GOLF:A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Heritage to host left-handers
THE 20th national tournament for left-handed golfers (men) will be held at the Heritage, Killenard, Co Laois, on Friday, August 19th. As well as valuable prizes, the winner of the gross prize will receive the Bob Charles Trophy, while the winner of the nett prize will receive the National Trophy. The Martin Quinlan Trophy will be presented to the best senior (55 years and over).
An 18 hole stableford competition, it is open to all left-handed golfers with GUI handicaps. Right-handed golfers can play as guests.
Further details and entry forms are available on www.left-handed-golfers.com or contact Jerry Bradley, Gurrane, Belclare, Tuam, Co Galway, or phone him on 093 55310 or 087 2539124.
THE Fruit Trades Golf Society will hold their 33rd annual Charity Day on Tuesday, August 16th, in Forrest Little golf club. This year’s event is a four-person team costing €250 per team.
Funds raised on the day go to local charities although in recent years the prizes consisted of the winners on the day nominating which charities received the funds. Last year €7,000 was distributed to a wide variety of charities.
Places on the timesheet are available by phoning 086 3707084.
Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance
FIVE of Ireland’s leading golf clubs and resorts have joined forces to form the Dublin East Coast Golf Alliance, established to promote Ireland’s east coast region as a destination of choice for the discerning golf traveller.
The founding members – Carton House, Druids Glen, Powerscourt, The Island and the K Club – launched this alliance to promote some of the finest links and parkland courses in the world.
Three-time Major winner and Fáilte Ireland Irish golf ambassador Pádraig Harrington was at Carton House for the launch of the new alliance.
Coming off the back of three Major triumphs for Irish golfing greats Darren Clarke, Rory McIroy and Graeme McDowell, Ireland is now considered one of the top golfing destinations in the world with the Dublin/East area offering premium courses and a unique experience, both on and off the course, with another 100 courses just a short car journey from each other.
Timesheet open for Lord Mayor's Cup
THE LORD Mayor’s Cup will take place at Clontarf Golf Club from Sunday, August 7th to Saturday, August 13th.
The hugely-popular tournament was the brainchild of the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, the late Jack Belton, who was a former captain of Clontarf Golf Club.
The Lord Mayor’s Cup has been competed for by some of the country’s top golfers since 1951, including former Ryder Cup star Philip Walton.
The format for the event will see the qualifying round of 18 holes singles strokes being played on a scratch basis. It will take place on Sunday, August 7th, with the leading 64 players qualifying for the matchplay stages.
The first round of matches will then commence on Monday, August 8th and will continue throughout the week, with the semi-finals and final taking place on Saturday, August 13th.
The competition is open to players of affiliated golf clubs who hold a handicap of anything between four and nine at the date of the qualifying round.
The prepaid entry fee is € 25 per player.
The timesheet is now open and those who are interested in competing can either enter online at www.clontarfgolfclub.ie or by contacting Clontarf Golf Club at (01) 8331892.
Whitson to defend North of Ireland Strokeplay crown
REEVE WHITSON from the Mourne Golf Club will defend his North of Ireland Amateur Strokeplay title when the event takes place at Galgorm Castle on Monday and Tuesday, August 22nd and 23rd.
There is an added boost for this year’s competitors as world amateur golf ranking points will be on offer to those that finish in the top 10.
The North of Ireland Open Strokeplay will be played over 72 holes and all competitors will play 36 holes on Monday.
The leading 40 players and ties will then qualify for the final 36 holes on Tuesday. In the event of a tie the players concerned shall play a sudden death play-off.
Outside of the major Golfing Union of Ireland Championships, the North of Ireland Open Strokeplay has fast become one of the must-play tournaments for the game’s leading lights.
Leading current Irish amateurs such as Paul Cutler and Dermot McElroy will be heading the field.
Entry forms can be downloaded directly from the Galgorm Castle Golf Club website (www.galgormcastle.com) or by contacting the club directly (+44 28 256 46161).
Cost of entry for the Championship is only £30/€ 35 and the closing date is Monday, August 8th. Accommodation is also available to competitors and supporters at the Galgorm Resort Spa with rates from £59.
McEvoy rolls back the years
PADDY McEVOY turned back the years when he won his second captain’s prize at Balcarrick GC last week.
Winner of the first captain’s prize some 20 years ago, McEvoy returned to the winners’ enclosure again when winning captain Séamus McDonnell’s prize.
Playing off a handicap of 16, his 83 points was enough to win the prize by the slimmest of margins from Paul Burke and Brain Eglington, who both finished on 82.
TODAY is the closing date for entry to the Irish Boys Under-15 Open Championship which will take place at Galway Golf Club on August 23rd-24th.
Dugsa Cup set for Castlewarden
THE 90th annual Dublin United Golfing Societies Association Challenge Cup will take place at Castlewarden Golf Club this year. Qualifying rounds will be held on August 29th-30th with the final for qualifying teams on Monday, September 5th.
Each society team will consist of three pairs and the format will be foursome strokes. Competitors must hold GUI handicaps.
Tony Nugent of Turkeys Golfing Society is the 2011 president of Dugsa. Jack Nolan of Thursdays GS is patron. Dublin Fire Brigade Golfing Society will be defending the title they won at Corrstown GC in 2010.
The Challenge Cup is one of the oldest trophies in Irish Golf having being competed for every year since 1922. The first winners of the cup were the Motorcycle and Allied Trades GS. All queries to John Fagan, Honorary Secretary, at 087 987 2613. More details are at dugsa.com
