Mount Juliet Golf Notes

The first monthly medal of the season was played for last Sunday with play off the white tees. With the “man above” giving us a lovely day there was a great turnout for this competition and it was also the first round of the Golfer of the Year with points allotted to ten competitors in both categories. The best score of the day was returned by Kevin McCartan who had a very fine score of 39 points and duly won his category and is the early leader in the G.O.Y. competition. With the course playing all of it’s 7,000 yards in length, Kevin put together a very consistent round, scoring nines of 19 and 20 points respectively for an impressive win. The other categories were won by Frank Murray, category 1, with 35 points on a countback from John O’ Dwyer and category 3 was won by Tim Kavanagh with a score of 34 points. No other player in category 3 broke 30 points which is a testament to the difficulty of the course as encountered by players in this category.

Frank Murray had nines of 16 and 19 points respectively and dropped two shots to par on the back nine, at the 13th and 18th holes. Tim scored 18 points and 16 points and blanked the par fives, 5th and 10th.
In the ladies’ medal competition victory went to last year’s Golfer of the Year, Amelia Drumm, who off her new handicap of 18 for 2012 still scored a fine 37 points for victory. She was four shots clear of her nearest opponent Myra Phelan and Amelia has begun where she left off in 2011- on a winning note. Amelia scored 18 and 19 points respectively for each nine holes.

Another notable feat was performed by Ray Moore who had his first ever hole in one on the 11th where he played a seven iron tee shot to complete a great feat, unfortunately it did not encourage him sufficiently to score for the remaining seven holes. However he had plenty of friends awaiting his arrival in the clubhouse to toast his unique achievement.
Next Sunday there is a Member/Guest 4 person team event and tee times can be booked for this competition on-line or by a phone call to the shop.

Results Monthly Medal Sunday 25th March

Category 1. Frank Murray (5)…………………35 pts.(C.S.S. 33pts)
Category 2. Kevin McCartan(14)…………….39 pts.
Category 3. Tim Kavanagh(17)……………….34 pts.
Ladies Amelia Drumm(18)………………………37 pts.(C.S.S. 34pts)

The Member/Guest Fourball Stableford was played last Sunday and this competition was won in decisive manner by Tom Butler and his guest, Ray Kent, with 47 points. They were three shots clear of their nearest rivals who were led by  Pat Stakelum and his guest Johnny Nevin and this pairring just pipped the mother and son combination of Stephen O’ Reilly and Ger O’Reilly on a countback. Feature of the winners round was an eagle on the long 5^th by Ray Kent which he followed up with a trio of birdies on the 14^th, 16^th and 17^th holes. The pairing had nines of 24 and 23 points respectively. The runners-up had nines of 21 and 23 points respectively and Pat Stakelum had a vital birdie on the 16^th hole for four points which was to prove decisive in the overall countback for second place.  The mother and son pairing just got home for third place on a countback as well.

Last Wednesday the penultimate round of the Winter Series was played and this was a 3 person rumble with honours going to the  Wexford team of Louis Flanagan, Larry Cranford and Fran Thomas. There was a small turnout of players for this competition and the winners have now qualified for the Grand Final. The last round of the present Winter Series will take place next Wednesday 28^th March and this competition will be a four person team event with the winners making up the last places for the Grand Final. Reservation for this competition can be made at the golf shop in Mount Juliet.

Next Sunday sees the first of the monthly medals down for decision and this competition heralds the arrival of the first round of the Golfer of the Year  for ladies and men with tee times filling up rapidly.

Results Member/Guest Fourball Stableford Sunday 18^th March.

Winners
Tom Butler (20)

Ray Kent (8) Gowran Park G.C ………… 47 points

Second:
Pat Stakelum (17)

John Nevin (14) Thurles G.C ……………. 44 points

Third:       
Stephen O’ Reilly (8)

Ger O’ Reilly (36) Coolattin G.C ………… 44 points

Winter Series Wednesday 14^th March – 3 Person Rumble.

Winners:     

Louis Flanagan (17) Wexford G.C.

Larry Cranford (14)

Fran Thomas (8)……………………..77 points.

The penultimate round of the Winter League for members was played last Sunday and it proved to be a runaway success for John O’ Dwyer who covered the 18 holes in level par to record 41 points. John certainly spreadeagled the field of fellow competitors, as his nearest rivals were a full five shots behind. In second place came Bryan Higgins who beat Michael Brennan on a countback, both players finishing with 36 points. Third and fourth places were filled by Ted Hoyne and Brian Blanchfield respectively with scores of 35 points each. Congratulations to John on an excellent round of golf and he is presently enjoying a rich vein of form. The League table continues to be led by Alan Hearn on 46 points but he is closely pursued by Frank Kelly on 45 points. Alan Hoyne, Kevin McCartan and Pat Doyle fill the minor placings on 39, 37 and 34 points respectively. But all five players are still very much in contention for the overall prize which will be decided on the final day  April 8^th.

Last Sunday saw the introduction of new scorecards and this card now incorporates a change of the indices for most holes in both the ladies and mens round of play. The change came about on a return of evidence of 1,663 rounds of golf computed from resurns off the white tees over the past seven years. The most notable change will be the indices of the 3^rd and 6^th holes which have been changed dramatically from a high index to low and vice-versa. The changes have been favourably received by members who played last Sunday in the Winter League.

Next Sunday sees another Member/Guest Fourball Stableford competition down for decision with tee times available on line or by phoning the golf shop.