 Reflecting on the 4th Practice Area DAR golf visited recently to assess the damage caused by heavy rainfall last October. A particular variety of grass seed has taken while other grass mixes were washed away and, therefore, the hitting platform is dotted with clumps of a strong grass variety. Following assessment, DAR have now sprayed off a large area of new grass which will be reseeded in the next fortnight. In addition, such was the deluge that the main drainage pipe has lifted and needs to be replaced. Other parts of the drainage system are also damaged and require work. We expect all remedial work to be carried out, by Dar golf, in the coming weeks, which is covered by them under the terms of the original contract. The opening of the practice area has suffered a set back but, depending on weather conditions, we will strive to be hitting off mats by the end of the summer. This is not guaranteed. Finally, there are many deep ruts, now hidden in the grass, where one could easily trip and we ask members to stay off the practice ground to avoid accidents. Greenkeepers Revenge The greenkeepers revenge was a great success and enjoyed by all, particularly James Timmins and the team who enjoyed it, maybe a little too much. The greenkeepers have now fixed the sprinkler system on the 18th which, unfortunately, malfunctioned when the Captains’ and Vice-captains’ were putting out! €2,500 was raised on the day which will go a long way towards the purchase of mats for the practice area. We may give it a go again next year, maybe after the greens have been hollow tined. Thank you for the many compliments received from our members about this initiative.
Some tricky obstacles to overcome! Teams Well done to all our teams. While a number have been knocked out, we are still supporting our Mens Senior Cup Team managed by Colin Sunderland playing Bunclody in the next round in the 17th June. The 1st round of the Barton Shield is to be played against Wexford on the 10th June. We wish them well. On the ladies’ side, still in contention are The Minor Cup – managed by Jackie Hamilton through to the 2nd round, the Challenge Cup- managed by Denise Burke through to the 3rd round and Revive Active Ladies Fourball – managed by Nuala Noone through to the 2nd round. On the subject of teams our Captains’ wish to host a town hall meeting in the coming weeks for all interested and experienced parties to garner opinion with a view to formulating a medium term (3 to 5 year) strategy to improve Courtown’s performance in inter club competition. There will be a further communication on this and everybody is welcome to attend. Course and Facilities Our course is in fantastic shape thanks to our hardworking greenkeepers. Monies spent on the course and monies spent on machinery is paying dividends and committee emphasis continues to be course improvement while paying attention to our clubhouse facilities. It has been decided to remove the parapets on the three full length windows in the bar area substituting a safety barrier instead. The reason is three-fold. It will improve the natural light in the bar, improve the view to the course and improve the view of the clubhouse from the 11th & 18th greens. Thanks again to our volunteers who are carrying out this work. Many members will be aware that our roof has been leaking during heavy rain. Some of our skylights were also leaking and these have now been repaired. Roof repairs will commence in the coming weeks and will take about 3 weeks to complete. As the existing roof is being stripped, it will necessitate a skip being located near the front door. The front door area may be out of bounds for a few days. New course machinery, new golf buggies, course drainage, course sanding, kit out of the practice area, roof repairs, new showers all come at an ever-increasing cost but tight cost controls remain in place and are being monitored. Utility prices are very high putting further pressure on finances. An energy audit has recently been carried out, with grant assistance, and any cost saving we can garner will be implemented. Course Rangers A new initiative has been implemented whereby several volunteers have agreed to carry out course ranger duties, at the weekend. The club thanks the volunteers for their contribution, it is much appreciated. A course ranger will be on duty on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. We ask the members to respect our rangers and adhere to their recommendations and requests. The rangers have the full support and backing of our committees in their efforts to improve pace of play. We would like some more volunteers and if this is something for you, please let us know by emailing info@courtowngolfclub.com or by letting any committee member know. Course rangers are not the panacea for all our slow play difficulties and personal responsibility has a greater part to play. Courtown Golf Club has adopted a “ready golf” policy which not only applies to the tee box but also the fairway and greens. Please review our policy on the website by clicking on “more” on the top headings and “policies” and “pace of play “on the drop-down boxes. You can also access it by clicking on the attach hyperlink https://www.courtowngolfclub.com/pace-of-play.html Social Prepayment Prior to the Covid pandemic any monies remaining on your card as at the end of November was retained by the club. This practice was paused during Covid as members did not have every opportunity to avail of bar and restaurant facilities. Please note, this practice will recommence in 2023 and any monies remaining on your social prepayment card, for this and previous years, will be retained by the club by 30 November 2023. This only applies to the original €100 prepayments paid with your annual subs and not to any top ups. Trees Two mature trees have been “red spotted” indicating that they are to be felled. They are located to the right of the 4th green and opposite the white tee markers on the 16th. They are rotting in the centre and constitute a hazard. Visiting Captains Captain Paul & Captain Eileen hosted the visiting Captains which was attended by the Wexford clubs and also included Coollattin Golf Club, Woodenbridge, Arklow and Blainroe. We were delighted to receive many compliments about the standard of our course and quality of our bar & catering. It is a great way to showcase our club in an effort to attract green fees. The View Restaurant Our caterers are delighted to be part of the Courtown Golf Club team and they would like to thank our members for their support. The restaurant is open Sunday to Thursday 9 a.m. -8 p.m. and Friday/Saturday 9 a.m.-9p.m. They will accommodate players who are playing late if they pre order. Breakfast is now available daily, to midday. In addition, the restaurant is available for outside catering and private functions. Fixtures and Opens There is plenty of opportunity to entertain your family and friends in the club over the coming weeks. Our 9 and Dine is up and running on Friday evenings. We also have two open weekends on June 10th/11th and June 24th/25th with something for everyone between 2-person team events, fourballs and singles competitions. The marquee will be erected for the June bank holiday weekend and The View Restaurant will be providing a barbeque on Saturday afternoons with some background music on the patio. So, bring along your family and friends and enjoy all the golf, bar and catering that Courtown Golf Club has to offer. 
