Mount Juliet Golf Notes

The draws for the Midland Championships for ladies were made last week by the I.L.G.U., and as far as the Mount Juliet ladies are concerned they have been pitted against Gowran Park in the Intermediate Cup, handicap range 16 – 22. This match will be played at Borris Golf Club on 11th April. Their opponents in the Minor Cup, handicap range 23-29, are Kilkenny and this is scheduled to take place at Callan Golf Club on 18th April. In the Challenge Cup, handicaps 30-36, their opponents are Borris and this will take place at Gowran Park Golf Club on 11th April.

Last Sunday saw the Member/Guest competition take place in cloudy, dry and mild conditions. The competition was a three person rumble over 18 holes and scoring was by stableford. Scoring conditions for this competition was the best single score over the first six holes, two best scores over the next six holes and all three scores over the last six holes. The winners scored a total of 85 points and this was compiled of 19 points for the first six holes, 34 points for the middle six and 32 points for the last six holes. They held on by two points from their nearest pursuers from Mount Juliet who in turn beat the third placed team by virtue of a better back nine holes. The runners up would have been much closer to the winners but for only amassing a moderate 29 points for the middle six holes. However it was good to see John Browne feature in the prizes after his recent illness and our good wishes go to him for a full recovery.

Results Member/Guest 18 Holes Rumble

Winners

Bill Connolly (14)

P.J. Butler (17) (The Heritage)

Bryan Byrne (9) (The Heritage) 85 points

Second

John Browne (18) (Mount Juliet)

Margaret Twomey (36)

Sheila MacDonald (30) 83 points (last nine)

Third

Pat Doyle (13)

Gerry Lenihan (13) (Ring of Kerry)

Gary Tobin (12) (Mahon Golf Club) 83 points

The next member and guest competition takes place on Sunday 20th March and the format will be a fourball stableford. This Wednesday sees the Winter Series take place and as usual this is a four person team event.

Summer conditions the order of the day

The first Ladies Invitation Day for 2010 was played last Wednesday and the format was an 18 holes three person scramble. The deserving winners on the day were the North Dublin team led by former Lady Captain Ita Slattery. They had almost 2 shots to spare over their nearest rivals led by another former Lady Captain, Rita Garvey. On a very pleasant day there was a good turnout for the first invitation day of the season although the course was still playing long after the rain of the previous two days.

Last Sunday saw another Member/Guest Day competition and the format was a 4 person team event over 18 holes with play off the green tee markers.

This competition was played in summer like conditions and saw the team led by former captain, Padraic O’Connor, emerge as convincing winners from the Captain’s, Jim Cusack, team of Kildare based visitors.

The next team in action in the inter club series is the Barton Cup team who take on the might of Kilkenny Golf Club next Saturday evening and then the ladies go to Callan Golf Club on Monday next to play Borris Golf Club in the first round of the Challenge Cup. This is part of the new conditions pertaining to the competitions run by the I.L.G.U. whereby these matches must be played at neutral venues.

The April Monthly Medal is scheduled to be played on Sunday 25^th April and the timesheet for this event is now open. Members can reserve a tee time “online” or by phoning golf reservations. This is another round of the Golfer of the Year competition for ladies and men and it will also be a qualifying competition for the McCalmont Cup Matchplay

Results Ladies Invitation Day

Member/Guest 4 Person Team Event.

Summer Series in association with Golf Andalucia – 4 Person Team Event
Wednesday, 15th July 2009

Left to right: Rodrigo Villegas – Golf Andalucia, Alan Phelan, Francis Reynolds – Mount Juliet, Martin Devlin, John Gleeson, Michael Dowling, Cliff Murphy – Golf Andalucia

Last week saw the third competition of the popular Summer Series and this was sponsored Golf Andalucia, Spain and all prizes had a Spanish flavour to them.

The worthy winners on the day were all from Rathdowney Golf Club with their base camp situated in Ballyraggett. The team of Michael Dowling, Martin Devlin, John Gleeson and Alan Phelan had a very good score of 90 points to win by a clear five shots from their nearest challengers from Tipperary who in turn were just a shot ahead of a Wicklow based team.

The format was, as usual, two scores to count on the first 17 holes and three scores to count on the 18th but the winners had nines of 42 points and 48 points and never scored less than 4 points on any hole.

The runners-up would have closed the gap considerably but they faltered on the last four holes to leave the winners well clear.

The next competition in the series takes place Wednesday 12th August and this will be sponsored by clothing manufacturer Tommy Hilfiger. Once again it will be a “shotgun start” at 2pm and reservations can be made by phoning 056/7773064 or 7773071.

Winners

Martin Devlin (13)
John Gleeson (12)
Michael Dowling (21)
Alan Phelan (4)

(Rathdowney Golf Club) ——- 90 points

Second

Ted Kennedy (14)
Seamus Kennedy (15)
Des Hennessy (18)
(Templemore Golf Club)

Jack Looby (14)
(Thurles Golf Club) ——- ——- 85 points

Third

Kevin O’Gorman (13)
(Blainroe Golf Club)

Donal O’Sullivan (12)
Stephen de Courcey (13)
(Charlesland Golf Club)

Fergus Leavy (18)
(Old Conna Golf Club) ——- ——- 84 points

Next Sunday sees the continuation of the Member/Guest competitions with an 18 holes singles and the timesheet for this competition is almost full. The following week the annual Residential Trophy will be decided.