Neil Manchip will be seeking to add to his impressive list of domestic successes when he lines-up in the second Links outing of the season at Royal Dublin on Thursday. The recently-crowned Irish PGA champion will be hoping to add to his successes this year in the Assistants' Championship and the Irish Club Professional championship.
Des Smyth, the winner of the first outing at The Island with a six under-par 65, leads a strong field which includes Eamonn Darcy, Philip Walton, Brendan McGovern and Christy O'Connor as well as amateur internationals Gary Cullen, Noel Fox and Jody Fanagan.
HOLLYSTOWN golf club, which opened in 1992 as one of the first Pay and Play golf courses in Ireland, has recently opened an additional nine holes, bringing its total to 27. Because of the additional facilities available, Hollystown will be accepting a limited number of members in the new year.
Proprietor Oliver Barry says: "Hollystown has three categories of membership tailor-made to suit all pockets, with no up-front payment." The categories of membership available include: Category A (£250 annually) - offers members discounted green fees with members' times Sunday to Friday. Category B (£550 annually) - offers members free green fees within members' times Monday to Friday and discounted green fees on Sunday. Category C (£900 annually) - offers members free green fees within members' times seven days a week.
THERE were just two elections at the council convention of the Pitch and Putt Union of Leinster at Navan on Sunday. In a three-way contest for the vacant vice president's position, Michael Murphy from the Old County club in Dublin was elected. Tullamore's Annie Galvin, acting secretary since the death of Rita Martin in May, defeated Meath County Board secretary, Mary Farrell (Gaeil Comcille) in a straight contest for the position of Leinster Secretary. Sean Breen (Seapoint) was elected unopposed as president.
Among the motions passed at the well-attended meeting were:
the Leinster championship next year will be played under the same format as the national championship
all competitors in Leinster competitions will receive a timed draw at least seven days prior to competition
the Leinster Juvenile Inter-County will be played under the same format as the senior event
the rule restricting to six the number of cards which may be played in a single open will be raised to eight. PJ Curtin from Kilmichael was elected president at the Munster Convention at Mitchelstown last Sunday. DJ Henchy from Bruff was elected vice president while Roger Barron (Tramore) was elected secretary.
SENIOR international Deirdre Smith of Co Louth is the brains behind a new golfing venture catering specifically for female players. The 29-year old who made her Irish debut in this year's Home Internationals is now making golf her business as well as her pleasure by opening a shop, "The Lady Golfer", in the grounds of the Paddock Wood Golf Centre near Dundalk.
Friends and colleagues have rallied to her cause and ensured that Saturday afternoon's opening should attract plenty of customers. Fellow international Oonagh Purfield, who works with MacGregor, will be demonstrating their latest equipment. Irish champion Clare Coughlan and Mary McKenna will also be present to answer questions and there will be a clinic with a PGA professional.
Further enquiries to Deirdre Smith at (042) 9321064.
THE Leinster Alliance season concluded with the President's (Jimmy Kinsella) Prize contested on a very well prepared Skerries course last Saturday. Local eight handicapper Jim Kenny took the top prize on countback from Tony Goode (Slade Valley) after both returned 72 nett. Goode achieved a measure of recompense by taking the team award with clubmate Gary Donnelly and Ray Murphy (Arklow). The gross prize went to John Toner (Woodbrook) with a 76 and Kinsella himself returned the lowest round among the professionals with a one over par 74.
The new season will start in March and it is hoped to increase the number of outings to seven.
