Mount Juliet Golf Notes

With the continuing good weather favouring all golfing activities, last weekend saw a full programme enacted on Saturday and Sunday.  Norman Kilroy had his panel of charges for participation in the Duggan Cup out in preparation for the coming season.  There was a challenge match arranged between two teams of five pairs and this proved to be very informative with some pairings showing excellent early season form.  How very different the weather made, compared to 2011, when hardly any golf took place until late February.  Norman was pleased with his trials and has now laid a marker for other team managers to start work on their panels.

On the competition front, a Member/Guest Fourball Stableford took place on Sunday with a good entry including some new members featuring.  The scoring was excellent with all prize winning scores exceeding the 40 points target off 3/4 handicap allowance.  The winning pair of Denis Treacy and Dean Smithwick scored 45 points which included a bonus point on the 1st hole.  They had nines of 22 and 23 points and just edged out the Callan pairing of Sean Brett and John Dwyer.

Denis and Dean finished their last nine holes in style with Denis scoring four points for his birdie on the long 13th and Dean finishing with two fours on the 17th and 18th for a further six points.   The Callan pairing also came with a run on the last nine holes as well with a further 23 points which included four birdies, three from Sean Brett and one from John O’Dwyer.  They only just failed by a shot to overhaul the winners.  In third place came the father and son pairing of Tony and Michael Collins with a score of 42 points.

The popular Winter League for members resumes next Sunday with tee times from 10am onwards.

Results: Member/Guest Fourball Stableford Sunday 22nd January

Winners       Denis Treacy (10) & Dean Smithwick (12) Kilkenny             45 points

Second        Sean Brett (10) & John O’Dwyer (5) Callan                       44 points

Third            Michael Collins (11) &Tony Collins (14) Tramore                42 points

After a lull in competitive golf the season re-opened again last week with the “drive in” of the Captains for 2012.  Alan Hoyne and Ruth Mulholland took over the mantle of Captain and Lady Captain from the 2011 pairing of James J. Brett and Margaret Twomey.  The day opened with a 2 person scramble over 9 holes with both nines being used for the occasion.  In Spring-like weather, which was a vast change from the awful weather endured in January last year, there was a very good turnout for the golf competition and the “drive-in” which followed in the afternoon.

This is also the first year that Mount Juliet has a Junior Captain and Luke Donnelly has the honour of filling this role for 2012.  Luke, who plays off an impressive handicap of 6 for his tender age of 14 years, also joined both Captains for his “drive-in” as well and drove his tee shot long and straight.

The presentation of prizes and formal induction of all three Captains took place in The Loft of the Hunters Yard after the “drive-in” and this was followed by a very enjoyable dinner in Kendals Restaurant which ran late into the night.  The new Captain, Alan Hoyne, alluded to the many moments of enjoyment he had as a young boy growing up near Mount Juliet and he felt very proud to be the first native of Thomastown to be elected as Captain of the famous course.

The competition, which was a stroke play event, produced some excellent scoring, especially on the back nine holes.  The par of 36 for each nine being equalled or bettered by a number of partnerships.  Bill Connolly had the distinction of scoring a Hole in One on the 14^th where he used a seven iron to obtain this unique achievement.

Results 2 Person Scramble

1^st Nine:

Winners         Sean O’Neill (15) & Bryan Phelan (15)                             29

Second          Catherine O’Halloran (29) & Richard O’Halloran (20)           29.2

Third              Tommy Duggan (8) & Jo Duggan (20)                            30.4

2^nd Nine: 

Winners         Paul Carty (20) & Anthony Gore-Grimes (23)                    27.4

Second          Frank Kelly (24) & Bryan Higgins (24)                             28.4

Third              Barry Hoyne (12) & Chris Clancy (13)                            29

Hole in One    Bill Connolly @ 14th