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 Congratulations to our captains on their successful drive in on 18th March which was followed by an excellent buffet by our new caterers, The View restaurant. The captains would like to thank everyone for all their good wishes and for turning out on the day. The View
The View restaurant is open for a number of weeks now and we will shortly be seeing an expanded menu which will include breakfast at the weekends. We would ask you to support The View and introduce your family and friends to our caterers. Practice Area DAR golf will be returning soon, when conditions are optimal, to repair the damage caused by torrential rainfall last October, per their original contract. In the meantime, the club is sourcing hitting mats and other equipment in anticipation of opening, hopefully in the late summer. Greenkeepers Revenge The club is organising a fun golf competition on Bank Holiday Monday, 1st May to support the development of the practice area. It will be a team of 4 event at a cost of €20 p.p. to include a breakfast bap. While it is an invitation event it is very much a fun event with many unusual obstacles to overcome on the course so tell your invitees that you have no idea what to expect. Neither have we but great fun is assured! Club Fixture List The club fixture list brochure is currently at print and will be available over the coming days. Golf Inter Club competitions will commence over the next few months and we would welcome members who would like to compete at this level, which is a great way to improve your game. Ladies sponsored competitions will begin on Tuesday 11 April and we are grateful to our sponsors. The tee sheets will be getting busier as the weather improves and we would appeal to members to observe the pace of play rules. This is in everybody’s interest and we would ask you to familiarise yourself with Pace of Play rules on our website under the “Course information” tab. U.S Masters This is Augusta weekend so why not come along to the club and enjoy the atmosphere. On Saturday we are offering a golfers basket consisting of chicken goujons, sausages and chips together with a pint/glass of wine for €8. We welcome in 2023 as we look forward to a full and successful year of golf. Our newly elected Committees are now in place and we wish them all the best for their coming terms. A special thanks to all those who have stepped down for their contribution, commitment, and effort. Committees for 2023 Club President Bronagh Stafford Men’s Committee Ladies Committee Captain Paul McDonald Eileen Moriarty Vice-Captain Gerry McGrath Mairead Carty Hon. Sec Declan O’Toole Norma Casey Kieran Murphy Mags Greenan Paul Doran Gay Gahan John Langan Murphy Anne Kearney Joe Breen Jan Cullen Conor Flynn Bernie Collins Brona Dore Maeve Duke Janet Ryder Junior Captains Darragh O’ Toole and Aideen Geraghty. Management Committee Chairperson: Vincent Kearney Captain: Paul McDonald Hon.Treasurer: Terry Noone Captain: Eileen Moriarty Hon.Secretary: Donal O’Keeffe Seamus O’Donohue, Laura Funge, Martin Mac Donnell, Mary O’Connor, Jim French.  We would like to congratulate Club President Bronagh on her Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the recent Gorey Awards night. Restaurant Franchise We are actively seeking a suitable candidate to take on the catering franchise and will keep the membership updated regarding same. Please note the availability in the Clubhouse of coffee/ tea and scones, from 8.30am till 12 noon, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Soup and sandwiches are available in the bar after 12pm on these days. This service is also available on the first Thursday of each month as it’s Open Seniors Day. Inter-Club Team Events The Golf Ireland series of Inter-Club Cups and Shields will commence shortly. Courtown will be competing in a number of these events and we will be looking for golfers at all handicap levels to participate. Details of the different teams will be posted on the notice boards shortly, and if you are interested in taking part, check them out and sign up. Ladies Section We hope to run a ladies social team event golf day on 21st February with a shot gun start. Further details will be posted on Clubnet. Ladies Winter League 2022 – 2023 Sponsored by Cois na hAbhann The Winter League commenced on the 22nd October 2022 with 48 ladies taking part. There were 6 groups of 4 teams: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Purple and Orange. 4 matches were played in total, one game each in October, November, December 2022 with the final game played on the 28th January 2023. Results Winter League Qualifiers: 1st Purple Group: Cecilia O’Riordan (14) & Ann O’Shaughnessy (16) 20 points 2nd Red Group: Mags Greenan (9) & Rita O’Mahoney (20) 18 points 3rd Orange Group: Sara Killen (14) & Lucia Redmond (15) 16 points C.B. Section Winners: Blue Group: Joan Sinnott (10) & Jackie Martin (16) 16 points C.B. Yellow Group: Colette Dobey (13) & Kathy O’Donovan 15 points Green Group: Madge Lillis (10) & Angie Dooley (18) 11 points On the final day a buffet was held followed by the presentation of prizes to the winners. 52 members attended. All ladies were welcome whether they took part in the league or not. The food, which was catered for by the Cow House Café and Bistro, was delicious and a great night was had by all. Photos of the final day are on the website. The Winter League has proved to be very popular and people really enjoyed the social aspect. It also gave people an opportunity to experience match play and for people to mix and get to know each other better. We look forward to holding a Winter League again next year. Sincere thanks to Norma and Carole for running this competition. Gents Winter League Sponsored by EBS Colman Doyle Due to weather conditions that resulted in course closures, the final of the Winter League will now be held on 4th March. Course Despite record rainfall over the last couple of months, our course has stood up to it very well, and you can see the effects of our sanding programme coming to fruition. This is always a work in progress.  The hedge on the 6th got a short back and sides! Thanks to the many volunteers who help out on the course. Work is also underway to ensure that the toilet facility on the course is working and in good order. Other news The Trackman Studio has hosted two tournaments during the winter months, and they have proved to be very popular. It’s a great way to keep your swing going when it’s wet or frosty outside.  Our new trophy cabinet is also on display and many thanks to Robert O’Connor for all his work. Trolley Shed
