Connacht changesArising from discussions at the branch agm last November, the GUI Connacht committee have approved two significant changes to the calendar for 2007. On a pilot basis for one year, the Pierce Purcell Shield and Cecil Ewing Shield will move from their traditional Thursday and Tuesday evening slots to Saturday evenings. This is to help clubs attract more members to play in these events.
Secondly, the committee have approved the restructuring of the Fred Daly Trophy. For this year, the Connacht Branch will abandon the strokeplay qualifying for matchplay throughout the competition. A plate competition will be introduced for teams knocked out in the first round.
Leinster senior panel
The Leinster senior panel for 2007, under provincial coach Leslie Walker from Dundalk, is: Mark Campbell (Stackstown), Robbie Cannon (Laytown and Bettystown), Niall Gorey (Lee Valley), Michael Horan (Birr), David Houlihan (The K Club), Des Morgan (Mullingar), Brian O'Connor (Hermitage) and Eoin O'Sullivan (The Island).
Ulster appointments
Co Armagh's John White, the Ulster senior captain for 2007, will be joined by David Young (Royal Portrush), John Moss (Whitehead), Gerry McAleese (Royal Portrush) and Hugh Smyth (Mourne) as the Ulster senior selectors for this season. The Ulster Branch have also confirmed the appointment of Roy Archibold from Shandon Park as the Boys captain for 2007. The other four selectors are John Boyd (Ballycastle), Mark Crowe (Dunmurry), Jackie Graham (Castlerock) and Maurice McKinley (Shandon Park).
Young is retiring as an Irish selector and the Ulster Branch will be nominating Moss as the new Irish selector from Ulster. This nomination will be considered at the Golfing Union of Ireland agm next month.
Dromoland Castle event
Dromoland Castle Golf Club must be one of the last clubs to request "formal jacket and tie" for the captain's dinner, as was the case last weekend for captain Tom Delaney. The incoming captain, Martin O'Mahony, a former Old Crescent rugby forward, paid tribute to Delaney on a successful year, particularly with the club's Barton Shield team. The team include Pádraig McGrath, a young plus-two player, and scratch player David Fitzgerald, the Clare hurling goalkeeper.
John Finn, the outgoing captain of Ennis, a teacher at St Flannan's College, who is working on the centenary history of his club, presented a scholarly address in replying on behalf of the guests. He said Dromoland resonated with a cultural and social cast, yet some of the present members are also resonant with other days. He could have had in mind Donal Hassett, a farmer nearby, who admits to having 46 horses in training. In a recent competition he had 40 points which brought his handicap down to 18.
Next morning the honorary treasurer of the club, Mark Nolan, the very much "hands-on" general manager of the hotel, was helping at breakfast for members who opted to stay overnight.
Brown for Ladies role
Janet Brown has been appointed chairman of the Ladies Golf Union. Brown first became involved in golf administration in the period leading up to her taking over the captaincy of the ladies section of Melrose GC, a nine-hole course in the Scottish Borders. This was quickly followed by captaincy of the Borders County and then a five-year spell, starting in 1993, on the executive of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, where for three years, she was chairman of the Girls Championship.
On leaving the SLGA executive in 1998, Browne sat the R&A referee examination and has officiated at major championships and international tournaments including the Vagliano Trophy and the Ladies British Open. She joined the executive of the LGU in 2003 and served on the European Championship Committee for three years. As a handicap adviser, she was involved in assisting clubs in the changeover to the Congu Unified Handicapping System in 2004.
Keenan secures win
Scoring was certainly hot last Thursday as the Christy O'Connor Oyster Golf Society held their first outing of 2007 at Enniscrone GC in Co Sligo. Two golfers in particular were way ahead of the field as the prizes were being handed out.
Victory in the end was secured by Ballaghaderreen's 18-handicapper Nigel Keenan, who won on the back nine from Enda Furey, also playing off 18. Both had scores of 45 points. A good distance back in third spot was Gerry King (15) from Tuam with 38 points, with two fellow Tuam members Frank Hession (15) and Michael Tighe (16) next best on 37 and 36 points respectively, with Bearna's Brendan McLaughlin (13) next also on 36. The gross winner was John McHugh (13) of Castlebar with 30 points.
The society is next in action on February 15th, with places on the timesheet available on 091 529609.
Deegan starts in style
Catherine Deegan is set for a busy year off the course, as she is vice-captain at Highfield GC in Carbury, Co Kildare. No doubt she and lady captain Jackie Horan will be hoping for plenty of success for their club. Deegan started the year in fine style last week in the singles competition. Playing off a handicap of 19, she won with 40 points, two better than Nora Walsh (16), with Anne O'Neill (23) a further two points adrift in third place.
Couple of aces
Holes in one are rare things. But how about this for a story of what must indeed be something special as a husband and wife playing together had aces in the same round. At the Atlantis Country Club in Palm Beach, Jean-Guy Crepeau came to the 10th and watched as his six-iron tee-shot at the 162-yard hole disappeared into the hole.
No doubt he was set to enjoy the adulation in the clubhouse after his round, but his wife, Pierrette, was not going to let him have all the limelight. So when they came to the 102-yard 17th hole, she matched his ace. It was her first hole in one, while Jean-Guy was celebrating the second ace of his career.
Now what are the odds on a husband and wife having holes in one on the same day, while playing together?
