Welcome to our Christmas 2023 Newsletter A Christmas Message from Club Captains Máiréad & Gerry Dear all, On behalf of Mairead and myself and the Committees of Courtown Golf Club, we would like to take this opportunity to wish every member of the Club, and your families, a very Merry Christmas and a safe, bright and prosperous New Year. Bring on 2024 with an abundance of golf! Happy Holidays Mairead and Gerry Don’t forget about our Trackman where the weather is always favourable! Trackman Vouchers are available from the Office or Pro Shop. Club Vouchers are also available, and these can be used in a variety of ways; Sub payment, lunch or dinner, green fees etc – a great Christmas Present! As we approach the festive season, we can hopefully expect more clement weather for our upcoming competitions. Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th Invitation Ladies and Gents Singles. Saturday 30th December and Sunday 31st December Invitation 2 Person Team Monday 1st January Invitation Ladies and Gents Singles Thursday 4th January Open Seniors Ladies and Gents Singles. Please note the following opening and closing hours over the Christmas period: Bar Thursday 21st Bar Closed Friday 22nd 11am – 7pm Saturday 23rd 11am – 8pm Sunday 24th 11am – 3pm Christmas Eve _______________________________________________________________________________ Monday 25th Bar Closed Christmas Day Tuesday 26th 11am – 5pm Wednesday 27th 11am - 6pm Thursday 28th 11am – 5pm Friday 29th 11am – 5pm Saturday 30th 11am – 6pm Sunday 31st 11am – 5pm New Year’s Eve Monday 1st January 2024 11am – 5pm New Year's Day Bar hours are subject to timesheets and patronage of the clubhouse facilities, and may be altered. Restaurant Closed from Sunday 24th December. Reopening Friday 29th December at 12 noon. Office Closed 12:30pm Saturday December 23rd. Reopen Friday 29th 10am-12 noon. Saturday 30th 10:30am-12:30pm. Normal office hours resume on 2nd January 2024 ie; Mondays - Closed Tuesdays to Fridays - 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm Saturdays – 10:30am to 12:30pm. 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.
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Welcome to our Autumn 2023 newsletter. Practice Area
DAR Golf returned to carry out repair work on the practice area. Unbelievably, a further deluge of rain did more damage. This has been repaired again but unfortunately, it means that we will have to wait for the 2024 golf season before the facility is reopened. Club Matchplay Winners Congratulations to our club Matchplay winners: Mens Singles Pat Donnellan Ladies Singles Under 30 H’cap Mags Greenan Ladies Singles Over 30 H’cap Kay McGarry Ladies 9-hole Una Bolger Mens Fourball John Sheridan & Ciaran Sheridan Ladies Fourball Mairead Carty & Carol Barnwell Mixed Matchplay Pat Donnellan & Sarah Donnellan Well done to you all with a particular shout out to Pat Donnellan on winning the singles and the mixed! Course Rangers The course ranger program has been stepped down for the Winter months. Thank you to all the volunteers for your contribution. We will have a meeting of the rangers, shortly, to discuss learnings and share experiences with a view towards 2024. Notification will be through our WhatsApp group. Social Prepayment - Final Notification 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. Trolley Shed Planning permission has now been received for the new trolley shed, to be located in the car park below the reserved car parking spaces. In the coming weeks the trees and scrub will be cleared, and the site prepared. Course & Facilities Roof repairs have now been completed. The work has been stress tested, given the recent heavy rainfall, and we can report that no leaks have occurred. Greens have been hollow tined and will be in great shape again, shortly. Thank you to the small army of volunteers who assisted the green staff. Our fairways and tee boxes suffered a setback as they contracted a fungal disease. This has now been treated and part of the treatment program was hollow tining the tee boxes to improve drainage and eliminate thatch. They will recover in the coming weeks. Captains Dinner Our annual Captains dinner will take place on Saturday 4th November 2023. This year The View restaurant will be providing us with a fantastic buffet followed by music provided by Garreth Acton, total cost is 30 euro and bookings can be made through the restaurant. Why not organise a table of your friends for a great night out and our final big night of the year. AGM Notification The ladies AGM will take place on Tuesday 28th November at 7.30 p.m. while the mens AGM will take pace on Saturday 2nd December at 4.30 p.m. This will be followed by the club AGM at 6.00 p.m. Please note that all nominations for committee and any motions/resolutions for consideration must be received 14 days prior to the meetings. Nomination forms are available in the office, and we would encourage all members to consider how they might serve the club. Each member will receive a formal notification of the AGMs by email. Inter-Club Teams There was a good turnout from members at the Town Hall meeting last month and a full discussion took place on what steps we need to take to ensure Courtown Golf Club takes home more pennants from Inter-Club competitions. As a first step, John Sheridan will take on the role of co-ordinator for the mens teams and Mary Cooper will do the same role for the ladies’ teams. If you are interested in getting involved in the selection and management of teams for next year, please contact John on 0879311284 or Mary on 0878111840. Ladies