Irish Golf News

No, it's not toothache. Rory McIlroy contemplates his reply at his media conference in Tucson. Picture: Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie

Rory McIlroy has both but Graeme McDowell is banking on brains and touch to win out against raw power when he faces mega-hitter Gary Woodland in the first round of the WCG-Accenture Match Play in Tucson today.

The world No 17 is in the Group of Death at Dove Mountain with the likes of Zach Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley all standing in his way if he wants to meet pal McIlroy in Sunday's final.

McIlroy takes on former Ryder Cup star Boo Weekley in his opener hoping to build on a great start to the season and put last year's first round defeat to Shane Lowry behind him

But McDowell knows that his course management and his silky touch on the greens will be his key weapon against a Lake Nona neighbour Woodland, who can bomb the ball more than 50 yards past him at will

Feeling good about his game after opening his season with a seventh place finish at Pebble Beach two weeks ago, McDowell knows he could play great and still go home

He lost in the first round four times in five years before getting a run to the quarterfinals last season and knows there's no point in looking beyond Lake Nona neighbour and close pal Woodland.

McDowell said: "You kind of take it with a pinch of salt this week. There are no easy matches and you have just got to get your head down and try to get out of Wednesday. Once you get out of Wednesday, you try to get out of Thursday and try to do your job as best as you can and hope it’s enough. 

"It’s just a very fickle week so you just have to knuckle down and play your game. Gary is a good friend, I practiced with him all weekend and we travelled out together. It was good fun. But it’s always tough to play a good mate. He’s a good player and I will have to play well to beat him."

The course at Dove Mountain measures more than 7,700 yards but McDowell reckons length is not the biggest factor.

“Gary hits it 50 yards past me, as far past me as he wants," McDowell said. "Okay, length is important in some areas on this golf course, but you also have to place it well as well so I wouldn't call this necessarily a bombers track.

“Look at the past winners - Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald. … It hasn’t historically been the bombers who have taken care of business around here.

Graeme McDowell works on his bunker play in Tucson on Tuesday. Picture Fran Caffrey / www.golffile.ie

"This format has a lot to do with iron play and putting. You can really destroy a guy by putting really well."

With Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson skipping the event, McIlroy is one of the favourites to lift the title.

While he lost to Lowry in the first round last year, he reached the final in 2012 when he went down to US star Hunter Mahan.

That 2012 season was the greatest of his career so far - his five wins included a second major - but he believes he can do better.

Third in Abu Dhabi and ninth in Dubai in his first two outings, he's determined to go into the Masters with at least one win under his belt.

The world No 7 takes on American Boo Weekley in today’s first round at Dove Mountain knowing that anything can happen in an 18-hole matchplay sprint.

But he’s hoping that some concentrated work on his putting with coach Dave Stockton in Tucson this week can make all the difference.

“I haven’t hit the ball as well for a long time,” said McIlroy, who admitted that things are far different to 12 months ago when he arrived in a chilly Tucson and made an early exit to Shane Lowry, having struggled with his game and his new Nike clubs.

“I’ve spent a couple of days with Dave Stockton here because I was a little disappointed how I putted at the weekend in Dubai."

Asked if his stellar 2012 season - when he won the US PGA and became world No 1 in a five-win year - was his benchmark and he said, categorically: “I can do better.

"I went through period in 2012 when I missed four cuts in five events. I definitely thought it was a great year and when I played well, I played very well and won. But if I had any criticism about that year, I lacked a little bit of consistency.

“I am just trying to make my bad golf a little better and try and be more consistent and be able to compete on the weeks I don’t have my best game.

“So 2012 was a benchmark because anytime I got into contention, I was there or thereabout or I won, but I feel I’d like to try and got better than that.”

The bookies' favourite to win in Tucson where Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson are notable absentees, he insisted that while he's not yet thinking about Augusta, victories are always in his sights.

“After these three weeks I will be thinking about the Masters and getting ready for that but I guess here, at the Honda and Doral, it’s about trying to play well and I guess trying to get a win under your belt early on in the season,” he said.

The world number seven is far more  concerned about his putting than the demise Augusta National’s Eisenhower tree as he prepares to face the colourful Weekley

“It’s a tree,” McIlroy shrugged, smiling broadly.

Like McDowell, McIlroy knows there are no guarantees in Tucson, where the man shooting 67 could be sent packing as another cards a 73 against a less insider opponent and progresses.

Selected tee times (Irish time):

1425 Ian Poulter, ENG vs Rickie Fowler, USA
1445 Bubba Watson, USA vs Mikko Ilonen, FIN
1455 Keegan Bradley, USA vs Jonas Blixt, SWE
1545 Sergio Garcia, ESP vs Marc Leishman, AUS
1555 Bill Haas, USA vs Miguel A. Jimenez, ESP
1605 Dustin Johnson, USA vs Peter Hanson, SWE
1725 Graeme McDowell, NIR vs Gary Woodland, USA
1825 Rory McIlroy, NIR vs Boo Weekley, USA
1835 Lee Westwood, ENG vs Harris English, USA
1905 Henrik Stenson, SWE vs Kiradech Aphibanrat, THA
1925 Justin Rose, ENG vs Scott Piercy, USA
1935 Ernie, Els, ZAF vs Stephen Gallacher, SCO

Joost Luiten practices at Dove Mountain on Tuesday. Picture: Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie

European Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley is not going to tie himself up in knots studying the form of his potential team members at this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play in Tucson.

But as he analyses play for Sky Sports this week, he'll be keeping his eye out for some of the lesser lights and watching their progress as they play more US Tour events over the coming months.

"I will be observing it again but I am not going to get infatuated by it or get completely immersed in it," McGinley said. "I am not going to be making decisions based on whether a guy wins a match in Tucson or wins two or three matches.

"It will be a pointer for me but it won’t be something that I will live and die by. Of course, I am interested in it. I am interested to see how the young guys like Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson and Joost Luiten get on over in America and the traction they can achieve in the US over the next three or four months. 

"They are well established in Europe now and there next level is to compete in major fields whether they be world events, majors or PGA Tour events. That’s the next level for them prove themselves. They have proved themselves everywhere else.

"So I will be wishing them well and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them has a good week here or there."

With 16 first round matches pitting Europeans against Americans, McGinley will be as interested in the likes of Harris English as Jordan Spieth or Matt Kuchar.

"Everybody is talking about Jordan Spieth but Harris English is higher in the rankings. And Jimmy Walker is higher in the rankings. The fact that Spieth played the Presidents Cup last year puts him on the radar but Harris English is a player everyone speaks highly of. Billy Horschel is another young kid they are talking about.

"They will have rookies in their team, no doubt. We will have rookies too, we always have had and I have no reason to believe this will be any different."

The practice ground at Dove Mountain. 

As for the struggles of players such as Lee Westwood or Luke Donald, McGinley is not getting involved. 