We wish to provide a new trolley shed for members. The existing trolley shed is not adequate to accommodate the demand for storage and access is difficult to areas inside. A planning application for a new trolley shed has been lodged. It is intended that it will be located adjacent to the car park which has the added benefit of quicker access from members cars. This will also allow the existing area to be used in the future to extend the Pro Shop. Membership is holding steady and as all clubs know, this is the core financial means by which the club prospers. All members can contribute to the recruitment of new members, which helps support the clubs initiative. Finally, we wish all our members a good, safe and enjoyable year of golf.  Frosty 18th A Christmas Message from Club Captains Eileen and Paul It is an honour for us to be appointed Captains of Courtown Golf Club and from the minute we took up the roles we have received lots of good wishes from you which are very much appreciated. As 2022 draws to a close we can, for the first time in a few years, look forward to a New Year with optimism. The Club is in a healthy position with lots of new members and a course in excellent condition- notwithstanding recent weather travails! The year promises to be an exciting one in Courtown Golf Club when we can build on the progress of recent years. The opening of our new practice area, together with the Trackman Studio will give all our members unrivalled facilities and the opportunity to reduce those handicaps!! We are looking forward to meeting and playing with you next year. We welcome our new members and wish them many years of enjoyable golf in Courtown G.C. We are very lucky in Courtown to have many excellent sponsors who make a major contribution to the Club and we would encourage you to support them when you can. At this time of year our thoughts are also with members who have lost loved ones in the last year. We want to wish all members, their families and friends a very Happy Christmas and the best of everything in 2023- may you make new friends and keep those three putts off your card!! Eileen and Paul. The weather has not been kind to us over the last week or so, with course closures, due to frost and heavy rainfall. Don’t forget about our Trackman where the weather is always favourable! As we approach the festive season, we can hopefully expect more clement weather for our upcoming competitions. Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th Invitation Ladies and Gents Singles. Wednesday 28th Open Gents Singles Saturday 31st December and Sunday 1st January Invitation Any Combination Fourball Monday 2nd January Invitation Ladies and Gents Singles Thursday 5th January Open Seniors Ladies and Gents Singles In the absence of caterers, as indicated in November newsletter, the Coffee dock will serve tea /coffee and scones from 8.30 am till 12 noon, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and on Sunday. Soup and sandwiches available in the bar after 12. This is also available on Open Seniors Thursdays. Please note the following opening and closing hours over the Christmas period: Bar Monday 19th Bar Closed Tuesday 20th 8.30 – 7.00 Wednesday 21st 8.30 - 7.00 Thursday 22nd Bar Closed Friday 23rd 11.00 – 7.00 Saturday 24th 8.30 – 3.00 Sunday 25th Bar Closed Christmas Day Monday 26th 11.00 – 5.00 St Stephen’s Day Tuesday 27th 11.00 – 6.00 Wednesday 28th 11.00 -7.00 Thursday 29th 11.00 – 5.00 Friday 30th 11.00 – 6.00 Saturday 31st 11.00 – 5.00 New Year’s Eve Sunday 1st Jan 11.00 – 5.00 New Year’s Day Bar hours are subject to timesheets and patronage of the clubhouse facilities and may be altered. Office Closing 5pm Friday December 23rd. Reopening Friday 30th 10am-12 noon. Saturday 31st 10am-12noon. Normal office hours resume on 3rd January ie; Mondays - Closed Tuesdays to Fridays - 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm Saturdays - 10am to 12 noon. Pro –Shop Don’t forget you will find something for the golfer in your life in the fully stocked Pro Shop. Golf balls, gloves, towels etc. (great stocking fillers) The Pro-Shop will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve. Club Vouchers are available from the office and may be used anywhere in the club. Please note the Clubhouse and locker rooms will be closed from 3pm Christmas Eve and will be open as usual on 26th December. We wish all our Members and Friends a Safe and Happy Christmas   Danny & Lady Captain Mary Cooper, Captain Adrian & Lynne Copeland The Captain’s Dinner was held on Saturday 29th November in the Clubhouse where we were spoilt for choice with a mouth watering hot buffet. The music and chat went on late into the night and a good time was had by all. Captain Adrian and Lady Captain Mary presented Ian & Siobhan with a small token of our appreciation for their 7 years with us and thanked them for their contribution to the Club during their time in Courtown, and wished them well for their road ahead. In reply, Ian thanked the members for their support and wished the club well for the future. In the absence of caterers, we are now serving tea/coffee & scones upstairs in the Coffee Dock from 8:30 am till 12 noon Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with soup and sandwiches available in the Bar after 12. (also available on Open Seniors Thursday’s). Takeaway hot drinks are also available from 8:30am. Please note the Bar will be closed on Monday and Thursday for the Winter months. Winter has arrived and while there has been torrential rain lately, the course has remained open most of the time and competitions are going ahead. Gent’s Open Singles Sweep has resumed every Wednesday, with Ladies Day continuing on Tuesdays. The Open Seniors Ladies & Gents Singles continues on the first Thursday of every month and there are competitions every Saturday and Sunday. Be in with a chance of winning a Turkey in the 9 hole competition which you may enter as often as you like. Full details in the Ladies and Gents locker rooms. Trackman League is commencing next week and will run every day Monday to Friday for 6 weeks. Slots were booked up within 48 hours and the timesheet is now full. We will run a second league early in the new year with preference given to members who were unsuccessful this time. A.G.M. It’s that time of year again…. A.G.M. Ladies A.G.M. will be held in the Clubhouse on Tuesday 29th November. All nominations and motions for the meeting to be addressed to Lady Secretary Norma Casey, Courtown Golf Club no later than 2 weeks in advance of the meeting. Men’s A.G.M is on Saturday 3rd December at 4:30, followed by the Club A.G.M. on the same day at 6:00pm. All nominations and motions to be forwarded to Men’s Secretary Declan O’Toole, or for the Club A.G.M to Hon. Secretary Mary Osborne. These must also be in 2 weeks in advance of the meetings. Nomination forms are available in the locker rooms or in the office, and nominees must be proposed and seconded by 2 Ordinary members. Please consider putting your name forward for a committee as new ideas and members are always welcome and healthy for the Club.  Lady Captain Mary, Ian & Siobhan McEntaggert, Captain Adrian
 Newsletter No. 12 The President’s Prize final day was held in beautiful sunshine on Saturday 27th August. President Noel McCartan presented his prizes to the winners in front of a large crowd on the night. Winner of the Ladies prize was Ingrid Ashmore Butler and the Gents prize winner was Tony Kinsella. After an introductory few words Captain Adrian then presented President Noel with the President's flag from the 18th green. The celebrations and craic continued well into the night and was enjoyed by all.
