Update 23rd March

RESULTS - Well done to Lee McKillen who continued his recent strong form to win this years Spring League final held on Sunday the 22nd of March. Tommy King is another man bringing in some great scores and he was on the podium again this week, claiming the runners-up spot.

A separate 18 hole Stableford competition was held the same day. Brendan Gaffney was the winner on the day with 37 points, Pat Conroy’s 35 points were enough for second place, just edging out Lochlainn Conboy on countback.

FIXTURES - The mens’ competition next Sunday the 29th will be an 18 hole Stableford.

CORONAVIRUS PRECAUTIONS - The GUI issued a new statement about Coronavirus and its impact on golf clubs during the week. It is still safe to participate in golf but certain restrictions apply.

- Hand hygiene is absolutely vital. Hot water and soap is provided in the clubhouse at competition times and should be used before and after your round. 

- Unfortunately, the social nicety of handshaking is too high risk for the time being.

-To further help with hand hygiene, the club advises that on putting greens, flags are not be removed from the hole when putting.

- Raking bunkers should also be avoided.

- The clubhouse computer has been switched off, just sign in to the competition in the book in the front hall.

- The use of scorecards is a vulnerability, given their exchange at the end of a round: please consider measures such as getting one person to do all the cards, and initialing them on a hard surface rather than holding them in your hand to sign.

- “Social  Distancing ” is of critical importance. Just be conscious of maintaining 6 feet between you and your playing partners while on the course and it’s environs. This means that the sharing of buggies is not currently allowed. The bar and function areas of the clubhouse will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Please enjoy your golf and follow the above advice to do your bit to protect the most vulnerable in our community.

Update 15th March

RESULTS - Congratulations to Tommy King and Paul Connolly who won the Boyle round of the Holmpatrick Cup and go on to represent the club at the next stage. Their 47 points were 2 points clear of runners-up Lochlainn Conboy and Michael McHale who in turn were a point ahead of Joe Hussey and Darragh Loftus.

FIXTURES - The Spring League final will be held next Sunday the 22nd of March. For all who haven’t qualified for the final there will be a separate 18 hole Stableford competition. The following have qualified for the final - Lee Mckillen , Owen Garvin, Gerry Carty, Tom Kearney, Sean Heslin, Lorcan Egan, Pat Conroy, Vincent Egan, Tommy King, Ross Andrew , Gabriel Lavin, Charlie O’Donnell, Michael Simon, Paddy McLoughlin, and Liam Mullaney.

Like all sporting clubs at present (and society in general) things are in a state of flux. We are hoping to play all our “ordinary” fixtures as planned in the coming weeks, i.e those that can be played without a social function or presentation afterwards, as the bar will remain closed as per the recommended anti-coronavirus measures. Unfortunately this means that the Sandra McCrann Memorial Competition will be deferred for a while as it would not be a fitting tribute to Sandra to run it without the social element.

Anyone playing golf at the moment is asked to respect the HSE and GUI guidance of maintaining a 2 metre distance at all times from other players and take the necessary hand hygiene measures. A game of golf should be a great outlet in what will undoubtedly be a difficult few weeks, but please bear in mind the above recommendations, it may be crucial in preserving the health of a fellow player, family member or friend.

Update 8th March

SPRING LEAGUE - The delayed 2nd round of the Spring League took place on Sunday the 1st of March. Captain Lorcan Egan had the best score on the day with 38 points. Sean Heslin and Tom Kearney were 2nd and 3rd respectively with 35 points apiece.

The last of the 3 Spring League qualifiers was played on Sunday the 8th of March, Tommy King taking top spot with a very strong 42 points. Lee McKillen showed his first-round score was no flash in the pan by recording 41 points for 2nd and Michael Simon came 3rd with 36 points.

The Spring League final will be held Sunday the 22nd of March and the following have qualified - Lee McKillen, Owen Garvin, Gerry Carty, Tom Kearney, Sean Heslin, Lorcan Egan, Pat Conroy, Vincent Egan, Tommy King, Ross Andrew, Gabriel Lavin, Charlie O’Donnell, Michael Simon, Paddy McLoughlin, and Liam Mullaney.

FIXTURES - The competition next Sunday the 15th will be the annual Holmpatrick Cup qualifier, played as Fourball Betterball. This is a fundraising competition for the National Council for the Blind, running since 1932. With a good run of form, the winners of the Boyle round can progress via County and Regional Finals to an all-expenses paid trip to St Andrews, Scotland if luck favours them.

SANDRA McCRANN MEMORIAL COMPETITION -  A competition will be held in honour of the much-missed Sandra McCrann on Saturday the 4th April. The format will be an 18 Stableford Open for ladies and gents. The competition itself and some other fundraising activities the same day will also serve as a fundraiser for SHOUT (Sligo Hospital Oncology Unit Trust). We would love to see a great turnout of members and friends of Sandra for the occasion. The club also wishes the best of luck to Sean Brennan and family and friends who are organising a fund-raising cycle in Sandra’s memory later the same month.

CLUB OUTING - An outing for ladies and gents will take place to Moate Golf Club on Saturday the 18th of April. Michael Rush is the organiser and has negotiated an extremely keen rate of 40 euro for the day which includes tea/coffee beforehand, 18 holes of golf and a meal afterward. Please put your name on the sheet on the noticeboard in the clubhouse if you wish to go.

CONDOLENCES - to John McGuinn, Jason Beirne and Michael Rush on their recent family bereavements.