"I am leaving them alone," he said. "They are well experienced at this stage. I am just the Ryder Cup captain and I’m not telling them what to do.

"I am observing them and I will be delighted to see any of them playing well. But it is not my business.

"I am Ryder Cup captain, not God. I don’t all of a sudden have to have massive communication with everybody.

"I am just observing. They have their teams around them and they are making their decisions. Of course I will have conversations with them and I will be encouraging them.

"It will all reveal itself over the next six months. All will be revealed in time, majors will come and guys will win points.

"The Majors offer double points for the American and we can see that Bubba Watson is starting to get into position now and Kuchar, Snedeker and players like that will come to the fore as the season goes on. There is no point in making big decisions now. All will come good."

There are 25 Europeans and 28 Americans in action this week with 16 matches pitting Europe against the USA

07:25 AM Match 1 Ian Poulter, ENG vs Rickie Fowler, USA

07:45 AM Match 3 Bubba Watson, USA vs Mikko Ilonen, FIN

07:55 AM Match 4 Keegan Bradley, USA vs Jonas Blixt, SWE

08:25 AM Match 7 Jordan Spieth, USA vs Pablo Larrazabal, ESP

08:35 AM Match 8 Thomas Bjorn, DNK vs Francesco Molinari, ITA

08:45 AM Match 9 Sergio Garcia, ESP vs Marc Leishman, AUS

08:55 AM Match 10 Bill Haas, USA vs Miguel A. Jimenez, ESP

09:05 AM Match 11 Dustin Johnson, USA vs Peter Hanson, SWE

09:15 AM Match 12 Victor Dubuisson, FRA vs Kevin Streelman, USA

09:25 AM Match 13 Jason Day, AUS vs Thorbjorn Olesen, DNK 

09:35 AM Match 14 Jamie Donaldson, WAL vs Billy Horschel, USA

09:45 AM Match 15 Matt Kuchar, USA vs Bernd Wiesberger, AUT

09:55 AM Match 16 Ryan Moore, USA vs Joost Luiten, NED

10:25 AM Match 19 Graeme McDowell, NIR vs Gary Woodland, USA

10:35 AM Match 20 Hideki Matsuyama, JPN vs Martin Kaymer, DEU

10:45 AM Match 21 Brandt Snedeker, USA vs David Lynn, ENG

11:15 AM Match 24 Luke Donald, ENG vs Matteo Manassero, ITA

11:25 AM Match 25 Rory McIlroy, NIR vs Boo Weekley, USA

11:35 AM Match 26 Lee Westwood, ENG vs Harris English, USA

11:55 AM Match 28 Hunter Mahan, USA vs Gonzalo Fenz-Castano, ESP

12:05 PM Match 29 Henrik Stenson, SWE vs Kiradech Aphibanrat, THA

12:25 PM Match 31 Justin Rose, ENG vs Scott Piercy, USA

12:35 PM Match 32 Ernie, Els, ZAF vs Stephen Gallacher, SCO

Rory McIlroy will have Bose on his bag for the next eight events

Rory McIlroy might have half his 2014 schedule planned out but according to his fiancée Caroline Wozniacki,  the wedding venue and date have also been decided.

Whether it's happening this year or not she wouldn't say after what The National in the UAE described as "a gutsy come-from-behind victory against Germany’s Sabine Lisicki" at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships."

“We already have a lot set: date, location, everything,” Wozniacki was quoted as saying. 

Will it be this year? 

“You never know," she said.

If McIlroy is in on the plans, he wasn't letting on in Tucson last night.

Told there's a date set, he said: "Is there? Well, she is making all the decisions."

As for his schedule, McIlroy is playing eight events between now and the US Open at Pinehurst No 2. In each of them he will use a golf bag branded by his sponsor, Bose — a quid pro quo for their promise to donate an undisclosed sum to The Rory Foundation. (Nike is not an official bag sponsor).

Several of the bags he uses will then be auctioned off with the proceeds also going to the children's charities supported by The Rory Foundation.

McIlroy's schedule:

This week: WGC-Accenture Match Play, The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Marana, AZ

Feb 27 - Mar 2: Honda Classic, PGA National (Champion), Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Mar 13-16: WGC-Cadillac Championship, Trump National Doral, Miami, FL

April 3-6: Shell Houston Open, Golf Club of Houston, Humble, TX 

April 10-13: Masters Tournament, Augusta National

May 1-4: Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC

May 8-11 THE PLAYERS Championship, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 

May 29 - June 1 The Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, OH 

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell at Wentworth last year. Picture Stuart Adams www.golffile.ie

World rankings falls for Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell mean they cannot meet in this week's WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship unless they reach Sunday's final on Dove Mountain outside Tucson.

McIlroy was pushed from sixth down to seventh in the world by Zach Johnson and has been drawn against Boo Weekley, the world No 64, in the Ben Hogan Division at the Ritz Carlton Resort. 

A win for Bubba Watson and fifth place finish for Charl Schwartzel in the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles saw McDowell relegated from 15th to 17th in the world.

As a result, he's in the Snead Division at Dove Mountain and will face big-hitting Gary Woodland in Wednesday's opening round.

If McIlroy beats Weekley, he will take on the winner of Lee Westwood and the impressive young American Harris English and may have to see off Ian Poulter later in the wee.

If McDowell, the reigning Volvo World Matchplay champion, beat Woodland, he will take on the winner of the hugely talented Hideki Matsuyama of Japan or Ryder Cup team mate Martin Kaymer.

