SHORT GAME:THE GOLFING Union of Ireland have announced the launch of Online Booking for over 100 golf clubs on their website at www.gui.ie, making it the largest resource for online green fee booking in Ireland.
Arrangements have been completed with BRS Golf for their system to be integrated with the GUI website, which will now provide golfers with a one-stop shop for researching golf courses and booking tee times.
Clubs using other providers of online booking systems are welcome to opt into the service by sending details of their system to the Golfing Union of Ireland.
Honorary Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland Albert Lee is excited about the new initiative and feels it is a positive step forward.
Said Lee: “The move to make the GUI website a one-stop shop for the golfers of Ireland has taken a giant leap forward today with the launch of the online booking option at www.gui.ie and we hope that all clubs that have online booking available will opt into the system which we will expand and develop in the coming years.”
The search option will allow users to search for clubs with online booking available in a given county or province.
Some clubs are still in the process of uploading their availability, so should your chosen club not have availability shown, it might be worth making a phone call to them.
Ward takes honours at Royal Dublin
AFTER finishing second in last week’s outing, Séamus Ward, a five-handicapper from from Laytown and Bettystown, was a clear winner at Royal Dublin on Sunday.
His 71 was two shots better than local player Brendan O’Malley and Shane Gaffney from Sutton.
The gross prize went to Robbie Cannon from Balbriggan with a 73. He finished in style with birdies at the 14th, 16th and 18th.
The professional prize was shared between Gary Cullen from Beaverstown and Gavin Lunney from Naas, who both shot 75.
There was no surprise then that Ward, Cannon and Gaffney would form the winning team with a score of 65.
Shot of the day went to Stephen Prendergast, from Royal Dublin, who holed his second shot to the par five, second hole, using a five-wood.
Next outing takes place on Sunday, March 29th at Co Louth GC, Baltray.
For te times, email Alan Levey.
O'Connor's day at Royal Dublin
THE Leinster Alliance concluded their winter programme with the captain’s, Tony Frew, prize at Royal Dublin last week when Joe O’Connor from Elm Park earned 40 points to claim the top award.
O’Connor finished just one point ahead of Ger Synnott from Slade Valley, who plays off seven, with Paul Daly from Elmgreen edging out Bray’s Des Hinchin for third place on 36 points.
Irish international and Walker Cup panellist Niall Kearney , off plus three, produced the best golf of the day to win the gross prize with 37 points from Kingsley Lewis from Skerries and Brian Treston from the Grange.
Power drives the East State effort
SÉAMUS POWER from West Waterford showed good early season form when he helped East State University to a share of the team award at the Kauai Collegiate Classic at the Wailua Golf Course in Hawaii.
Placing all five players in the top 20 and four players in the top seven, the 27th-ranked ETSU men’s golf team captured the team championship at Wailua.
Power, who posted a second straight round of three-under-par 69 after opening with a 71 finished second in the individual competition at seven-under-par 209, just one stroke back of individual champion Logan Blondell of Georgia Southern.
The second place showing was Power’s best of the season so far, and the team’s first place showing was also a season high for the squad.
Along with Power, freshman Michael Stewart (Troon, Scotland) and sophomore Paul O’Kane from Castledawson, in Co Derry, also posted their best finishes of the year, with Stewart placing fifth at one-under-par for the event, and O’Kane finishing tied for seventh at two-over. The Bucs will return to action on March 30th at the Larry Nelson Collegiate Invitational in Braselton, Georgia.
Maguires favourites at Woodenbridge
FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Irish champion Leona Maguire and twin sister Lisa will be hot favourites to capture the opening womens scratch cup of the domestic season when Ireland’s elite tee off at Woodenbridge Golf Club on Sunday.
In addition to providing additional practice for players competing in the Under-18 Interprovincials at Easter, Woodenbridge has taken the opportunity to revive their popular Glam-Am that ran so successfully throughout the 1980s and 90s.
A two tee start sees Irelands finest tee off early on Sunday morning and after lunch, two players are joined by a lady and man from Woodenbridge in a team event, with the players keeping their own score for the 36-hole Scratch Cup.
Woodenbridge, celebrating their 125th anniversary, have had their fair share of success on the womens amateur stage over the years.
In 1956, Rose Bayly honoured the club with her first of two International caps, followed by Denise McCarthy throughout the 1980s and 90s and more recently, Louise Mernagh has collected girls international honours.
The four teams participating in the Girls Interprovincials in mid-April are well represented and are joined by leading amateurs Gillian O’Leary, Anne McCormack and Sarah Cunningham, to name but a few.
Irish pair take on the best in Alicante
THE second Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup will feature a mixture of established stars and fresh talent on the fairways of La Sella Resort in Alicante, from April 23rd-26th.
Ireland, represented by Rebecca Coakley and Martina Gillen will join American Hall of Famer Beth Daniel and compatriot Meg Mallon, who have confirmed that they will represent the United States in the 20-nation tournament.
As two of the most respected players in the women’s game, the Americans will be among the favourites but can expect a strong challenge from team England, who will be represented by the experienced duo of Laura Davies and Lisa Hall.
Daniel, Mallon and Davies have earned nine major championships between them, with a total of 127 titles won by members of the two teams.
Scotland have Lynn Kenny and Clare Queen, while the Wales line-up is Becky Brewerton and Lydia Hall.
