy with 41 points from Michael Lillis, with a similar score.
Sunday’s singles was won by Billy Clarke with 43 points from Brian Scanlan with 42 and Jim Young Senior with 42. The category winners were Tom Coffey, Michael Studdert and Brendan Carigg.
The draw for the Members Cup, a men’s singles matchplay, will take place shortly and entries are now being accepted. Timesheets are also in place for the Gathering team-of-three scramble (any combination) which will take place on Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27.
The competition this Friday is the Kay Glynn 18-hole Stableford mixed. Open week continues until this Sunday.
The ladies’ competition on Thursday next will be the Scattery Island ferries, a singles competition.
Gort
In the men’s singles Stableford at Gort at the weekend, the winner was Don Coen (24) with 45 points from Joseph Moran (8) with 42 points, Robert Hotchkiss (17) with 42 points and Derek Kinsella (16) with 41 points. Enda Cradock (1) won the gross with 35 points.
The captain’s prize qualifier takes place this weekend, with the captain’s prize for juniors on Wednesday next.
John Skehill’s captain’s prize to the ladies was won by Teresa Gill (17) with 40 points from Ann Nolan (29) with 38 points, Helen McCormick (21) with 38 points, Róisín Walsh (29) with 37 points and Sara Broderick (21) with 37 points. Siobhán O’Connor (11) won the gross with 24 points.
The nines were won by Phil Mulkerrins (26) with 21 points and Sue Madden (22) with 19 points. In the 18-hole singles Stableford competition, the winner was Siobhán Forde (13) with 37 points.
Portumna
The men’s open fourball competition at the weekend was won by John (Ennis) and Kevin McEntee (Tullamore) with 43 points from Timmy Walsh and Mike Goode, with a similar score. In third place with 41 points were Kevin and Michael Donnellan followed by Bernard Murtagh and Danny Losty with 41 points. The gross was won by James McLaughlin and Sean Cleary with 39 points.
In the ladies’ open fourball, the winners were Anita Carey and Mary Madden with 45 points from Anne Fahy and Bríd Kelly with 45, Kathleen Lynch and Marese Cooney with 44. Ashline O’Leary and Triona Hogan won the gross with 34 points.
The winner of the ladies’ nine-hole competition was Lillian Austin with 18 points from Pauline McEvon, with a similar score. Open week continues until this Sunday.
Club president Suzanne Corcoran was victorious in the Irish Seniors Open Close Championship at Woodenbridge last Friday.
Cratloe Society
The Cratloe Golf Society captain’s (Alphie Corcoran) prize will be played for this Saturday in Portumna at 9am. The presentation of prizes will take place at Setrights on Saturday night.
Pitch and putt
Following the final trial last Sunday, this year’s Clare pitch and putt men’s inter-county team has been named as follows: Declan Sheedy, Gerry Hanrahan, Niall Seery, Marty Fawl, Kenneth Kerin and Martin Walsh. The team will represent Clare in the Munster finals in Cork and national finals in Clonmel in August and September.
Following recent qualifiers, Declan Sheedy (senior), Kenneth Kerin (intermediate) and Michael Murphy (junior) will represent their clubs in the national strokeplay finals in Rocklodge in Cork at the end July. This Sunday sees the Munster Strokeplay final being played in Cashel with Marty Fawl (senior), Kenneth Kerin (inter) and Kevin Woods and Tommy Kelly (junior) all in action.
The county board competition run in Cill Na Mona last week was won by Martin Walsh (nett) and Mary Fawl (gross).
At the Clare Road on Sunday, Noel Cuddihy was the winner of the strokeplay competition, with Denis McElligott in second place followed by Tony Clancy.
The captain’s (PJ Considine) day will take place on Saturday, July 20, with the tee available at 10am.