The Juniors had their own President’s Prize competition with President Noel presenting his prize to the worthy winners. Caoimhe Geraghty won the girls prize with a very impressive 45 points and Dylan Copeland won the boys prize with 40 points. There was great scoring from our Juniors. Well done to all the competitors. Autumn has arrived with a bang, but still lots of golf to be played. Seniors Ladies and Gents Singles on the first Thursday of every month right through the year, Ladies Day on Tuesdays, Mens’ golf on Wednesdays, and weekend competitions on Saturday and Sunday. Why not enter the Turkey 9 holes competitions which you may play in at any time. Details on Notice boards in the Locker rooms. The E.B.S. Colman Doyle Finance Ltd. Gents Winter League starts on October 2nd. Timesheets and round draw sheets are now in the Gents locker room. Please check Clubnet for times. Entry fee €45 to be paid on the first day. Ladies are also running a 9 hole Winter League this year, starting on Saturday 22nd October, kindly sponsored by Cois na hAbhann. Full details on the Ladies notice board. Match Plays Club Match Plays which started back in May have now concluded. With many good battles in all the categories, and many matches going down the 19th (or further), we have winners and runners up. Congratulations to all who participated. Gents Fourball Winners Pat Noonan & Pat Donnellan. Runners Up: Edward Copeland & Adrian Copeland Gents Singles Winner: Paul Doran. Runner Up: Ian McGirr. Ladies 9 hole Matchplay Winner: Kathleen Redmond. Runner Up: Una Bolger. Ladies Fourball Winners: Carole Barnwell & Mairead Carty. Runners Up: Mary Cooper & Norma Casey Ladies Singles 0-29 H/Index Winner: Ann Bernie. Runner Up: Catherine Lysaght Ladies Singles 30+ H/Index Winner: Helen Mundow. Runner Up: Louise Holohan Mixed Matchplay Winners: Pat Walsh & Eileen Cullen. Runners Up: Paddy D’eathe & Mairead Carty. New Member Evening There will be a New Members Golf and Information evening on Saturday 1st October, with all new members, returning members and 2021 new members very welcome. You may book 9 holes golf for that day, which will be followed by refreshments in the club at 6:30 p.m. If you are unable to play golf, come along at 6:30pm to meet us all and other new members. Book your golf on the Clubnet app or call the office 053 94 25166 Ext. 2. Please contact the office if you are attending the evening in the clubhouse. Captains Dinner The year has rolled around and it’s time again for our Annual Captain’s Dinner. The date is Saturday 29th October and there will be a two course hot buffet, costing €25 p.p. All members and friends are welcome to come along on the night. Book your table as numbers are limited. Contact Mossel Bay directly on 05394 25166 Ext: 5. Early booking is advisable. Mossel Bay Ian and Siobhan will bid us farewell on October 31st after nearly 7 years of providing us with great food. We would like to thank them for their service and wish them well in the future. If you have a Mossel Bay voucher please use it before October 30th. Restaurant, Bar & Office Hours for October Mossel Bay Bar Office Monday Closed Closed Closed Tuesday 12 - 7pm 12 - 9pm 10.30am – 5pm (Lunch 1-2) Wednesday 12 - 7pm 12 - 9pm 10.30am – 5pm (Lunch 1-2) Thursday Closed 12 - 8pm 10.30am – 5pm (Lunch 1-2) Friday 12 - 5pm 12 - 8pm 10.30am – 5pm (Lunch 1-2) Saturday 11 - 7pm 12 - 9pm 10am – 12pm Sunday 11 - 7pm 12:30 - 8pm Closed Bar hours run in conjunction with Restaurant hours and closing times for the Restaurant and Bar are subject to timesheet and patronage. The Bar will remain closed on Mondays for the Autumn and Winter months. Mossel Bay will be closed on Mondays and Thursdays for October. (Open on Thursday 6th for Seniors Open) Treat yourself and the family or friends to Sunday Lunch in Mossel Bay. Walk Ins are welcome but booking is advisable. Pro - Shop Titleist Demo Day at Courtown Golf Club Tuesday 4th October from 2 - 7 p.m. Why not come and try the latest Titleist TSR Driver, or maybe think about a new set of irons? Book your slot through the Pro-Shop as times will be limited. Golf lessons will continue over the Winter months in the Trackman Studio. Now is the time to maybe take a look at making those changes that will help to improve your game. Could be a swing change or just a simple refresher to remind yourself of the basic principles that our games are based on. We also have a club fitting available in the Trackman Studio and have demo clubs from Titleist, Taylor Made, Mizuno, Cleveland and Ping. With Christmas just around the corner you may be thinking of new irons or a Driver, so by spending an hour with us we can compare your own clubs to see where those extra gains may be made. Pro Shop - Golf Prizes The high number of prizes that have been unclaimed over the last few years has resulted in a high level of credit built up in the shop. We would ask that all prizes be collected and credit used up before the end of the year. We hope that you appreciate our position as this would allow us to keep a constant flow of stock and to provide the best possible service to all the members. Practice Ground Work has commenced on the upgrade of the Practice Ground and new Short Game area. It is hoped to have this facility ready and open for early next year. We will keep you posted. With the Practice ground out of commission and the evenings drawing in, why not book a session in the Trackman Studio to keep that swing going over the Autumn and Winter months. Committees 2023 As the dates for the A.G.M.’s are drawing nearer it’s time to think about 2023 committees. If you, or a friend have any interest in putting your name forward for Ladies, Men’s or Management Committees, the nomination forms will be available from the office or in the locker rooms from November. All forms must have the name of the nominee along with a proposer and a seconder, and must be left into the office 2 weeks in advance of the relevant A.G.M. You will receive a Notice of A.G.M. in November with full details and this will also be posted on the notice boards. Constitution Rule 24.4 a) Rule 24.4 a states:- “In future competitions anyone who does not turn up for their time on the timesheet is (following contact by the relevant mens’ or ladies competition committee) disqualified from 2 eighteen hole club competitions as advised by the relevant committee and must pay the entry fee for the competition for which they failed to turn up unless at least 24 hours notice has been given to the playing partner(s) of such person”. This rule has fallen into abeyance in recent years, particularly during the pandemic. Due to a number of “no shows” in recent months this rule needs to be rejuvenated. As it is part of our constitution, committees are obliged to ensure its adherence. We ask that should you have to remove your name from the timesheet, that you give your playing partners plenty of notice and perhaps contact them to afford them sufficient time to make alternative arrangements. Removing your name from the timesheet with too short a notice is not acceptable. We do recognise that there will be some unavoidable circumstances and these will be dealt with on a case by case basis Rule of Golf Rule 18.2a When ball is out of bounds A ball is out of bounds only when all of it is outside the boundary edge of the course. Rule 18.2b What to do if your ball is lost or out of bounds If your ball is lost or out of bounds, you must take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6). Unlike a red or yellow stake, a white stake denoting out of bounds cannot be moved to improve your swing. A useful App to have is the R&A Rules of Golf. Search for it in your App Store, download it to your phone and away you go!   