Click [Brackets] for the full draw PDF

Here are the first round matches

Starting tee - Time - Match No - 

1 07:25 AM Match 1 Ian Poulter, ENG vs Rickie Fowler, USA           

1 07:35 AM Match 2 Jimmy Walker, USA vs Branden Grace, ZAF           

1 07:45 AM Match 3 Bubba Watson, USA vs Mikko Ilonen, FIN           

1 07:55 AM Match 4 Keegan Bradley, USA vs Jonas Blixt, SWE           

1 08:05 AM Match 5 Steve Stricker, USA vs George Coetzee, ZAF           

1 08:15 AM Match 6 Graham DeLaet, CAN vs Patrick Reed, USA           

1 08:25 AM Match 7 Jordan Spieth, USA vs Pablo Larrazabal, ESP           

1 08:35 AM Match 8 Thomas Bjorn, DNK vs Francesco Molinari, ITA           

1 08:45 AM Match 9 Sergio Garcia, ESP vs Marc Leishman, AUS           

1 08:55 AM Match 10 Bill Haas, USA vs Miguel A. Jimenez, ESP           

1 09:05 AM Match 11 Dustin Johnson, USA vs Peter Hanson, SWE           

1 09:15 AM Match 12 Victor Dubuisson, FRA vs Kevin Streelman, USA           

1 09:25 AM Match 13 Jason Day, AUS vs Thorbjorn Olesen, DNK           

1 09:35 AM Match 14 Jamie Donaldson, WAL vs Billy Horschel, USA           

1 09:45 AM Match 15 Matt Kuchar, USA vs Bernd Wiesberger, AUT           

1 09:55 AM Match 16 Ryan Moore, USA vs Joost Luiten, NED           

1 10:05 AM Match 17 Charl Schwartzel, ZAF vs Kevin Stadler, USA           

1 10:15 AM Match 18 Jim Furyk, USA vs Chris Kirk, USA           

1 10:25 AM Match 19 Graeme McDowell, NIR vs Gary Woodland, USA         

1 10:35 AM Match 20 Hideki Matsuyama, JPN vs Martin Kaymer, DEU           

1 10:45 AM Match 21 Brandt Snedeker, USA vs David Lynn, ENG           

1 10:55 AM Match 22 Webb Simpson, USA vs Thongchai Jaidee, THA           

1 11:05 AM Match 23 Jason Dufner, USA vs Scott Stallings, USA           

1 11:15 AM Match 24 Luke Donald, ENG vs Matteo Manassero, ITA           

1 11:25 AM Match 25 Rory McIlroy, NIR vs Boo Weekley, USA           

1 11:35 AM Match 26 Lee Westwood, ENG vs Harris English, USA           

1 11:45 AM Match 27 Zach Johnson, USA vs Richard Sterne, ZAF           

1 11:55 AM Match 28 Hunter Mahan, USA vs Gonzalo Fenz-Castano, ESP           

1 12:05 PM Match 29 Henrik Stenson, SWE vs Kiradech Aphibanrat, THA           

1 12:15 PM Match 30 Louis Oosthuizen, ZAF vs Nick Watney, USA           

1 12:25 PM Match 31 Justin Rose, ENG vs Scott Piercy, USA           

1 12:35 PM Match 32 Ernie, Els, ZAF vs Stephen Gallacher, SCO

Keith Nolan (left) and Jason Allred at Riviera. 

Bray's Keith Nolan never made more than $21,000 in an event during his PGA Tour career but on Sunday he was on the bag for pal and Monday qualifier Jason Allred, who claimed a shock third place finish in the Northern Trust Open and a massive payday.

The former Irish Amateur Open winner and Walker Cup player had a PGA Tour card in 1998 and 2000 but couldn't hold on to it and eventually called it a day on tour at the end of 2009 after a hand injury had stymied his bids to get back into the big league through the Buy.com Tour or the Q-School.

Nice to see one of Ireland's most popular US exports, a long time resident in Knoxville, Tennessee, having a bit of luck.

According to PGA Tour.com:

"Allred made more money on Sunday than he had in 153 previous PGA TOUR events. His $388,600 paycheck for that tie for third at the Northern Trust Open was more than he'd made in 103 Web.com Tour starts combined, too.

But as great as the financial windfall was -- and it will buy a lot of diapers for Allred, who is about to become a father for the third time -- the experience was worth even more for the successful Monday qualifier.

"The money's certainly great, but don't get me wrong, it means a lot and it will certainly help out," Allred said. "At the same time, being out there today, I didn't really think about it. I'm surprised I didn't; like you said, it's about as much as I've ever made in my whole career in one day, which is crazy."

Allred, who hadn't played a PGA TOUR event since 2010 and could count his Web.com Tour starts last year on two hands, surged into the spotlight on Friday with a 64. He then handled the weekend pressure extremely well, shooting 67 and 68 to finish three strokes behind Bubba Watson.

"I don't think I'm a smart enough guy to put into words how much fun I had, but the chance to be here, this place, Riviera, is such an amazing, special place,' he said. "I praise God that for whatever reason, despite me, my tendency to try so hard to do so well, I was just able to really enjoy it and

I felt peaceful and so thankful to have Keith Nolan, my buddy, and a great caddie on the bag, really helping me, just to soak it in....

The top-10 finish gets Allred into The Honda Classic -- but he'll have a tough decision to make since his wife is due to deliver their child that week."

A wind farm in Oregon.

Donald Trump bailed out of Scotland after losing a legal battle against a wind farm being built off the coast of his Aberdeen property.  Now it appears he could face a new wind farm headache at Doonbeg.

As STV reports, there are plans in place for nine 85m turbines near the Co Clare venue with a planning decision due on March 30:

The application, by Clare Coastal Wind Power Ltd, states: "For grant of a ten year planning permission for development at a site in the townlands of Carrowmore South, Einagh and Shragh, approximately 2 km south of the village of Doonbeg.

"The development will comprise nine electricity generating wind turbines with a hub height of up to 85 metres and a rotor diameter of up to 82 metres giving an overall height of up to 126m, hardstandings, a control building, an electrical compound, a permanent meteorological mast, associated site roads, drainage and site works.

"The planning application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement ( EIS ) and a Natura Impact Statement ( NIS )."

No doubt Mr Trump will have a view on the matter when we get to Doral for the WGC-Cadillac Championship. 

Damien McGrane during Saturday's third round of the Africa Open at East London Golf Club. Picture: David Lloyd / www.golffile.ie

Not even the death stare he gave a photographer after missing a short birdie putt at the last could change the outcome. Damien McGrane's closing 65 in the Africa Open gave him his lowest score with respect to par in his European Tour career, not to mention a cheque for €18,950.

The 42-year old from Kells finished up tied for ninth on 16 under par 268 - four strokes behind South Africa's Thomas Aiken, who holed a 45-footer for birdie to beat England's Oliver Fisher at the first extra hole to clinch his third European Tour win, his first on home soil, and the €158,500 top prize.

McGrane has gone low in European Tour events before but his previous best with respect to par was a 15 under par total of 265 en route to joint 11th in the 2010 UBS Hong Kong Open.

He also shot 15 under 273 in the Holden New Zealand Open in 2005 and the Challenge Tour's BMW Russian Open in 2002. He even shot 19 under 273 to win Stage Two of the Q-School at Pals in Catalonia in 2000.

Knowing McGrane, he will be pleased to have racked up a good week and risen to 89th in the Race to Dubai. But he will also be slightly disappointed that he could not pick up another few euro or even win the tournament after storming to the turn in six under 30.

Following birdies at the second and third and a spectacular eagle two at the 362-yard fourth, he birdied the sixth and seventh to go six under for the day and make a huge move up the leaderboard.

He had the leaders in his sights but the birdies dried up. He bogeyed the 11th, got that shot back at the 16th but then missed inside five feet for birdie at the last and gave a photographer, who was happily snapping him from the other side of the green, a withering look.

Michael Hoey was tied for 54th on eight under after a closing 70 as the tournament provided the East London crowd with a thrilling afternoon's golf.

At the end of it all Aiken shot a four under 67 to Fisher's 69 and then drained a 45-foot birdie putt at the 18th to clinch a playoff victory over the young Englishman.

Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo led by two shots heading into the final round, but came undone at the first and took three shots to get out of a greenside bunker before eventually walking off with a quintuple bogey nine.

He recovered superbly, however, and birdied his final five holes to finish tied for fifth on 18 under.

Final scores

Ballyliffin Golf Club

Strabane's Maurice McGettigan defied gale force wins to rack up 40 points and cruise to a six-point win over his brother Odran in the North Western Alliance outing at Ballyliffin Old on Saturday.

Eddie McHugh was third, making it a clean sweep for the boys from Strabane Golf Club in Tyrone.

In the gross section, Letterkenny's Seamus Clinton fired a 76 for a two-stroke win over Irish PGA champion Michael McGeady and Faughan Valley's Noel Callan.

North Western Alliance, Ballyliffin (Old Links) Golf Club, Par 71 SSS 71

1st Nett Maurice McGettigan (16) Strabane 40 Pts
2nd Nett Odran McGettigan (23) Strabane 34 Pts
3rd Nett Eddie McHugh (15) Strabane 33 Pts

1st Gross Seamus Clinton (scr) Letterkenny 76
2nd Michael McGeady (scr) North West 78 b.o.t.
3rd Noel Callan (scr) Faughan Valley 78

“2”s C Davison, Kevin Quigg

Next outing: Dunfanaghy, 1st March. 

The 18th at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links. Picture via Portmarnock.com

The Island's Robert Hutton won the second RaboDirect Hilary Golf Society outing of the season at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

Despite a stiff cross breeze, six-handicapper Hutton shot a one-under 70 gross to edge out Portmarnock Links member Darragh Curran on a countback.

It could have been a comfortable win for Hutton, but he made a double bogey five on the tough, par-three 17th when he overshot the green and then closed with a three-putt bogey.

Curran, the other hand, was left to rue a sloppy double bogey on the 16th. 

Birdies at 15th and 17th were enough to give Naas Junior Eoin O'Hehir his first gross prize in the Hilary with a five over 76.

RaboDirect Hilary Golf Society at Portmarnock Links

• 1st: Robert Hutton (The Island) 6 (70)
• 2nd: Darragh Curran (Port Links) 5 (70)
• Gross: Eoin O'Hehir (Naas) 76

Next event: Seapoint, Sunday, March 2nd.

Italy's Renatore Paratore tees off in the European Tour's Italian Open in Turin last year. Picture: Claudio Scaccini/www.golffile.ie

Italian teenager Renato Paratore underlined his class and marked himself out once more as a name to watch when he captured the Portuguese International Amateur Championship at Montado Golf Resort.

The 17-year old from Rome finished on seven under 281 (68 69 74 70) alongside England's Nicholas Marsh (71 72 72 66) and went on to clinch the title with a par at the first extra hole.

Sweden's Marcus Kinhult (72), who led by a stroke from Paratore overnight, finished third on 282 with Spain's Javier Sainz fourth on 284 ahead of England's Ashley Chesters and Spain's Ivan Cantero.

Final scores [PDF}

Winner of the Junior Orange Bowl last December, Paratore was 38th in last season's Italian Open in Turin.

Paratore and compatriot Francesco Molinari in Turin last year. Picture: Claudio Scaccini/www.golffile.ie

"It was a very tough battle," Paratore said. "Even from the mental point of view because so many players had a chance to win.

"I played with Kinhult, who I had overtaken on the third hole, so when we got to the 18th, I assumed I was a shot ahead. I hadn't heard about Marsh's comeback.

"I looked at the leaderboard and tried to make a birdie to get back on top, but my second shot went a little. It didn't affect me and in the playoff on the ninth — one of the hardest holes out there —  we were both in trouble but I managed to keep my concentration and come out on top.

"I didn't do anything special after winning the Orange Bowl last year but just continued working on the same things as before.

"But it was a victory that gave me the confidence to go on and affront the future with even more determination."

The Island's Paul McBride headed the Irish challenge, finished tied for 24th on three over 291 after adding a closing 71 to previous rounds of 72, 75 and 73.

The Ulster Boys champion started at the 10th and birdied the par-three 12th and the 14th to turn in two under.

He then bogeyed the par-five second and followed a birdie at the fourth with a bogey at his final hole.

Faithlegg's Robin Dawson, the Irish Boys champion, made just one birdie in a disappointing, four over 76 to finish tied for 41st on eight over 296 (74 70 76 76).

The Explanar swing aid at Fota Island Golf Academy

Thinking of heading to Fota Island for the Irish Open in June? Why not make an early reconnaissance trip next Saturday, February 22, when Fota Island Golf Academy holds an exclusive Open Day from 10am to 2pm.

The Academy, which holds regular classes for golfers of all ages and abilities, has all the latest computerised analysis systems and a full array of teaching aids.

The Open Day will give the public an opportunity to experience the world class facilities on offer and meet with PGA Professionals Kevin Morris, Brian Kelleher and Ian Prendergast.

The Fota Island trio will cover a range of topics such as long and short game, custom fitting, golf bag analysis and membership advice.

Guests can avail of special offers in the Pro Shop and there will also be a Callaway demonstration on the day, where a Callaway PGA Pro will offer top tips and allow people to try out the latest 2014 range of Callaway products.

With 4,000 square yards of first class turf, you can practice everything from chipping and putts to clean crisp iron shots and long drives.

The range is well over 350 yards long and has three specially designed target greens with traps to make practice more realistic and worthwhile.       

As more than half of the game is played from 100 yards and inwards, Fota Island Golf Academy's short game area is first class and the pitching area has multiple greens with hazards and other targets at various distances for precise practice.

The chipping green is well shaped and sloped to allow for every conceivable greenside shot and is surrounded on two sides with various styles of bunkers providing you with an optimum array of bunker shots.

Registration will take place on the day and admission is free. For more information please visit www.fotaisland.ie

Niall Kearney had an unfortunate finish at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage. Pictured during the 2013 Irish PGA Championship by Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie

Niall Kearney had his Asian Tour card in the palm of his hand — only to see it slip away in heartbreaking fashion with five dropped shots in his last four holes.

The 25-year old Dubliner started the final day of the Qualifying School four strokes outside the top 40 and ties who are awarded full Asian Tour cards for 2014. Leaderboard

But after racing to the turn in four under 32  at Springfield Royal Country Club with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 16th and 18th, an unfortunate finish left him wondering what might have been

Having started for home with five straight pars, the former Walker Cup player double bogeyed the sixth and then bogeyed his last three holes as he chased his golden ticket, eventually carding a one over 72 to finish tied for 62nd on one-over par.

"It's very disappointing," Kearney said. "My preparation went great and I produced a lot of great play but unfortunately, I've no card to show for it.

"On the sixth I put my tee shot behind a tree, went for the green and put it in a hazard. I chased birdies after that and got too aggressive." 

How many starts Kearney will now get remains to be seen and while his finish will hurt, his performance shows that he still has legitimate reasons to believe that good things may be just around the corner. 

