Carmarthen Golf ClubVisit:
This week we saw the long anticipated visit from our twinned club of Carmarthen who arrived on Thursday afternoon with over 37 members including their captain Alan Williams and his good wife Ann as well as their Director of Golf Darren Griffiths, son of Terry Griffiths the 1979 World Champion snooker player. The two clubs were twinned on the day of the centenary captains’ drive in on the 25th of February 2007 and a charter to certify that effect is displayed on the clubhouse wall.

Blessed with glorious weather for their four day visit the members of Carmarthen immediately donned their golfing apparel and headed out for a few holes. They spent Friday visiting neighbouring courses to return on Saturday morning for the inter-club battle for the centenary trophy. This was followed later that evening by dinner at which the ‘outgoing’ captain, Declan Lyons, welcomed all present and gave a brief history of the twinning and the origins of the now annual centenary trophy challenge. Carmarthen retained the trophy during the centenary year when a small team led by William Rackard, then captain, travelled to Carmarthen were vanquished. In 2008, a much stronger brigade travelled under the 2008 captain Jim Byrne and won the trophy back albeit by the most narrowest of margins beating Carmarthen on their home ground. There was a moment of panic this year when the captain glanced at the handicaps of the Carmarthen travelling party prior to their arrival but when he realised that they were arriving on Thursday his fears were soon allayed as this meant that they would have two nights of entertainment. This turned out to be their Achilles’ heel when overcome with fatigue and over indulgence of Irish hospitality many of their teams on the day failed to perform and an easy victory was secured by Enniscorthy. The best of the Carmarthen team were Fred Steele and Martin Philips who had a 4-3 win over their hosts. The captain called upon the opposing team and club captain Alan to present the Centenary Trophy, sponsored by past President Morgan Dunne, to the winning clubs captain. Alan proceeded to thank Enniscorthy for their hospitality and the course and catering staff. In his after dinner speech Alan spoke of how this was his first time in having the pleasure of playing the ‘hidden jewel’ of the South East. The parkland course was a pleasure to play with breathtaking views of the Blackstairs Mountains and to experience the wonderful hospitality. Alan paid tribute to the Carmarthen organisers that included their director of golf, their vice-captain Chris and to Ruth James and of course Lucy. We look forward to your visit next year and we hope we can provide the same level of hospitality and weather. Declan reiterated Alan’s statements and went on to pay tribute to Lucy Healy for her time and efforts in organising the visits and ensuring all went according to plan. The entertainment followed with the Carmarthen golfers giving Enniscorthy a taste of real Welsh singing with favourites such as Calon Lân (Oh Pure Heart) and  Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (Land Of My Fathers) amongst others. Not to be outdone Enniscorthy provided the entertainment with our very own Matty Kinnaird and Lar Ronan who gave a great performance and Karaoke. Planning will soon be under way for Enniscorthys next trip to Carmarthen in 2010 and anyone interested should contact Lucy so as not to be disappointed.


Jimmy Carroll Cup:                                  

Back Row: Jim Hogan, Tommy Kehoe, George Leech, Tom Hogan, Pat Mulvey, Eamon Houlihan, Mick Wickham.
Front Row: President John Mernagh, Team Manager Willy Dunne, Capt. Declan Lyons, Neville Tector.

A great effort and achievement from one of Enniscorthys greatest senior teams was on display last Monday week when our over sixties got to the final of the Jimmy Carroll Cup at Westmanstown Golf Club. The Jimmy Carroll Cup is organised to honour the memory of Jimmy Carroll an Irish International golfer and a member of An Garda Siochana. A very well organised and supported event with representation from almost every club in the country and it was no mean feat for Enniscorthy to achieve 3rd in Leinster and placed 6th over all. Full commendations to their manager, William Dunne and assistant team manager Morgan Dunne. Among those taking part were Jim Bohan, Tom Hogan, Mick Wickham, Pat Mulvey, Eamon Houlihan, John Doyle, George Leech, Neville Tector and Tommy Kehoe. Well done all.

One of the clubs well known golfers and characters, Paul Gorby, won the scratch cup at Mount Wolseley recently with a fantastic score of only four over. Among the many activities other than golf related held in the clubhouse are Bridge and Texas holdem nights. These sociable activities attract a large following and they herald the onset of the shortening days and long winter evenings ahead. Bridge lesson for beginners will take place this coming Friday night the 18th of Sept at 7.30 p.m. and will last for an hour while the Bridge night commences this Tuesday.

The major club competition last weekend was the Bourke O’Leary Monthly Medal played in the best weather the course has enjoyed in some time. It was also a welcome relief for weary golfers who have slogged through three months of abysmal monsoon like weather. Taking top prize was Shane Fenlon (13) with a 66 two shots ahead of veteran Tommy Kehoe (14) 68. Gross went to Cormac Martin (2) whose commitment to the game is exemplary and obviously pays dividends as Cormac appears to be sole winner of most of the gross prizes recently and carded a 72 on this occasion. In third position was Ray Hemmingway (14) with a respectable 70 closely followed in fourth place by Jim Rigley (14) with a 71 on the back nine count back just ahead of Brain Sinnott (17) also with a 71. Seniors went to Jim Mackey (9) with a 74. Over 200 male members took part and we thank our sponsor for their continued support.
This was followed on Sunday evening with the Bourke O’Leary sponsored mixed competition with the combo of  Jack (9) and Vikki (29) Murphy taking first prize with 28.5 over the nine holes. In second position were Sheila Farrell (23) and Jimmy Fox (11) with 31.5 and gross went to John Casey (14) and Margaret Mooney (8) with a 41.

The postponed midweek competition finally got underway last Wednesday sponsored by Derek Long, Connect Electrical. In first place was Richard Wall (19) with a great score of 23 points over the nine hole competition closely followed by Jim Rigley (14) with 22 and Robert Ronan (8) in third with 20 points. Gross went to Cormac Martin (2) 18 and seniors to Michael Wickham (12) carding 19 points. This weeks midweek competitions is sponsored by Ned Hogan Tool Hire and is over two days, Wednesday 16th and Thursday the 17th. This will conclude the well supported midweek competitions for 2009 and the organisers would like to thank most sincerely all those who have sponsored and congratulations to all the winners and those who took part religiously each week.