Newsletter No.11 The bee and butterfly friendly wildflower area near the 8th tee. What a burst of colour……. As we approach the Autumn months there is still plenty of golf to be played. The President's Prize, Noel McCartan, takes place this weekend with a front 9 hole playoff for Ladies and a back nine play off for Men on Saturday. The winners of this major prize will be presented with their prizes in the Clubhouse on the night. There will be a Buffet 8:30 to 9:30, followed by the presentation of prizes. To round off the evening there will be music and dancing till late. Come along for what promises to be an evening of fun and banter. Good luck to President Noel and all the competitors. Sunday 28th Any Combination Fourball sponsored by D’arcy Sands. Tuesday 30th, Ladies Day Singles, sponsored by 100 Degrees Restaurant. Wednesday 31st Open Men's Singles. Thursday 1st Sept. Ladies and Gents Seniors Singles Friday 2nd Open Nine and Dine 9 holes. Saturday 3rd Any Combination Fourball, Sponsored by Staffords Bakery. Sunday 4th Men’s Singles Medal/Ladies Singles, sponsored by Michael Doyle & Associates, Gorey. The Gorey Guardian Summer Series Final was held Wednesday 24th. This was a closely contested final with the worthy winner Tommy Kinsella taking home a set of clubs and a golf bag. Many thanks to our generous sponsors Gorey Guardian. This is a hugely popular competition with over 200 men playing on Wednesdays throughout the Summer. The Ladies Interclub Trophy was played on Thursday 18th August with 18 clubs taking part in the one day event. The winners on the day were Old Conna followed closely by our own Courtown Ladies. All credit to Lady Vice Captain Eileen Moriarty and her team in organising the very successful day which was enjoyed by all. The day went so well that clubs have already expressed interest in participating in 2023. Don’t forget that Courtown has reciprocal playing rights with Old Conna, Royal Tara, Blainroe and Tullamore. You may play these courses for €20, Sunday to Thursday (excluding Bank Holidays). We also have reciprocal playing rights with New Ross Golf Club for 2022. All members have the courtesy of their course on non competition days. Junior Captains Andrew Smith and Theodora Lande held their Junior Captains Prize on Monday 22nd August The Junior boy winner was Darragh O’Toole 41 pts and Junior girl winner was Caroline McGarry 38 pts. Congratulations to the winners and well done to all the competitors. The President's Prize to Juniors takes place on Thursday August 25th. This was a very busy year for the Junior club with many organised competitions and coaching throughout the Summer. It’s great to see so many young people enjoying the course, and what talent we have! Well done to our Junior co-ordinators who worked tirelessly with the Juniors. E.B.S. Colman Doyle Finance Ltd. Winter League will be starting in early October. Practice Area Work on the Practice Area is due to commence at the end of the month. This work will greatly enhance the practice facilities and it will also include a new short game area. The practice ground will be closed while this work is ongoing. Apologies for any inconvenience. There will be heavy machinery crossing the course, so be extra vigilant at all times. It’s nearly that time of year again for hollow coring and sanding….. This essential part of the course maintenance program is scheduled to start on Monday 12th September. Club Manager Our manager, David Colley, has tendered his resignation, and will start his new greenkeepers job in September. David joined us in the middle of the pandemic in 2020 and has worked tirelessly since then. While he fulfilled his role as Club Manager, David could also be seen out on the course, behind the Bar, acting as Course Ranger, acting as handyman and so much more. We would like to thank David for his contribution to the Club and wish him well in his new role. Mossel Bay Ian and Siobhan are also leaving us after the October Bank Holiday weekend. Many thanks to them for looking after us and our visitors so well during their six years with us. Meanwhile it’s business as usual until then, so if you have a Mossel Bay voucher please ensure that you use it before November. Opening hours are posted on the notice boards. Bobby There was an evening for Bobby Kinsella in the clubhouse to mark his retirement. Chairperson Vincent Kearney said a few words, recalling Bobby’s love of fun and good humour. His love of signage around the course and clubhouse was also mentioned with the favourite one being “PLEASE READ THE SIGNS” There was a presentation to Bobby to mark his years of service to the club. Bobby thanked the members and recalled a few humorous incidents over the years. He also added that there were more tales to be told and these would be in his book, but as Bobby said, the book is not to be published until he is on his deathbed for fear of court proceedings!!!! Pace of Play Improvement Ready golf principles apply in Courtown Golf Club for all competitions except Match plays 8 Suggested Strategies
Letting Players Through If you are holding up players behind you, let them through at the next available tee box. Play your tee shots, let the group behind play theirs and then walk up with them. If you lose a ball and players are waiting, wave them through promptly. If you fall a hole behind the pace of play, you must let the group behind through. It is a rule of the club that once you lose a hole on the group in front you must let the group behind through. If there are two consecutive groups playing equally slow, they should both let the field through gradually. To avoid letting other players through, keep up with the pace of play of the group in front. It was agreed at our last AGM that the committee would tackle the issue of slow play and your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Please remember the 3 “R’s” Replace and refill your divots on the fairways Repair your pitch marks on the greens Rake the bunkers after use…. You all know what it’s like when your ball lands in a huge shoe print in the bunker, or if the ball is in front of, or behind an unraked lump of sand………why leave it like that for the next player behind you?  We have a great club and the course is looking fantastic thanks to James and the greens staff, and volunteers. Let's do our bit by repairing any damage caused by general play. Take pride in our course, it will make a difference.
A Rule of Golf Rule 19 Unplayable Ball Purpose of Rule: Rule 19 covers your relief options for an unplayable ball. This allows you to choose which option to use- normally with one penalty stroke-to get out of a difficult situation anywhere on the course (except in a penalty area) Rule 19.1 You may decide to take unplayable ball relief anywhere except the penalty area. You are the only person who may decide to treat your ball as unplayable. Unplayable ball relief is allowed anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area. See Rule 19.2 for Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in General Area or on Putting Green. R&A USGA Players Edition of the Rules of Golf
Men’s Captain Adrian Copeland and Lady Captain Mary Cooper held their Captains’ Days in July. Captain Adrian had his final day on Saturday 9th in beautiful sunshine, and after a closely contested battle the worthy winner was John Fitzgerald with a great score of 139. Congratulations to John and all the prize winners. Lady Captain Mary had her qualifying day on Tuesday 19th in blistering sunshine with the final on Saturday 23rd July. A large number of ladies contested this much sought-after prize, and the winner was Mary Russell with a score of 137. Well done to Mary and to all the winners and competitors. James and the Greens team had the course in magnificent condition for the Captains Days, but there were some rumblings about difficult pin positions!
