Mount Juliet Golf Notes

Tipperary to the fore again!

The last of the “majors” was played for on Saturday and it foretold pending doom for Kilkenny with the winning of the President’s (Des Fitzgerald) Prize by Tipperary member, Tadhg Gleeson, and he did it as convincing as the hurlers did. Tadhg, who was Captain of Mount Juliet in 2005 and had never won a competition in his long association with the club, like the hurlers certainly came good on the day that mattered. He spreadeagled the large entry of competitors with a stunning round of 45 points off the white markers to win easing up.

The President’s Prize for the ladies was played in conjunction with the men’s prize and this proved to be a family affair with Des’s wife, Brenda, winning the honours by the narrowest of margins from Tadhg‘s daughter Sarah. Snapping at both players heels came Nora Deane just a point behind with Tadhg’s wife, Sally, a further point behind Nora in fourth place.

Tadhg had nines of 23 and 22 points respectively on each nine holes and had a total of 11 pars with the remainder of his round comprised of 7 bogies off his handicap of 16 which has now been reduced to 13 as the S.S. for the day was 35 points. I am sure that little adjustment is the least of Tadhg’s worries after his great victory and Tipperary‘s All Ireland. In second place came Paul Barrett who is certainly playing very consistent golf at the moment which he indicated by almost winning the last competition played.

Brenda played very good golf as well and but for failing to score on the short par three 11th, she would have reached the 40 point mark. This was her only hole not to register a point at, which was an indication of her consistency. Congratulations to both Tadhg and Brenda on their achievements and Brenda still has a chance of the double if she wins the Lady President’s Prize in October.

As a result of the weekend results, the Golfer of the Year competitions in both categories has tightened up considerably with only the September medal to decide the outcome. At the top of the men’s competition, Stephen Price and Michael Brennan are locked together on 36 points and they are just in front of Alan Hearne who has 35 points.

In the ladies section, Amelia Drumm is 5 points clear of Ruth Skehan but both can improve their total by featuring in the September Medal next Sunday and a top three finish by either player could decide the winner.

Last Wednesday the Ladies Invitation for September took place and this was a fourball betterball competition with the usual good entry. The winners of this competition were Myra Phelan and her visitor from Milltown, Helen Cosgrove, who had 40 points. They just beat the mother and daughter combination of Sandra and Darcey Carr, also Milltown, by a point. The Kilkenny and Borris visitors came up trumps in the nines.

Forthcoming fixtures include the September Medal next Sunday and the last of the Summer Series, which as usual is a team of four event, takes place next Wednesday 15th September. The Winter Series is scheduled to commence on the 20th October. Bookings for any of these competitions may be made by phoning 056 7773071 or 7773064.

President’s (Des Fitzgerald) Prize, Saturday 4th
September 2010

Ladies Invitation Day, Wednesday 1st September 2010

Next Sunday the September Medal is down for decision

The Captain’s Prize to Ladies and Lady Captain’s Prize to Men competitions were held last Sunday. These are two of the “majors” played in the club and carry points in the Golfer of the Year competitions as well. Pride of place went to Pat Doyle and Helen Shields in their respective competitions as they proved to be the best in their class. Some fine scoring was recorded on a beautiful, sunny day and with a “shotgun” start conditions were the same for everybody who participated. A full turnout of players meant that prizes were keenly fought for in both sections.

The men’s prize went to Pat Doyle who kept his nearest rivals at bay by shooting 39 points which was a very commendable score with play off the white tees and the course playing every bit of its 7000 yards. Pat just held on by a shot from Tony Frew and Paul Barrett. Paul must have rued his 7 on the long 13th as a six would have given him the prize on a countback. He also had the misfortune of playing a wrong ball on the 8th which cost him a further two shots. Tony’s biggest blunder came at the 7th where he failed to register a point and has obviously retained his recent run of good form by “chipping in” on the last for a birdie three. The C.S.S. for the day remained unchanged at 35 points. The President, Des Fitzgerald, had the honour of achieving a hole in one at the 14th hole where he holed out his 3 wood.

The ladies prize was claimed by Helen Shields with 41 points but only by a whisker as Kathryn O’Connor also recorded the same score only to be beaten on a countback. Hot on both players heels came Brona Reidy with 40 points and she will surely rue dropping four shots on the 6th, 7th and 8th holes. Kathryn also had her bad luck by failing to score on the long 18th. Helen scored nines of 21 and 20 points respectively as against Kathryn’s score of 23 and 18 points.

The outcome of both competitions had no distinct bearing on the Golfer of the Year competitions as the chief contenders in both sections i.e., Stephen Price, Ruth Skehan and Amelia Drumm lost no ground to their nearest challengers.

The final of the McCalmont Cup between Michael Brennan and John O’Connor will be played this coming Friday. Next Sunday sees the continuation of the member/guest series with a 3 person rumble competition over 18 holes. The course closes next week for 3 days for the annual maintenance programme of the greens.

Results Lady Captain’s Prize to the Men

Winner – Pat Doyle (15) 39 points
Second - Tony Frew (7) 38 points
Third - Paul Barrett (10) 38 points
Fourth - John Thornton (11) 37 points
Past Captain - Tom Duggan (8) 36 points
1st Nine - David Kelly (5) 20 points
2nd Nine - Sean O’Neill (14) 21 points
Hole in One - Des Fitzgerald at the par three 14th
Long Drive - John Brennan

Results Men’s Captain’s Prize to the Ladies

Winner – Helen Shields (17) 41 points
Second - Kathryn O’Connor (34) 41 points
Third - Brona Reidy (14) 40 points
Past Captain - Brenda Fitzgerald (21) 32 points
1st Nine - Amelia Drumm (22) 18 points
2nd Nine - Anne Murphy (33) 19 points
Long Drive - Ruth Mulholland
Nearest Pin - Mary Quigley

The Ladies Invitation Day for June took place last Wednesday and with the weatherman smiling kindly on all participants, a good day was had by all competitors. Scoring was very close with only a shot separating the three prizewinning partnerships. The format was a fourball betterball stableford with the winners returning a score of 38 points. Sandra Carr and her partner Pauline Ann Murray just got the better of the pairing of Lady Captain, Sally Gleeson, and her partner Jeanie Ronan who in turn beat Brenda O’Sullivan and her partner Pauline McEnery on a countback.

In the McCalmont Cup Matchplay, the competition has reached the quarter-final stage. Match pairings are as follows; Kathyrn O’Connor v Paul Barrett, Michael Brennan v Pat Price Jr., Helen Scully v John O’ Connor, Chris McHugh v Ruth Skehan with all four matches to be played by the 30th June.

Next Sunday sees the J. B. Carr Trophy down for decision with sections for both the ladies and men with Golfer of the Year points on offer to both sections. Preparations are in full flow for the Captains Prizes which will take place on Saturday 26th June. A limited number of tee times will be available on the Friday evening prior to the event for Juniors and to accommodate members who cannot play on the Saturday.

Results June Ladies Invitation Day

The next round in the popular Summer Series for teams of four competitors takes place on Wednesday 16th June and reservations can be made by phoning the golf shop or golf reservations at 056/7773071 or 7773064.

Mount Juliet have introduced a new Summer offer to players who wish to visit “a little bit of heaven“ for a day of recreation.

For €90 (Sunday-Thursday) and €100 (Friday and Saturday), interested golfers can avail of:

- a basket of range golf balls
- a round on the unique 18 hole putting course designed by Jeff Howes
- a snack on the 10th tee
- 18 holes of golf on the Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf course