Narin & Portnoo Golf Club Notes 27th October 2009

Two long hours have passed since I completed my first round of golf with the learned Paddy Beag. I now know that ‘fido’ means faithful in Latin, that the Yankees have a better than evens chance of winning the World Series and that when everything in your favour is against you, belt out a Sinatra classic or two by way of mollification! We were participating along with the big-hitting Patrick Gallagher in the Bank Holiday scramble and while the golf left a lot to be desired at times, there wasn’t a laugh left out on the course!

Sunday morning was a problematic one on many fronts, with the weather stormy and the P.R.O.’s time-keeping exclusively for the birds. Hughie Moore was always the man for the wind and rain and this Conal McLoone Butchers stableford competition proved no exception. While the more timid (such as yours truly) took shelter from the tempest, Hughie set about constructing a score which would beat the course. He was the only one to succeed in this endeavour, amassing 37 superb points. A birdie two at the third was a nice bonus in the tough early holes and when further birdies were added at the 6th and 8th, Hughie’s playing partners knew that he was course for a fine score. Four pars were secured on the way home into the gale and the final tally was two better than the fast-finishing Mícheál McGinley in second.

James Byrne got back to winning ways in the Wednesday Open, massacring the back nine with 24 points to finish on a score of 41 stableford points. Birdies at 12, 13 and 18 were impressive indeed, quality matched only by the performance of our club professional, Connor Mallon in second place after an eight-birdie blitz in the course of his round of 40.

Our over-50s team put up a gallant fight in Ballyliffin in the second leg of the county final, winning the holes battle but coming up short when it came to actual points on the board. The home result had proved too much to carry but Pat Connaghan can feel very proud of his troops. We congratulate the home side on their victory and wish them an enjoyable year as county champions. For the record, the team in Ballyliffin consisted of: Eamonn McGill & Willie Quinn; Eddie Gregg & John Quinn; Francie Cunningham & Seamus McGarvey; Cathal Donoghue & Frankie Kennedy; Bart Whelan & Sean Rodgers.

The entry sheet for the Winter Matchplay has also been posted and names may be given to either Connor or Darragh. The draw will take place this Sunday night (November 1st).

Results:
October 25: Conal McLoone Butchers
1. Hughie Moore (15) 37; 2. Mícheál McGinley (17) 35; 3. Manus Boyle Jnr. (10) 33 b.o.t.; Cat A Kevin Patton (8) 32; Cat B John McBride (10) 32; Cat C Michael Martin (19) 33; Nines: Sean McGinley (17) 21; John McCole (11) 18; C.S.S. 76; Twos: 10 balls each:
October 21: Wednesday Open
1. James P. Byrne (14) 41; 2. Connor Mallon (+2) 40; 3. Michael Glynn (19) 38; C.S.S. 73; Twos: 3 balls each:

Fixtures:
November 1: Charael Catering, single stroke, open

November 4: Wednesday Open, ladies and gents, single stableford, 20 euro entry for G.U.I. visitors including green fee;