The Captains’ Prize to the Juniors was held on Friday 22nd July where the winners on the day were Girls 18-hole Aideen Geraghty, 35 pts, Boys 18-hole Caelan Funge, 44 pts, and 9-hole winner was Junior Girls Captain Theodora Lande with 21 pts. Congratulations to the winners and to all who played on the day. The Annual Tom Funge Memorial Day will be held on Thursday 11th August, and is open to all Juniors with a Golf Ireland handicap. Entry is €15 which includes prizes and a meal. Book by calling the Pro Shop or office on 053 94 25166 office Ext: 2 pro shop Ext: 4 The Junior Captains Day is in the diary for Monday August 15th. Good luck to our Junior Captains Theodora and Andrew and to all those taking part. The President's Prize to the Juniors will be on Thursday 25th August Our Club President, Noel McCartan’s, prize is on Saturday 27th August, and will be a 27-hole competition for Ladies and Gents. Ladies qualifying day is on Tuesday 23rd August (Time sheet opens on Monday 15th August) The Men’s’ qualifying days are Friday 26th 7:00am till 5:00pm, and Saturday 27th 7:00pm till 12:06pm. (Time sheets open on August 12th) The best 27 scores from both Ladies and Gents will qualify for a 9-hole shotgun start play off on Saturday evening at 5:30 pm. Please note the back 9 will be closed from 5:00pm for casual golf that evening. Presentation of prizes will take place that evening in the Clubhouse at 9:30 pm. Dinner in Mossel Bay at 8:00 pm. and must be booked in advance. Competitions The last Bank Holiday weekend of the Summer is nearly upon us, so have a look at the upcoming competitions …… something there for everyone. 9 and Dine on the Friday evening– Saturday 30th Invitation 2 Person Team Sponsored by James Tomkins Suzuki and Citroen Dealer, Gorey,-- Sunday 31st Open Ladies and Gents Singles sponsored by Glen Fuels Ltd.-- Invitation 4 Person Scramble on the Bank Holiday Monday 1st August sponsored by Raspberry Restaurant, Gorey. Tuesday 2nd August Open Day Ladies Singles Stableford, kindly sponsored by Prospect Holiday and Leisure Park. Wednesday 3rd August Men's Open Gorey Guardian Summer Series. Only a few weeks left to qualify for the final day of the series. Thursday 4th August Open Seniors Ladies and Gents Singles. As you are aware, we have been approved for a Sports Capital grant for the improvement of the practice ground. Copies of the detailed plans are available to view on the notice boards. It is hoped to commence with the practice ground upgrade in the month of August. As there will be heavy machinery in operation the practice ground will be closed for the duration of this work. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Practice Area Etiquette It has come to our attention that some of our members are attempting to hit balls from the practice area into the pond on the 12th. This is an extraordinary practice and holds little regard for the property of the club, the staff and volunteers who collect the balls and, of course, the safety of our members. Any members who engage in this practice will have their entitlement to use this facility removed and their membership will be reviewed. We would ask our members to report any breaches to the office. As always, when using the practice facility, please be mindful of members playing the 12th and do not hit shots which may carry to their position. Team News Hard luck to the Barton Cup team, Ladies Challenge Cup Team and Ladies Revive Active Fourball Team who lost out in their last matches. All matches were closely contested and went down to the wire, but lady luck wasn’t on our side on the day. There is always next year. The Men’s All Ireland Fourball is in the Leinster Central Final where they meet Newbridge. This match will be played in Bunclody on Sunday 7th August. Good Luck to the team and Managers. Team: Larry O’Brien & Donal O’Keeffe Liam Clare & Pat Timmons Dearan McGrath & Paul Doran Donal Sheehan & Gary Sheahan Brian Malone & Tommy Kinsella Subs: Andy Buckley & James Casey Paul Kehoe played his part on the team but is unavailable on Sunday 7th. Team Managers: Conor Flynn & Alan McDonald. Thank you to all the teams’ players and managers who have given freely of their time to represent Courtown Golf Club. It takes time and commitment to go for a practice round, and then play on a team, sometimes travelling long distances to do so. You have all done us proud. Mossel Bay Mossel Bay is open for Lunch, Dinner and snacks throughout the week and weekend. Booking is advisable. Having a Summer party or Barbeque? Why not take the stress out of it and pre order your salads, main course or desserts from Mossel Bay. Contact Ian or Siobhan for an Outdoor/Takeaway menu. 053 94 25166 Ext: 5 Restaurant opening hours bank holiday week: Saturday 30th July 10 — 8pm Sunday 31st July 11 — 8pm Monday 1st August 11 — 7pm Tuesday 2nd August 12 — 8:30pm Wednesday 3rd August 12 — 8:30pm Thursday 4th August 12 — 6:00pm Friday 5th August 12 — 7:30pm Saturday 6th August 10 — 8:00pm Sunday 7th August 10 —7:00pm These times may be altered due to course and timesheet conditions.  Review on Tripadvisor Excellent service and food superb My husband and I had an excellent evening meal at the Golf Club yesterday. Shauna, our waitress, was so friendly as was Mick the bar man. Very good selection on the menu. Vegan choices were extensive. Overall, an excellent experience. Thank you, Anita and Larry, March 30, 2022 Well done to Ian, Siobhan, Shauna and Mick. Juniors Please note that due to unprecedented interest the Cadet Juniors U13’s programme is now fully booked, with a priority waiting list in place for 2023. For details, please contact Club Manager David at 053 94 21566 Ext: 6 or email: golfmanager@courtowngolfclub.com Get into Golf The Ladies Get into Golf Program is in full swing with 20 Ladies having completed Phase 1 of the first program. 15 of these ladies are now in Phase 2. 10 ladies are currently enjoying Phase 1 of the 2nd program. There will be a presentation of Golf Ireland Certs to all the ladies who have completed the full program on Tuesday 9th August at 7:30 pm. Thank you to co-ordinator Catherine Quinn and her team of helpers. Clubnet App To receive notifications on your app, please ensure you have the notification setting on your phone and on the app turned on. Please visit the News icon on the front page of the app regularly to keep up to date with what is happening in your club. Member Bag Tags If you have not received your membership bag tag upon payment of your subscription please call into the office, where you can get a tag and holder. Periodically club staff will patrol the course during the day and in the evenings to ensure all players are members or have paid green fees. We have had more than 200 new members in the last 3 years so please do not be offended if you are queried as this is good practice. Rule of Golf Did you know that you may remove a red stake or a yellow stake, should they interfere with your swing or stance. If the ball moves as you remove the stake you must replace the ball in its original resting place. see Rule 15.2a. Please note you may not move a white stake which marks an out of bounds area.  The Clubhouse getting a facelift!