Japan’s Akinori Tani celebrates his victory. Picture via AsianTour.com

Exactly 40 players finished on four under par or better to earn their playing rights with Japan’s Akinori Tani taking top spot after Lam Chih Bing in Thailand opted not to contest a playoff.

Tani, a two-time winner in Japan, shot a one-under-par 70 but the story of the day belonged to Lam, who closed with a 64 at the Springfield Royal Country Club, the lowest round of the day.

Knowing that he had done enough to earn a Tour card, Lam decided to forfeit the play-off without hitting a single shot as he rushed home to celebrate the birthday of his daughter, who turns two on Sunday.

Lam, who has won once on the Asian Tour, made up for the disappointment of finishing 65th on the 2013 Order of Merit by putting on a scintillating display of golf when shot a bogey-free round highlighted by one eagle and five birdies.

“The goal was to finish inside the top-40 and once I knew that I made it, I had to rush to catch my flight so I can spend time with my family, especially my daughter whose birthday is on Sunday. It really means a lot to me that I have earned him Tour card again, Lam told the Asian Tour website.

“Previously I played through my country exemption category but I will get a better status if I secured a card through Qualifying School That’s why I am here this week,” said Lam, who is the chairman of the Asian Tour Tournament Players Committee.

“Although I have won on the Asian Tour before, it didn’t give me an edge over the rest out here. I think these young guys are fearless and there are many good players but I supposed experience counts as well,” smiled the 37-year-old, whose last appearance in the Qualifying School was in 2005.

Cormac Sharvin. Picture via Daily Record/Stirling Observer

Irish Amateur Close champion Cormac Sharvin has received a fair play award for his honesty on the golf course.

Donald Morton reports in the Scottish Daily Record that the Stirling University student has been recognised "for his fantastic sportsmanship" and awarded the Enno Harms Fair Play Award by the European University Sports Association.

It follows an exceptional piece of sportsmanship by the 21-year-old Irishman at last year’s European Universities Golf Championship in France, where Stirling successfully defended their team title.

Sharvin called a two-shot penalty on himself with three holes left to play in the 72–hole tournament in Saint-Saens, despite still being in contention for an individual medal.

Cormac said: “I’d hit my ball left and it was up against a tree at the 16th. My back was up against the tree and I was trying to knock it out.

“As I took my stroke, the club got jammed in a branch and didn’t move. I could have treated it as a practise swing but the first thing that came to my head was to say to my playing partner that I’d tried to play the shot.

“I’d just dropped out of contention for the title but it was also a team event so the impetus was still there to shoot the best I could. I ended up double-bogeying and, looking back, if I’d been a little less greedy trying to make the green, I should have knocked it side-ways like I did with my next shot.

“Obviously I would have liked to have won the tournament outright but thankfully we still won the team title. It’s nice to be recognised by EUSA for playing in the spirit of the game.”

Cormac has been invited to collect his award in Turkey this April.

Sharvin's sportsmanship was not the only act of sportsmanship by an Irish international golfer last year.

Greystones' Paul Dunne also called a shot on himself during last year's Interprovincial Matches

In attempting to remove a loose impediment behind his ball on the 18th, he inadvertantly pulled a blade of grass out of the ground.

He subsequently holed the putt  for what appeared to the galleries to be a win on the hole and a halved match with Munster’s Geoff Lenehan, but immediately walked over to the referee and after reporting the facts, accepted a loss of hole penalty.

Leinster ended up halving with Munster on the day and lost out to Ulster for the title the following day.

Pádraig Harrington watches the flight out a shot in the first round 75 that did all the damage. Picture Kenneth E Dennis/ kendennisphoto.com

Pádraig Harrington made a brave bid to make the cut but came up short as two bogeys in his last three holes undid all his good work in the Northern Trust Open.

While six players must return to Riviera Country Club on Saturday morning to complete their second rounds after play was suspended due to darkness, Harrington will not be one of them after he carded a one under 70 to finish two shots outside the projected cut mark on three over par.

The 42-year old Dubliner was always going to find it a tough task to avoid a third missed cut from his last four starts after opening with that crippling, four over 75.

But he produced some fine golf to caress the "miracle", picking up three birdies without error in his first 14 holes to haul his way up into joint 70th before tripping up within sight of the finishing line.

Four closing par would have been enough but a bogey at the seventh (his 16th), where he missed the green from the fairway from 159 yards and failed to get up and down, proved fatal.

Pádraig Harrington and his caddie Ronan Flood at Riviera Country Club during the first round. Picture Kenneth E Dennis/ kendennisphoto.com

The three-time major winner had a chance to get that shot back at the eighth but missed a birdie chance from seven feet.

Needing a birdie at the ninth to survive, he drove into the left rough, overshot the green with his approach from 146 yards and missed an 18 footer for par after leaving himself a tricky chip.

The world No 133 now has a week off before returning to action at the Honda Classic and while he will take some comfort from some excellent play in the second round, his inconsistency in the scoring department is proving costly.

Starting on the back nine, he got off to the perfect start when he hit his tee shot to the front edge of the driveable 10th green and got up and down for birdie.

He couldn't do the same from left of the par-five 11th but saved a great par after overshooting the tough 12th and then played solidly for the next five holes before holing a clutch eight footer for par at the 18th to turn for home with his hopes alive.

A missed five footer for birdie at the first might have been a blow, but Harrington rolled home an 18 footer for birdie at the third and a 15 footer for another birdie at the fifth to haul himself onto the one over par projected cut mark as light faded.

Then came that unfortunate finish.

At the business end of the leaderboard, South Korea's Sang-Moon Bae added a five under 66 to his opening 67 to lead by a stroke on nine under par from Aaron Baddeley (65) and Robert Garrigus (67).

Leaderboard

US Open champion Justin Rose was cruising at four under for the tournament with seven holes of his second round remaining but triple bogeyed the 12th and dropped another shot at the next to slip back to tied 55th on level par after a 72.

Carr Golf Services and Golf Course Maintenance Services (GCMS) are hosting Golf Business Briefings around the country on February 25, 26 and 27.

Carr Golf Services, Golf Course Maintenance Services, RSM Farrell Grant Sparks & GolfNow/BRS will provide key speakers who will discuss industry topics including management strategies, debt restructuring, bank negotiations, golf course maintenance initiatives, key industry trends, sales strategies and consolidation strategies available to golf clubs.

Speakers at the Golf Business Briefings include Marty Carr (CEO Carr Golf Group), David Farrell (RSM Farrell Grant Sparks), Gerry Byrne (Director of Agronomy, Golf Course Maintenance Services) and Paul Sampliner (Senior Director of Training & Products, Golf Channel).
 