Club The end of year buffet will take place on Friday 24th November which will include presentations to Golfer of the Year, Match Play winners, silver and bronze medallists, most improved golfer etc. The Christmas fun day tournament and social afternoon in the clubhouse will take place on Tuesday 12th December. Ladies Winter League commences on 28th October. Anybody interested in participating should put your name on the list in the changing room or text Norma on 0863771070. Closing date is Friday 20th October. Lunar Golf There is a fun night planned on Friday 27th October when the course will be seen in a different light! Lunar golf is on the way. The format will be a scramble with on-course music and a drink and food in the clubhouse all included. It is a popular event with places being snapped up very quickly. This should be a most enjoyable evening. Welcome to our summer newsletter and what a great summer it had been, weather wise, before a more disappointing July. We live in hope for a more benign August! Team News We are delighted to extend a heartfelt congratulations to our Ladies Challenge Cup Team on their resounding victory in the Leinster Central Final, bringing home a pennant. Their dedication and hard work have brought immense pride to Courtown Golf Club. We applaud their success and wish them the best as they progress to the next stage of the tournament, in Abbeyleix, at the end of August. The team, managed by Denise Burke, includes Mags Dooley, Dympna Doyle, Ann Morgan, Mary O’Connor, Angie Dooley, Ann O’Shaughnessy, Ann Codd and Aine Roche. Commiserations also to our Ladies Minor Cup team who reached the Leinster Central semifinal and our Men’s Senior Cup team for reaching the Leinster Central semi-final. Well done to both teams, you did us proud. Town Hall Meeting As previously advised, the club will be hosting a Town Hall “Teams Meeting” in the coming weeks. The purpose of this meeting is to gather ideas from all our members as we discuss and shape a medium-term plan with the goal of winning more pennants. The meeting will provide a platform for open and constructive dialogue and believe that your insights will be invaluable in charting the course of our club’s success. We encourage all interested members to participate in this collaborative discussion, where we can explore innovative strategies and build a united vision for the future of Courtown Golf Club. Date and time to be announced soon. The Majors Congratulations to the winners of the Captains' Prizes: John Creagh for Captain Paul's Prize and Eileen O'Brien for Captain Eileen's Prize. Congratulations to both for their outstanding performance and well-deserved victories. The finals were held on July 8th and July 22nd, and the support for our Captains on both days and, indeed, nights was truly phenomenal. The View restaurant did a fantastic job in providing a wonderful meal, adding to the enjoyment of these special events. We extend our gratitude to The View for their excellent service and delicious offerings. Let us not forget to acknowledge the talents of our young golfers! The Captains' Prize to the Juniors was won by Thomas Rush and Caoimhe Geraghty. Caoimhe Geraghty also won the Tom Funge girls junior open while Aaron Gethings won the Tom Funge boys open Once again, congratulations to all the winners, and a big thank you to everyone who assisted in making these events memorable and enjoyable. Let us remember, of course, there is one more Major opportunity, President Bronagh’s prize takes place on 26th August with qualifying days on the Tuesday and Friday beforehand……so all to play for! Leinster Men’s Mid-Amateur Open The club hosted the Leinster Men’s Mid-Am and was played over 3 rounds on 16th & 17th June. Local man, Graham Donohoe (Enniscorthy) won the event with a score of 1 over par for the 3 rounds. The course certainly stood up to the test and well done to James Timmins and his team who presented the course in fantastic condition! Inter-Club trophy
The Courtown Ladies Inter-Club trophy will be held on 17th August with 18 clubs, including ourselves, competing. Practice Area DAR golf has completed the remedial work on the practice area and many of you will have witnessed the huge efforts made. Some of the smaller slit drains are partially blocked and these will be redone in September to ensure great drainage on the facility. It is up to the elements as to when it will reopen, and we ask for your patience and forbearance. Rest assured we are committed to opening the facility as soon as is possible. Course Rangers A big shout out to our band of course rangers who are doing a great job! The rangers will continue to patrol the fairways at weekends until the end of September when we will stand down for the winter months. Thank you to all our volunteers. Care of our course The number of pitch marks on our greens and the large number of divots left without repair last weekend was quite remarkable. Even more remarkable was that there were no societies playing so it was really down to us, the members. Please ensure that pitch marks and divots are repaired. It is part of golf etiquette and adds to our overall enjoyment of the facility. Please continue to support your club by using the facilities, including the bar and restaurant, to the fullest. Why not invite your friends to one or two of our many open days and promote Courtown Golf Club. Enjoy the rest of the season! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 |
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December 2023
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