 Dates for your Diary Our first club major, Mr Captain Adrian Copeland’s day, is nearly upon us. Qualifying Day 1 & 2 will be played on Saturday 2nd July and Sunday 3rd July, with the final day on Saturday 9th July. There will also be a Ladies 9-hole stableford qualifying competition on Saturday 9th starting at 15:30 pm. Still time to get some practice in for this coveted prize! Time sheets for the qualifying days are open and there are still some time slots available. There will be a Three course dinner in Mossel Bay on Saturday 9th July for members and friends. Cost €32 p.p. Booking must be in advance through the restaurant or bar. Captains prize giving will be on Saturday 9th July at 9.30 p.m. followed with music by ‘Fretless’ at 10p.m. and dancing till late. Good luck to all. Lady Captain Mary Cooper holds her qualifying day on Tuesday 19th July followed by Lady Captains Buffet that evening in the clubhouse. You will find full details on the Ladies notice board. The final will be played on Saturday 23rd July. with a Men’s 9-hole competition in the evening. Time sheets for Day 1 will open two weeks in advance. Lady Captain Mary will hold her prize giving on Saturday 23rd and there will also be music and dancing on the night. As we are returning to normal indoor entertainment after two years of restrictions, why not come along to either, or both nights for some fun and also to support your captains, in what promises to be fun filled nights. While the men will be battling to qualify for the Captain’s prize on the 2nd July, the Ladies have their Lady Captains Away Day in Coollattin. This will be a Team event with food and prize giving later that evening in Courtown clubhouse. There is a full fixture list available from the Pro-Shop, Bar or Office. The fixture list is also available on the website and may be found by clicking on Events. Open Week was a great success this year and very well supported by members and visitors. Thank you to all our sponsors for your generosity. The course was in fantastic condition for the week, and this was commented on many times by visitors to the club. Well done to James and the team. Gorey Guardian Summer Series continues every Wednesday and some great scores have been recorded to date. Don’t forget the Open Ladies and Gents Singles the first Thursday of the month, and the new 9 to Fivers on Thursday evenings is up and running. Nine and Dine Any Combination Fourball will continue for the Summer on most Friday evenings and is great value at €15 for members and €25 for visitors for 9 holes and a main course. Start the weekend with golf and Dinner in Courtown …….. Sunday 10th July is an Invitation 2 Person Team Competition, kindly sponsored by Mossel Bay. This is our annual Teams Classic and entry is €10 p.p. and €25 for visitors. We remind you that if for some reason you must take your name off the timesheet, would you please contact your playing partners as soon as possible to give them time to organise opposition. This particularly applies to a fourball competition. We are currently working with Clubnet to close the time sheet at 6:00pm the day prior to play. We will keep you informed of any changes made to the booking system. We have increased our booking time with Clubnet, so you now have two minutes to enter the names and save the booking. You will have noticed some trees in spinneys marked with blue tape. When the spinneys were planted, they were overplanted to ensure a good strike rate and some of them need to be thinned out. Following a course walk, it was decided to mark the trees for removal, and the decision was made based on which trees had the best opportunity to survive, condition of the trees and density of tree growth preventing the progression of the ball towards the fairway or green. It is hoped to start this work during the Autumn. Any young trees that may be removed will be replanted in other more suitable locations. It is hoped to commence the painting of the exterior of the clubhouse in the next few weeks, (weather permitting). It was great to see so many of you using the patio area during the recent sunny spell. Let’s hope the sunshine returns shortly! Teams We still have some teams in the Inter Club matches. Well done to all who participated or played on a team. Still going strong are the Men's Barton Cup Team and Men’s All Ireland Fourball. Ladies Challenge Cup Team and Ladies Revive Active Fourball are flying the flag for the Ladies. Ladies Revive Fourball beat Tullamore on Friday 1st July and are now through to the Semi-Finals. Barton Cup play Greystones on Sunday 10th July and Ladies Challenge Team play Rathdowney also on Sunday 10th. The Men’s Fourball are also out on Sunday 10th against Waterford. Your support would be appreciated by the teams. Bar and Catering The Bar is open every day from 12 midday with closing time dependent on patronage. Mossel Bay hours are on the Notice Boards, with weekend booking for Dinner or Sunday Lunch advisable. Other News Congratulations to Mike Beetlestone who has just published his novel, ‘Finding Santeria, Losing Sanity’. The book is available to purchase on Amazon or Kindle Amazon.co.uk : finding santeria... losing sanity You may be aware of a new 18-month membership offer currently available to new members only. If you know anyone that may be interested, please encourage them to join. The Horizon Irish Open comes to us from Mount Juliet this weekend, and with some of the big names in golf competing, it should be a great four days of golf. Best of luck to our own Irish golfers. Rules Refresher Pace of Play Clubnet has introduced a pace of play tracker on the app. Golf Rule; Relief from Movable Obstruction Removal of Movable Obstruction. You may remove a movable obstruction without penalty anywhere on or off the course and may do so in any way. If your ball moves while you are removing a movable obstruction, there is no penalty and your ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated)  DIAGRAM #1 15.2a: BALL MOVES WHEN MOVABLE OBSTRUCTION REMOVED (EXCEPT WHEN BALL IN OR ON OBSTRUCTION) But there are two exceptions when movable obstruction cannot be removed: Exception 1 - Tee Markers Must Not be Moved When Ball Will Be Played from Teeing Area. Exception 2 - Restrictions on Deliberately Removing Movable Obstruction to Affect a Ball in Motion. See The R&A - Rules Of Golf (randa.org) for more information on the Exceptions.   