Castlegregory Golf Club

GOODBYE AND THANKS!

I cannot let the opportunity go without recording my thanks and appreciation for the support and encouragement I received from everyone, without exception, during my very enjoyable year as Lady Captain of Castlegregory Golf Club.  My committee were, individually and collectively, second to none, a fact clearly evidenced by the successful and fun-filled year we had.  Thank you to the clubhouse staff, Joan, Patricia and Catriona, for their efficiency, welcoming attitude and patience with me throughout.  Thanks also to the grounds staff, headed by Mike and Joe, for their unfailing good humour and practical help at all times.  To Sean Barry, the men’s club and Management, for the many joint ventures and great co-operation we enjoyed.  To all sponsors, both members and otherwise, who gave freely to allow the club to prosper and develop, we extend our thanks.

It was a year filled with memories for me.  A few stand out: the beautiful summer’s day in February when we drank champagne, toasted the future of the club, and also successfully drove both balls down the centre of the fairway (contrary to Mike Keane’s mistaken belief!). The day in Kilkee when our teams did us so proud and the club turned out in force in the Castlegregory blue to support (we even imagined we saw Joan and Tom hovering overhead in a helicopter!). The dreadful day, weatherwise  in Ballybunion when the Minor ladies gave their all and nearly, nearly pulled it off.  My own Lady Captain’s Day – suffice to say it will stay with me forever. That magical day, two weeks later, when we honoured Joan- the former presidents putting, and that photograph- the standing ovation.  The infamous Event in the Tent and all that went with it.  The two day charity classic where all members came on board and raised 5,500 euro for Recovery Haven (thank you especially to the Anchor Babes who presented us with a sizable cheque raised in the caravan park). The following day when we hosted 40 lady captains and their guests at a friendly and atmosphere filled lunch in the tent. All these memories were made possible by the unique nature of the members of Castlegregory – we are so lucky!

Thank you all so much and the very best of luck to Liz O Carroll, Helen Besseling and their committee as they head into the next chapter of this special club.

Sandra

Castlegregory have been Nines of Kerry champions on two occasions. The Final Green of our 2005 victory was recently recalled on these pages. 2005 was a great year for the club under Captains John Rowan and Gorretti O’Connor. The Club’s next victory in 2007 is recalled below in verse from the pen of our current Chairman, the Bard of Ballydehob.

Nines Of Kerry – 2007 – A tale from Castlegregory.

The notice when it finally came, Said we must play Dunloe

Oh God I’ve never been, Are the greens there fast or slow ?

With some away on holiday and some just not around,

We politely asked John B O’Shea, could we defer this round ?

Defer, amend, adjust you may, he answered in his kindly tone,

But the final date can’t be postponed, for that date is cast in stone !

Marion and Lori won first points for the team

But poor J R and Teresa were whipped like clotted cream

Mike and Edel went out third, like a well oiled golf machine

And they secured their victory while cruising through sixteen.

Joe and Merlyn played it cool and on the final hole

She drove, he chipped, she putted and we achieved our goal.

Hanafin and Burrows were lucky to be alive

Cos they were getting peppered by a young lad playing off five !

And so we won against Dunloe, on a glorious autumn day

Who’s next upon the list ? Who’ll dare come in our way ?

Now while Williams was the architect, Of our successful plan,

Gorretti clearly was the brains, behind this shy Welshman !

We brought Parknasilla, one fine day, to the dunes of our home course

And in the wind on lightening greens, we blew them off with force.

The Corkman said we’ll put the flags, where they will not be seen

But Fergus said he knows where Gorretti puts the ball

On her favourite fourteenth green.

Again Marion and Lori were finished by fourteen

While Mike and Edel changed their plan and finished on fifteen

Joe and Merlyn followed suit, to secure the outright win

While George and Gorretti, Liam and Pat

They were all called in !

The final is to be played, in Castlerosse some day

But will Ardfert ’ere come back, from their trip to Sceilig Bay ?

In the Springtime of ’08 on ground that’s thick with mud

The final is to be played, we’ve a team and even subs !

Marion went away, for ten days of warm weather training

But the whole thing was called off

Due to four days of non stop raining !

So finally, in the month of May, with the sun high in the sky

The papers said there was a fight

But sure we’re all as nice as pie

Lori and Gorretti, the prime cogs in our machine

Led us all on a merry dance, Before clinching on nineteen

They could have lost it on seventeen, By almost foregoing a win,

But thankfully the crowd was there

And the Architect stepped in !

Jason and Merlyn played super on the day

And with J R there in their corner, let no-one get in their way

They played like demons on the course

With balls both low and high

Was this a home grown plan or one from the VHI ?