The half day events will take place from 10am- 1pm, and they are free of charge

• 25th February: Cork – Fota Island Resort, Co. Cork
• 26th February: Dublin/Kildare – The K Club, Co. Kildare
• 27th February: Belfast - Hilton Templepatrick, Belfast

Invitations are open to officers of golf clubs and stakeholders in the golf industry and the half day briefings are free to attend.

Further information on dates, speakers and registration  available by clicking here. RSVP Sinead@carrgolf.com

Mulranny Golf Club and the newly formed lake in the middle of the course. 

Storm-ravaged Mulranny Golf Club is making huge strides in its bid to save the charming nine-hole links from utter destruction.

Members at the County Mayo gem — famous for its wired off greens and the cattle and donkeys that share the course with the golfers — are writing to every club in Ireland outlining their plight and asking for help.

They are asking each club if they would consider holding a "Save Mulranny Golf Links" competition with the proceeds going into a much-needed costal protection fund for this unique west coast course.

Just as clubs all over Ireland ran fund-raising competitions to help famed Ballybunion build sea defences when the Atlantic threatened to reclaim the course, Mulranny also needs an urgent injection of funds to foot bill that will easily surpass €100,000.

Leading golf course architect Tom Doak, famous for his work at courses like Bandon Dunes and Barnbougle Dunes, believes Mulranny is worth saving and  indicated he's willing to help out by putting his own cash into the pot. 

With the Golfing Union of Ireland's constitution preventing it from helping clubs financially an with government cash earmarked for more crucial capital projects, it's up to Irish golfers to come to the rescue.

The waters are receding at Mulranny, which was under several feet of sea water just a few weeks ago.

However, there is still a huge about of rock to move and coastal defences are crucial if it is to withstand another big storm such as those that have hit the Irish coast over the past six weeks.

Mulranny as it was meant to be seen. 

Mulranny was hit twice in the space of a month but tidal flooding with hundreds of tons of rock now scattered over fairways and greens.

"We urgently need to address the coastal defences which have been decimated by the recent Atlantic storms but unfortunately all our available funds have been spent on hiring machinery and large pumps to clear the course of flood water and rock," said Mulranny's Fergus Rothwell.

"It is estimated these coastal defences will cost in excess of €100,000. If we do nothing then there is a very real possibility that the next high tide and coastal storm may be the end of Mulranny golf links as we know it.

"Having consulted with various individuals in the golfing industry it was proposed that we contact golf courses throughout Ireland and ask if they would consider running a SAVE MULRANNY GOLF LINKS competition with the proceeds going to the coastal defence fund. We are currently in the process of doing this.

"All you fellow golfers out there we urgently need your support if we are to save this little nine-hole links from extinction.

If you have any queries or would like to donate to the SAVE MULRANNY GOLF LINKS FUND please contact us at mulrannygolf@eircom.net or phone our club secretary on 087 619 8188."

Green machine. Damien McGrane looks intently at the flight of a drive in round two at East London. Picture: David Lloyd / www.golffile.ie

Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane hit the birdie trail to make the cut in the weather-delayed Africa Open at East London Golf Club in the Eastern Cape.

But David Higgins looks likely to miss out and join Gareth Maybin and Kevin Phelan on the sidelines after a second round 68 left him a shot outside the projected mark on four under par.

Hoey looked comfortable when started at the ninth and birdied his third, fourth and fifth holes to the day to get to six under par. 

But he double bogeyed the 17th and dropped further shots at the first and second to find himself facing a battle to avoid the cut

That's when he showed his class and birdied four of his last six holes to card a three under 68 and finish the day tied for 38th with McGrane on five under.

McGrane had two bogeys and a double bogey in his 69 but six birdies undid all the damage as he looked set for another payday — albeit 11 strokes behind Q-chool graduate John Hahn.

The American rookie came home in 28 to lead by two strokes from overnight leader Ricardo Santos (66) thanks to a course record-equalling 61.

A 95-minute delay caused by torrential morning rain meant the second round was not completed on schedule on Friday evening, with play due to resume at 0715 local time on Saturday.

Hahn came through three stages of Qualifying School to be one of four Americans to earn a card PGA Catalunya, and said: "I just got the putter hot early and it stayed hot all day. It turned into a good one.

"I hit a lot of fairways and greens and the greens I missed early in the round I got up and down. I made a couple of putts you don't normally make and had a couple of unexpected ones go in."

Hahn admitted he had been inspired by the success of compatriots Peter Uihlein and Brooks Koepka, with Uihlein winning the Madeira Islands Open last year and Koepka earning promotion to The European Tour with three victories on the Challenge Tour.

"With Peter and Brooks coming over and watching the success those guys had, I knew playing mini tours in the US wasn't going to get me anywhere so this was a good place to try to accumulate World Ranking points and move forward," Hahn added.

"It was a last-minute idea and it has turned into a really good opportunity for me. Seeing different countries and cultures is something I have never had. I am almost getting more enjoyment from that than the golf.

"Learning how to travel, eat different foods, it's kind of a growing up experience and I am having a blast every step of the way."

England's Oliver Fisher is a shot behind Santos on 13 under, the 2011 Czech Open winner making birdies at his final four holes to shoot an error-free 63.

But it was another tough week for Maybin and rookie Phelan.

Maybin was always on the back foot following an early double bogey and while he made four birdies in a row from his 13th, his 68 left him out in the cold on three under.

It had looked at one stage that three under par would make the cut on the number but the afternoon scoring was just as hot and Phelan simply couldn't make enough birdies with rounds of 69 and 70 proving at least one too many.

Phelan has now played five events on the 2014 schedule but broken 70 just once in 12 rounds.

Paul McBride. Picture: Pat Cashman cashmanphotography.ie

Faithlegg's Robin Dawson and The Island's Paul McBride will carry Irish hopes into the final round after making the cut on the mark in the Portuguese Amateur Open in Lisbon.

Ulster Boys champion McBride bogeyed his last two holes to card a one over 73 in the third round at Montado Golf Club as Irish Boys champion Dawson struggled to a four over 76 to leave them tied for 36th on four over par.

Leaderboard 

Final round tee-times

They are 10 strokes adrift of leader Marcus Kinhult of Sweden, who posted a 69 to lead by a stroke on six under par from Italy's Renato Paratore.

There was no luck for Claremorris' Stephen Healy as he shot 74 to finish tied 55th on eight over 224 — four shots outside the cut mark for the top 40 and ties after rounds of 75, 75, and 74.

Stackstown's Richard Bridges (78) 227, Lucan's Richard O'Donovan (77) 228, Belvoir Park's Harry Diamond (79) 230 and Matthew Wylie (81) 241, also missed out.

Doonbeg — home to golfers, the grey dunes and the microscopic snail Vertigo angustior. Picture via doonbeglodge.com

We may have been too hasty to assume that the Trump Organisation has no plans to complete a major overhaul of Doonbeg — golf course designer Martin Hawtree met with Donald Trump's sons Eric and Don Jnr in Doonbeg today.