Bobby Kinsella Retirement The Management Committee wish to advise that Bobby Kinsella has retired after 62 years association with Courtown Golf Club. Bobby joined the club as a member in 1960. Bobby playing off a very respectable 5 handicap represented the club on many occasions. He joined the staff of the club in 2000 serving a number of roles but will always be fondly remembered as our affable course ranger. While sometimes, play was delayed, we could look forward to the latest series of jokes or witty incidents. Bobby often entertained us in the clubhouse and what fun we had … Remember his best man role to Pat Noonan (groom) at our mock weddings…great fun and great memories. Thanks, Bobby, for all the laughs, the fun and the good times. Missing you already. Vincent Kearney Chairperson  PINK and BLUE Day Date: Tuesday 31st May 2022 Sponsor: Halfords Hair Studio Competition: Ladies 18 and 9 Hole Stableford Men’s 9 hole Stableford in the evening Raffle tickets available in the Bar. €5 per ticket. Proceeds for North Wexford Hospice Homecare  Upcoming Golf Wednesday June 1st sees the start of the very popular Open Men's Singles Gorey Guardian Summer Series which runs every Wednesday throughout the Summer. . Thursday 2nd; Open Seniors Ladies & Gents Singles Friday 3rd; Open Nine and Dine Saturday 4th; Invitation Fourball Any Combination. Sponsored by Katie Daly’s Bar and Restaurant. Sunday 5th; Ladies and Gents Singles. Sponsored by O’Connor Engineering, Gorey. Monday 6th; Invitation 4 person Scramble. Tuesday 7th; Ladies Open Day Fourball. Sponsored by FloGas Friday 10th; Open Nine and Dine  Many thanks to our very generous sponsors Clubhouse You will have noticed the trophy cabinet in the clubhouse…………… Liz Harte Interior Design was engaged at a high level to discuss what could be done to freshen up the upstairs area. While there is no plan in place to renovate the bar area, it is thought that some small works could be carried out to improve the overall appearance. It is thought that the removal of some of the trophy cabinet would open up the restaurant area and give a brighter effect. To this end, the trophies have been stored, the doors removed from the restaurant along with the cabinet shelves and cabinet doors, on the kitchen side, to give the membership and idea of what the final product will look like. As only doors and shelves have been removed it is completely reversible. The next step would be to take out the cabinets leaving four symmetrical openings the size of the existing doorways. The reaction so far has generally been positive. There have been some queries around relocating the trophy cabinet and losing the privacy of the restaurant for smaller functions. There are a few suitable locations for a trophy cabinet and movable partitions can be made to screen off the restaurant, if required. The benefit of the plan is the sense of airiness and brightness and it will be a big benefit of our major nights, Captains and President’s. It will also accommodate some of our larger societies on their big nights in August & September. A final decision will be made in the coming week or two.  You will also have noticed the new linings in the carpark and the clear definition of the one way system that is in place, which we would ask you to observe. Course Information  The Fox Family who resides at the side of the 8th!!! On the course the area between the 7th green and 8th tee box has been planted with wildflowers. We look forward to the colour there for the summer months. Are you one of the 10% that do not repair divots, pitch marks or rake bunkers? NOW is the time to join the 90%. The greenkeepers, committees and members are extremely concerned with the damage being done to the course by some individuals who think it is okay to hit several balls from the same spot. It is not okay, and members found damaging the course in this manner will face sanction.  “Adopt a Green” In an effort to maintain our greens we are re-introducing Adopt a Green. The initial of your surname determines which green that you could check out and repair, if needed, as you play your round of golf. The following table shows your designated green! A for 1st green B for 2nd green C for 3rd green D for 4th green E for 5th green F for 6th green G for 7th green H for 8th green I & J for 9th green K for 10th green L for 11th green M for 12th green N for 13th green O for 14th green P, Q & R for 15th green S & T for 16th green U & V for 17th green W &Y for 18th green  Notice – Nominations Committee The Nominations Committee wish to inform the membership of the impending vacancy in the role of Chair of the Club Management Committee, established by the new constitution adopted by the members in general meeting. This position, currently held by Mr Vincent Kearney, is a most significant one in the club organisation, carrying responsibility for overseeing the business affairs of the club. Expressions of interest are being sought from members who may feel that they have the necessary expertise to fulfil the role and are willing to serve for a minimum term of two years. Such expressions, which will be treated in strictest confidence, may be submitted by emailing cgc.nominations@gmail.com or contacting a member of the Nominations committee. Updates on Teams Some great wins for Courtown in the Ladies Challenge Cup, Revive Fourball and Junior Foursomes. Men’s teams to date have had wins in the Barton Cup, All Ireland Fourball and Junior Cup, with the Irish Mixed team having a win over Rosslare. Congratulations to all players, managers and caddies, and best of luck in the next rounds. Commiserations to our other teams that didn’t make it through this time, and many thanks to you all for giving your time to represent Courtown. Pro Shop
Demo Days: Cleveland Demo Wednesday 8th June 12pm-4pm. Ping Demo Day Thursday 9th June 2pm-6pm. Titleist Demo Day Friday 10th June 1pm-5.30pm. Booking is essential. To book your appointment contact Paul or Martin in the Pro-Shop on 053 9425860. New Summer clothing and accessories are now in stock. Bar and Restaurant Hours  JUNE Mossel Bay Bar
Thursday 2nd 12pm-8pm 1pm-10pm Friday 3rd 12pm-8pm 1pm-Close Saturday 4th 11am-8pm 12pm-Close Sunday 5th 11am-8pm 12pm-9pm Monday 6th 11am-7pm 12pm-9pm Tuesday 7th 12pm-7pm 1pm-9pm Wednesday 8th 12pm-7pm 1pm-10pm Booking for the restaurant is advisable. 053-9425166 ext 5 Bar Hours run in conjunction with restaurant hours, and closing times are subject to patronage. The office will be closed on Monday 6th June with normal hours resuming on Tuesday 7th June. |
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June 2023
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