Mount Juliet Golf Notes

At this time of the year all “major” club competitions are coming to a close after a disappointing weather wise season.  The last of the “majors” for the men is scheduled next Saturday with the running of the President’s (Des Fitzgerald) Prize with a “shotgun” start at 12 noon.  As usual there is a separate prize for both the ladies and men in this competition and players will be keen to wind up the season with the coveted prize on the mantlepiece for reminiscing over during the months ahead.

This competition will probably have the final bearing on who becomes Golfers of the Year for 2009.  At the moment in the ladies section Lynda Hickey has an almost unassailable lead over her nearest pursuers, Sally Gleeson and Sandra Carr and it will be a major surprise if she is overtaken.  The men’s section is not as cut and dried as Andrew Nixon has a slender lead over Alan Hoyne and David Kelly but any of the three have a chance of improving their lot on Sunday.
Alan also has qualified for the final of the McCalmont Cup which will entitle him to further points so it is all in the melting pot.  The men’s GOY will possibly go to the last competition which is the September medal in three weeks time.

Talk of the McCalmont Cup leads me to Alan’s opponent in the final of same, James J. Brett, and who is a former holder of the trophy.  The final of this competition will be played in the next three weeks.  Also scheduled for this week is the September Ladies Invitation Day, the results of which will be in next week’s edition.

Last Sunday saw a large number of competitors take part in the Member/Guest competition which was a 3 person rumble.  The timesheet was full from early morning and the winning score of 84 points was returned by the local team of Kevin McCartan, Eamonn Murphy and Dan Kavanagh who just beat the team led by Padraic O’Connor on a countback over the last 6 holes.  The third team to feature in the prizes was led by Vice-Captain, Jim Cusack, who were a further shot behind.  The winning team and runners-up had nines of 32 points and 52 points with the winners getting through on the last six holes.

The popular Summer Series comes to a close on Thursday 17th September with the usual 4 person team event and the final outing is sponsored by Kartel.  This competition will be a “shotgun” start at 1.30pm and tee reservations can be made by phoning 056/7773071 or 7773064.  Click here to book your place on-line.

Results Member/Guest 18 Holes Rumble

Winners

Kevin McCartan (17)
Eamonn Murphy (14)
Dan Kavanagh (13)                          84 points

Second

Padraic O’Connor (18)
David Ryan (13)
Michael Byrne (19)  (Blainroe G.C.)     84 points

Third

Jim Cusack (14)
Terry Cooney (17) Dooks G.C.
Dan Cronin (18)  (Bodenstown G.C.)    83 points

The first round of the Waterford Crystal sponsored Winter Series for 2008 got off the ground last Wednesday and this was won by the Gowran Park pairing of Thos. Farrell and Mattie Byrne who were clear winners on the day. An unusually mild day for this time of year, 13 degrees temperature for the better part of a day that deteriorated in the latter part to a drop in temperature and some heavy rain, but most of the field of competitors had finished by that time. Certainly the winners, who were first out at 10am, played most of their round in casual wear and obviously relished the conditions. The competition format was a fourball betterball stableford, play as usual was off the white and red tees and the course was in great condition despite the recent falls of rain. The winning partnership played very consistently with nines of 20 and 21 points respectively and their score of 41 points was two points clear of their nearest opponents. This qualifies them for the Grand Final in April and with only four more qualifying events down for decision places in the final are rapidly taking shape. The next competition in the series takes place on Wednesday 13th February and this is a 3 Person Scramble. Tee times may be booked by telephoning 056/7773064 or 7773071 for this and the remaining competitions.

Last Sunday saw the first of the Member/Guest competitions for 2008 commence as well, with a fourball betterball stableford starting the year rolling. The winners were Stephen Price and his guest James Moran with 42 points and they just pipped the Kilkenny pairing of Michael Whelan and his guest Tom Hickey by virtue of a better back nine holes. The next competition in the Member/Guest series takes place on Sunday 17th February and again it is a Fourball Betterball Stableford with the timesheet opening on Monday 4th February.