Enniscorthy Golf Club Notes Wk 40

Paddy Mooney and Jimmy Fox scrutinise their scorecard prior to signing 

It’s a sure sign that the golfing season is drawing to close when the club sponsored “Turkey competitions” commence. Tuesday 22nd September saw the first of such competitions, an 18 hole stableford competition. Joan Dunbar (34) has her Christmas dinner sorted thanks to her 36 pts (on the back 9). In 2nd place was Rita Riordan (28) 36 pts and in 3rd position was Liz Atkins (22) 35 pts (back 6).
The autumn league is starting soon so anyone interested in participating should enter their name on the notice board in the ladies locker room.
O’Brien’s Sandwich bar 18-hole stableford competition has been re-scheduled due to wet weather to Sunday 4th October and Tuesday 6th October.
Our ladies had the great honour of participating in the AA Insurance All Ireland finals last week held at Royal Tara Golf Club in Co Meath. They were also one of the few clubs that managed to qualify two teams in two different handicap categories. First out on Wednesday morning were defending champions, our Junior Cup Team under Manager Lucy Doyle against Athenry and with Laura Dempsey and Margaret Mooney having secured wins, it all went down to last match with Lady Captain Cora Mernagh coming up trumps and Enniscorthy went through. On Thursday they came up against Mallow and by the narrowest of margins and with the rub of the green going against them on the 19th hole, our Junior cup team were defeated and ended a very successful run lasting two seasons.
They had fought a long hard campaign, gained invaluable experience, friends and memories over that time. The team was Laura Dempsey, Margaret Mooney, Triona Hogan, Connie Doyle, Cora Mernagh, Ann Banville, Helen Cosgrave and Bernie Whelan.
Our Intermediate Team led by Patricia Donnelly came up against Galway Bay in their semi final encounter.   It was a tight battle right from the start but it was not to be Enniscorthy's day. Even with an early win from Stella Sinnott and with many travelling supporters cheering on the team, victory slipped away. The team was Annette Cullen, Stella Sinnott, Jo O'Connor, Michelle Browne, Marie Duggan, Joan Miller, Lori Whitney, Elizabeth Browne, Mary Bolger and Ursula Cousins. A special word of thanks to the assistant managers, Judy Gregan, Mary O'Shea and Mary Mc Cauley.
Both teams worked very hard since early in the year and are Midland District champions. They have won two pennants for the Club of which they can be very proud. Gratitude also goes to our Club Professional, Stephen Fitzpatrick PGA who was of great benefit to the girls along the way.

Enniscorthy remains a favoured destination for golf societies from all over the country. On Thursday the 1st of October we welcome Ann McCracken from Rathfarham Golf Club and the Newtown Golf Society and Kenny Ward with the South Central Golf Society on Friday the 2nd. Saturday will also prove be a busy day with visiting societies from Thomastown Golf Society with Pat O' Hanlon, Martin Scanlon with the Mill Golf Society and Brian O’Connor with the Hotel Curracloe Golf Society. Next Sundays club sponsored competition is an open scramble and the time sheet is currently available.
The Ladies or Gents Open Fourball Qualifier at Enniscorthy Golf Club will take place every Wednesday commencing next Wednesday the 7th October until the 24th February 2010 (excluding Christmas Week). There are weekly prizes for 1st, 2nd and visitor. Grand final on the 3rd March 2010 with 1st prize of 2 rounds of golf, 1 night B&B with evening meal in the K Club plus other numerous prizes. Visitors at just €15 with reduced buggy rates and receive a 10% discount voucher off clubhouse meals. Time sheets open one week prior to each competition.
The Open Winter Alliance commences from Sunday the 18th October and runs on Sundays the 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd of November thereafter. Time sheets will be available for the first Sunday next Wednesday the 7th October. The two handicap categories include 0-9 and 10 upwards. Overall winner from best three cards out of five posted in each category. Entry fee for visitors is only €20. There are weekly prizes for 1st, 2nd and visitor in each category. For bookings and further details please contact John Cullen 053 92 33191 or the professional Stephen Fitzpatrick PGA on 053 92 37600 for bookings. Stephen will also be running special offers each day and details may be viewed on the clubs website developed and maintained by Web Things.
The junior convenor, Jack Murphy, would like to thank all who took part in the successful junior section fund raising event on Saturday. Due to the many other sporting events around the county that junior golfers were involved in there was a shortage of juniors and Jack would like to thank all for their understanding and cooperation.
Results of the fund-raising draw; Colin Gainford 1st: four green fee tickets to Woodbrook, Visitors’ prize: Brian Murphy – four green fees for Athy, Ann Bernie – four green fees to Kilkenny.
The club sponsored Fourball competition was very well supported and with fine dry weather the course is really starting to recover from the monsoons of summer. Great scores were returned with the overall winners just passing the post on a back nine count back after having a superb round starting with a birdie on the first par 3 and a birdie later on the 14th. There were a few glitches along the way and a fast 18th green duped Paddy into a misread of the pace but a bogey was the worse outcome. The results of the competitions are as follows; Paddy Mooney (16) and Jimmy Fox (11) carded a 45 points [b9] closely followed by Tommy Kehoe (14) and Jack Sheridan (16) 45 with Alan Harrington (6) and Alan Kenny (5) with a 44.