Mulcahy and O’Carroll, a team ne’re seen before

Were hitting long and hitting straight, But just couldn’t seem to score

Moriarty and Hanafin, so cool we thought they’d win

And on the day the chips were good, But the putts just wouldn’t go in

Keane and Randles started off, as if they never played before

And it took a while to settle down and register a score

But in the end, on the eighteenth green, they were in the ‘zone’

He pitched, she putted, and we brought the silver home !

Team Management:

Gorretti O’Connor, Michael Williams, Edel Randles, Mike Keane

Panel:

Merlyn O’Connor, Gorretti O’Connor, Edel Randles, Liz O’ Carroll, Lori Fitzgerald, Marie McCarthy, Teresa Rice, Marion Kennedy, Helen Besseling, Ger Callanan, George Nash, John Rowan, Jason Rowan, Tom Moriarty, Eddie Hanafin, Joe Mulcahy, Pat Prendeville, Liam Ryan, Michael Burrows, Frank Herlihy, Mike Keane

4 Person Am Am, Sunday 25^th Oct.

1.       Sean O’Connor (Adare), Joe Mulcahy, Eddie Hanafin, Mike Burrows -  90 pts.

2.       Brian Stockwell, Conor, Sean & Kevin Lyons – 89 pts.

Ladies 18 Hole Stableford, sponsored by O’Sheas Texaco, Blennerville.

1.       Merlyn O’Connor (20) -  32 pts.

2.       Anne O’Malley (33) -  31 pts.

The re-entry competition was won by Mary Moloney.

Mens Fixtures

Sunday 1^st Nov. – Fourball, Shotgun start with draw for partners at 8.30 a.m. sharp. No phone bookings. Players must be paid up and in the clubhouse at 8.30 a.m.

Mens Club

18^th Oct - Monthly Medal stroke

1.       Alan Bulman (17)  63.

2.       Martin Lynch (15)  65.

3.       Pat Leahy (13)  65.

F9 – John Rowan (12) 32.  B9 – Moss Hogan (16)  30.

Ladies Club

18 hole stroke

1.       Tina Moriarty (23)  65.

2.       Merlyn O’Connor (20)  73.

3.       Gorretti O’Connor (22)  74.

Men’s Club

18 hole singles V Par, sponsored by Macs Auto Parts

1^st Jason Rowan 10 (+3)                                 cat a: Pat Prendeville 20 (-1)

2^nd Joe Mulcahy 11 (+3)                                  cat b: Jim O Sullivan 15 (-2)

3^rd Patsy Murphy 15 (+2)                                cat c: John Dillane 20 (+1)

Fixtures

18^th Oct

Monthly Medal Singles Stroke sponsored by Boyle Sports

Ladies Fixtures

16^th & 18^th Oct

18 hole singles Stableford sponsored by Hallmark Cards Cork

Seniors

Oct 8^th 1^st :  John Courtney 20pts

Very best wishes to our Nines of Kerry team who take on Ballyheigue in the semi final on this Saturday 10^th October. The teams are on the first tee in Ballyheigue at 11 a.m.  Lest we forget, Castlegregory were Nines of Kerry champions in 2005 and 2007. Those who were there at the final in Castlerosse in 2005 will recall the circumstances...two matches all with the deciding  fourball all-square on the par 3 18^th tee...the light fading (that’s golf-speak for dark). Ballyheigue had a brilliant par....but we went one better. The following doesn’t do justice to what happened but it might be sung when we are Nines champions again....  

On a fine Autumn day in two thousand and five

Two Nines teams of Kerry in battle did strive,

By evening the match hung on a knife’s edge so keen

And the survivors all gathered around the final green.

I’ve wandered around all the links of this land

And I’ve played golf with fine friends on fairways so grand,

But my mind always strays to the best sight I’ve seen

To that lovely last putt on the final green.

When the shankers and hookers and slicers abound

And you fear for the turf of our fine Castle ground,

Just remember that wedge that was struck true and clean

And that lovely last putt on the final green.

On those sharp Winter mornings by Lough Gill’s cold shore

When your hands might be numb and your head slightly sore,

Let your thoughts wander back to that Castlerosse scene

And that lovely last putt on the final green.  

Seniors Competition 1^st Oct

Captains Prize winner Fergus Moroney - 32pts

Men’s Club 4^th Oct Results

Jerry O Connor Memorial 18 hole s/f

1^st Tommy O Connor (9) 43

2^nd Tom Moriarty (12) 40

3^rd Sean Leen (20) 39

Ladies Fixtures

Fri 9^th & Sun 11^th Oct

18 hole singles s/f, kindly sponsored by: O’Shea’s Texaco Blennerville

Men’s Club Fixture

Sun 11^th Oct

Singles V Par