Speaking to the Clare Champion's Peter O'Connell earlier this week, Eric Trump said: "Quite frankly, there’s no one better in the world at building than us. It’s what we do. We build golf courses. Not that the golf course here is for rebuild. But we’ll make sure that those areas that are damaged are fixed better than ever."

Given the recent storm damage to the Greg Norman designed course — estimated at €1m by Clare County Council for January's erosion damage alone — it makes sense to take advantage of the opportunity to make changes.  

How big these changes will be depends on the new owner and the red-tape that prevented Greg Norman from going near the areas featuring the famous snail Vertigo angustoir, not to mention 51 acres of grey dunes that the Australian was prevented from working into the design. 

We're told that Mr Hawtree – the man who redid Lahinch and many other Irish links including Royal Dublin and Portmarnock — and the Trump brothers are to meet with Michael O'Leary, managing director of  specialist golf course construction company SOL Golf tomorrow.

Sol Golf has carried out numerous construction and remodelling projects at links and parkland courses across Ireland and Europe, including Doonbeg.

The company has had a hand in the remodelling of venues such as Ballybunion, Muirfield, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Royal Portrush, The Island, County Louth, Dooks, Lahinch, Rosapenna, Royal Dublin, Royal Lytham & St Annes and Tralee, to name but a few.

Knowing Donald Trump's propensity to take on a major challenge, we wonder if he will be tempted to enter the fenced off areas at Doonbeg and take on Vertigo angustoir, the grey dunes and with them, the Department of the Environment and an army of ecologists.

The snails and the dunes shaped the golf course in that the routing might have been very different had all the terrain at Doonbeg been open game. 

The layout

The Doonbeg "Factfile" produced by the PR company used by the previous owners, featured the heading "ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION", which explained the special relationship between the owners, the dunes, the snails and red tape: 

The Lodge at Doonbeg has taken extreme measures to protect two significant environment elements located onsite: The grey dunes – the designation applied to only the oldest intact dunes – and the endangered snail, Vertigo angustior.

The former are designated a candidate for Special Area of Conservation by Dúchas, the Irish Heritage Service. Under agreement between The Lodge and Dúchas [an executive agency of the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, abolished in 2003], 51 acres of grey dunes are permanently fenced off for preservation, while the remainder of the site, including the course, is designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area.

"Vertigo angustior, a microscopic snail just 2 mm high and 1 mm wide, was discovered onsite during the developer’s environmental impact assessment and is listed for protection under the European Union’s Habitats Directive. Analysis by the leading Irish expert concluded that snail can coexist in the dunes and on the course. A management plan carried out by the developer continuously monitors and protects the snail habitat. Due to this effort, the snail population has grown to over 60 million from 11 million when the course was developed in 2000."

No doubt the environmentalists, and Vertigo angustior, will be watching developments at Doonbeg with interest.

Carton House. Picture Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie

Five motions were passed at the Golfing Union of Ireland's Annual General Meeting at Carton House today. Several related to handicapping and a proposal by the Munster Branch that "no player can receive more than twenty point ones (0.1's) from qualifying competitions during a calendar year," was carrier and will now be proposed by the GUI to CONGU.

The Leinster Branch also succeeded in its proposal that "in order to be eligible to compete in all Singles Qualifying Competitions at an Away Club, with the exception of all events listed in No. 6 of the Union Bye Laws, a Member of a GUI Affiliated Golf Club must have competed in at least three Singles Qualifying Competitions at his Home Club on or after 1st January in the previous calendar year."

The following motions were passed: 

1. Proposed by the Executive Committee 

That Rule 23.1 of the Constitution be amended to read: 

“No person, unless he conforms with the “Rules of Amateur Status” for the time being approved by the R & A and is a member for whom the GUI and Provincial Subscriptions have been paid by the Club in the current year or is an Honorary Member of that Club, shall be eligible to represent such Club at a Branch Meeting or to be elected a Branch Officer, a member of the Provincial Council, an Honorary Delegate to Provincial Council, an officer of the GUI or a member of the Council. If any question arises as to whether or not a person conforms with the said Rules the matter shall be referred to the Executive Committee whose decision thereon shall be final.” 

 

2. Proposed by the Executive Committee 

That Rule 11.2-11.7 be amended to read: 

11.2 Forward the proposed draft Constitution and the other documents to GUI Headquarters so that the Executive Committee can satisfy itself that the Constitution and documents comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the GUI. 

11.2.1 On being advised by the Constitution Review Committee that the proposed Constitution and other documents are in order, the relevant Provincial Council shall visit and inspect: 

11.2.1.1 the course or links to ascertain if it warrants the allocation of a Standard Scratch Rating in compliance with Sub-Clause 10.2.1 

11.2.1.2 the clubhouse facilities in compliance with 10.2.2. 

11.3 On being satisfied that the application is in order and is not contrary to the best interests of another affiliated Golf Club having use of the same facilities and having received a favourable report from the relevant Provincial Council, the Executive Committee shall notify the applicant that it is prepared to accept the application for membership and grant affiliation forthwith. 

[….] 

11.5 The Central Council will formally ratify the decision of the Executive Committee at its next meeting and the Club will be entered in the GUI records as an affiliated Golf Club. 

11.6 If the Executive Committee rules that an applicant club should not be admitted to membership it shall notify its decision in writing as soon as possible to the applicant which may appeal to Central Council whereupon the matter shall be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of Central Council for its consideration and the applicant shall be notified in writing of the time and place at which the meeting is to be held and shall be invited to send not more than three representatives to such meeting. 

Having considered the report of the Executive Committee and such representations as shall have been made on behalf of the applicant, Central Council shall either confirm the ruling of the Executive Committee or reverse such ruling and admit the applicant 

to membership subject, if Central Council considers necessary, to such conditions as Central Council may impose. The decision of the Central Council shall be final. 

11.7 Any club applying for membership of the GUI makes its application in the knowledge that it has no entitlement to membership and must accept that, if its application is refused by the Executive Committee, the outcome of the appeal to Central Council shall be final. 

 

3. Proposed by the Leinster Provincial Council 

In order to be eligible to compete in all Singles Qualifying Competitions at an Away Club, with the exception of all events listed in No. 6 of the Union Bye Laws, a Member of a GUI Affiliated Golf Club must have competed in at least three Singles Qualifying Competitions at his Home Club on or after 1st January in the previous calendar year. 

Motive: 

The CONGU UHS requires each player to return three cards at their Home Club to be allocated a handicap. In addition to this initial requirement a further fundamental basis of the UHS is that every player will return a sufficient number of Qualifying Scores to provide reasonable evidence of current ability. Thus, by returning a minimum of three Qualifying Scores at his Home Club, annually, the player's Handicap Committee and peer information will better contribute to keeping the player's handicap under review leading to a more equitable handicapping system. 

