The Short Game:LUTTRELLSTOWN Castle Golf and Country Club, which was due to close its gates on December 31st, has confirmed the golf club will remain open for an additional 12 months. The decision was taken following a review of costs during the year and the streamlining of operations at the golf club.
Speaking yesterday, chief executive Colm Hannon said: “Following a complete review of this year’s financial performance of the golf operation and the measures that have been put in place to enable us to reduce our operational costs, in addition to a review of our green fee rates during the period, we have taken the decision to continue the golf operations at Luttrellstown for an additional 12 months.
“This will be good news for all golfers who have enjoyed playing at Luttrelllstown and who were disappointed when we announced our decision to close the club. The performance of the operation will be reviewed throughout 2010 and a decision made towards the end of 2010 with respect to 2011. Members will be given the option of purchasing an annual membership in order to continue using the facilities at Luttrellstown for 2010”.
New Ross takes ALCI award
NEW Ross Golf Club has won the ALCI award for the quality of the redesign of four new greens on its course. New Ross beat off the challenge of Thomond Park and Carton House to take the Sports Ground Award, the highest accolade given by the Association of Land Contractors of Ireland.
“We’re delighted with the award,” said New Ross Golf Club Chairman Eddie Sweeney. “The design and construction is magnificent and the course is much more challenging now.”
New Ross is an 18-hole, par 70, parkland course originally designed by Des Smyth and Declan Brannigan. The course committee decided in autumn 2008 to redesign the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes and contracted course designer Eddie Connaughton, who has previously worked with Courtown and Arklow Golf Club, and landscape specialists Gary Flood Landscapes to do the work.
Merit awards went to Thomond Park and also to Carton House for the facilities they provided for the visit of Real Madrid.
Launch of Special Olympics manual
SPECIAL Olympics Ireland last week launched its golf leader manual at the GUI National Academy, Carton House.
The Special Olympics Ireland Golf Leader Manual, which is based on the Junior Golf Ireland model, is designed to assist volunteer coaches to deliver high quality coaching to Special Olympics athletes.
The manual, which is the first of its kind for athletes with an intellectual disability, will provide volunteer Special Olympics Ireland Golf Leaders with a greater understanding of the following areas: the Special Olympics Ireland golf programme and its links to golfers’ phases of development; the role of a Special Olympics Golf Leader, including communication and motivational skills; how to organise and deliver a coaching session, the planning and safety considerations; analysing athletes’ performance and providing feedback; rules, conduct and etiquette in golf and the Special Olympics Ireland Code of Ethics and Good Practice; technical golf coaching at an introductory level and knowledge of fun golf drills and games.
Golf was introduced to Special Olympics Ireland in 1997 and has grown rapidly as one of the current 12 official sports offered by the organisation.
Whitson’s work recognised
THERE was recognition of Kevan Whitson’s work recently when he was one of two successful PGA coaches to be awarded the Pro Sport Media 5 Star Professional awards. Whitson and Denmark-based James Petts picked up their awards at the recent PGAs of Europe’s annual gala awards dinner in Murcia, Spain.
Whitson is head professional at Royal County Down and has made an outstanding contribution to the Irish Special Olympic Golf Committee. He is also well known for his voluntary work in junior and juvenile coaching in Ireland, as well as his work with the ILGU.
He has also coached numerous Irish professionals during a busy career and also fulfilled the role of Chairman of the PGA of Ireland for many years.
Petts, head professional at Simons Golf Club, was recognised for his efforts during 25 years spent helping grow the popularity of the sport in Denmark.
Westport’s Hughes makes history
HISTORY was made recently at Westport Golf Club when Bridie Hughes was elected president at their agm.
As is the tradition, she was nominated by the outgoing president, Hugh Murphy, and now becomes the first lady to hold the prestigious office in the club’s 101-year history.
Hughes has held many golfing administrative roles over the last number of years. She was Westport GC Lady Captain in 1982 and earlier this month retired, after serving a five-year term, from her position as the Honorary Secretary of the Western District of the ILGU. She was also the former Western District PRO.
On the course she was a key member of Westport’s team successes in the Connaught Trophy, County Cup, the Ladies Challenge Cup teams in the 1970s and 1980s.
She was also instrumental in the ILGU decision to hold the Irish Women’s Close Championship at Westport during last year’s club centenary celebrations.
* GER Lynchis the Golfer of the Year at Portumna. Lynch, who plays off five, had a great year which concluded in an All-Ireland medal for the Irish Mixed Foresomes team of which he was a member. He won all his matches along the way with his playing partner Audrey McGrath.