If passed, this motion may result in increased participation by players in Qualifying Competitions at the Home Club as players will have to compete in at least three such competitions to ensure that they are eligible to compete in Open Qualifying Competitions at Away Clubs. However delegates should also weigh the extent to which this may result in a reduction in the number of golfers competing in Open Qualifying Competitions at Away Clubs. 

If passed, this motion will become effective on 1st January 2015. 

*The GUI will provide guidance to Clubs on how this motion is to be implemented. 

 

4. Proposed by the Munster Provincial Council 

That CONGU UHS clause 20.4 be amended effective from January 1st 2016 

Current CONGU clause 20.4 

Subject to the provisions of clauses 18.4 and 18.5 , if a player returns a score with a Nett Differential above his Buffer Zone (including clause 19 adjustment if applicable) or records a No Return his exact handicap is increased by 0.1. 

Proposed amended CONGU clause 20.4 

Subject to the provisions of clauses 18.4 and 18.5, if a player returns a score with a Nett Differential above his Buffer Zone (including clause 19 adjustment if applicable) his exact handicap is increased by 0.1. 

If a player fails to return a scorecard his exact handicap shall not be adjusted. 

If a player fails to complete the stipulated course, or returns an incomplete scorecard without providing an adequate explanation deemed to be acceptable to the handicap committee his exact handicap shall not be adjusted. 

If a player records a No Return in a stroke play competition but has completed the stipulated course and returned a completed scorecard his score shall be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of clause 19 and his exact handicap shall be adjusted accordingly 

Motive: 

Under the current system (CONGU clause 20.4) Golfers can enter qualifying competitions and be automatically awarded a 0.1 increase in handicap if they; 

· Fail to tee off at all 

· Leave the course early after playing only a few holes 

· Return an incomplete scorecard 

· Fail to hand in a scorecard 

· Fail to record or enter the score in the computer 

It is our view that the automatic upward adjustment in the above circumstances has the potential to facilitate handicap building and, in such cases, goes against the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play inherent in golf. 

We propose the CONGU UHS be altered to eliminate the automatic awarding of 0.1 for No Returns and to only award 0.1 in the event of completion of the stipulated round and return of a completed scorecard. Provision can be made in the event that a player has to discontinue his round of golf so long as a satisfactory reason acceptable to the Handicap Committee is provided. 

*The changes required in this motion will now be proposed by the GUI to CONGU. 

 

5. Proposed by the Munster Branch 

Would like to submit the following amended motion to call on CONGU to introduce the following change in the handicap system that would take effect from the 1st January 2016. 

"That no player can receive more than twenty point ones (0.1's) from qualifying competitions during a calendar year". 

*The change required in this motion will now be proposed by the GUI to CONGU.

 

 GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND 

Union Officers, Committees & Representatives 2014 

Union Officers 

President L. Martin 

President-Elect M. Connaughton 

Hon. Secretary A. Lee 

Hon. Treasurer R.R. McClure 

Executive Committee 

L. Martin (President), M. Connaughton (President-Elect), A. Lee (Hon. Secretary), R. McClure (Hon. Treasurer), J. McGovern (Chairman, Connacht Branch), K. McIntyre (Chairman, Leinster Branch), J. Moloughney (Chairman, Munster Branch), P. Sinclair (Chairman, Ulster Branch), M. Heaney (Hon. Secretary, Connacht Branch), J. Ferriter (Hon. Secretary, Leinster Branch), J. Long (Hon. Secretary, Munster Branch), E. O’Connor (Hon. Secretary, Ulster Branch), F. Buckley (Immediate Past President). 

Finance Committee 

President, Union Officers, Trustees, M. Evans, (Connacht), J. McNamara (Leinster), M.J. Murphy (Munster), J. White (Ulster). 

C.O.N.G.U. Representatives J. Clancy, J. Mooney 

S.T.R.I. Representative B. Dunne 

E.G.A. Representative R. McClure 

Irish Senior & Youths Team Captain P. Hogan 

Boys Captain R. Archibald 

Seniors Captain T. Goode 

Junior Golf Committee 

M.J. Murphy (Convenor), Union Officers, Junior Selection Committee, D. Murphy, J. Durcan, J. McKinstry, P. English. 

Championship Committee 

General Secretary (Convenor), J. Mooney (Connacht), N. McLoughlin (Connacht), J. Duggan (Connacht), J. Long (Leinster), J. McNamara (Leinster), K. Raftery (Leinster), T. Donnelly (Munster), L. Harkin (Munster), B. Lynch (Munster), J. Boyd (Ulster), B. Hutchinson (Ulster), D. Heaney (Ulster). 

S.S.S. & Handicapping Committee 

J. Mooney (Convenor), Union Officers, CONGU Reps, N. McLoughlin (Connacht), M. Heaney (Connacht), H. Lee (Leinster), J. Ferriter (Leinster), P. Dunne (Munster), L. Harkin (Munster), N. Bennett, D. McNeill (Ulster). 

Venues & Fixtures Committee 

J. O’Donoghue (Convenor), Union Officers, N. McSweeney (Connacht), E. Lonergan (Connacht), J. McNamara (Leinster), T. Thompson (Leinster), L. Harkin (Munster), K. Walsh (Munster), D. Montague (Ulster), K. Stevens (Ulster). 

Rules of Golf / Amateur Status Committee 

T. Donnelly (Convenor), Union Officers, M. Evans (Connacht), C. Maguire (Leinster), B. Lynch (Munster), D. Irwin (Ulster). 

Irish Senior & Youths Selection Committee 

P. Hogan (Convenor/Team Captain), J. Carroll, T. Goode, N. MacSweeney, J. White. 

Irish Junior Selection Committee 

R. Archibald (Convenor/Team Captain), C. McConn, A. Marsden, J. Long, A. Gibson. 

Irish Seniors’ Selection Committee 

T. Goode (Convenor/Team Captain), T. Basquille, B. Doyle, B. Hutchinson, S. O’Leary. 

Greenkeeper & Ecology Committee 

B. Dunne (Convenor), Union Officers, R. Canavan (Connacht), J. McGrath (Leinster), M.P. Murphy (Munster), E. O’Connor (Ulster). 

Constitution Committee 

I. McCandless (Convenor), Union Officers, T. Basquille (Connacht), J. Ferriter (Leinster), E. Brick (Munster), T. Jones (Ulster). 

High Performance Committee 

J. White (Convenor), Union Officers, Irish Team Captain, Irish Boys Captain, Convenor Junior Golf, S. Fitzgerald (Connacht), J. Long (Leinster), P. Cooney (Munster), B. Edwards (Ulster). 

Honorary Delegates 

S. Smith, D. Benson, C. Madigan, M. Burns, T. Jones. 

Trustees 

F.W. Perry (Connacht), W. Skelton (Leinster), J.V. Lynch (Munster), R. Bell (Ulster). 

Auditor: 

W.J. Miscampbell