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Shamrocks Golf Society

Secretary: Seamus Sheridan Captain: Liam McIntyre Treasurer: John Clarke

January 2017

Golfers,

 

2017 welcomes Liam McIntyre to the control centre of our Golf Society. After the heady days of celebrating our twenty years in existence who better than the cool, calm, thoughtful Lisnalea stalwart to lead us on our next journey. I use the word ‘thoughtful’ after careful and prolonged deliberation. His progress to Captaincy for many would appear random and accidental but to the watchful observer it was meticulously planned and subtly executed.

From an early age he learned his prayers as Gaeilge from Red Jemmy and could recite them verbatim “Ár n-Athair atá ar neamh………”.agus “ Na striapaí bastaird….” During his schooldays he often used his full name William to confuse the unsuspecting teacher and avoid the pending sanction. Hs love of farming and the outdoors broadened his education and the pleasure gained from marts and the satisfaction of long days in the bog prepared him for the vagaries of links golf and the challenges of parkland courses. “Its not all about clubs and lessons, lads.” is a common refrain from Liam. His mathematical mind and superb understanding and use of the laws of probability were the key to his winning move. He married Claire from Mountain Lodge,moved into the area and widened his circle of contacts via The Hideout and Canningstown and just made Kieran’s task of nominating him to Captaincy even easier. Congratulations Liam and best wishes on your year and he will explain his formula P (A ∩ B) = 0 after the drive in.

Our first outing is to Seapoint on Saturday February 11^th at 10.00am when both our Captain Liam and President Eric will deliver breathtaking drives down the undulating terrain of this lovely links. A further bonus on the day is that our membership has returned to its original price of €40. Yippee! Sincere congratulations and best wishes are extended to our new President Eric. In his acceptance speech he firmly stated that his role model was Donald Trump and he intended to build a wall. From his twitter account it is obvious that he is serious about the wall and he has built a strong team around him. He intends to block off Monaghan starting in Magheracloone, cutting across to the The Diamond and then heading directly to Lough Egish and Latton.

Andy and Jeff with their artistry and craftsmanship have been employed as the cornerstones of the building phase and the clarke of works is of course Brían. To ensure that Lester cannot retire Eric has made him the overseer. MC solutions will provide the electronic security for it while Gavin Mackey and Patrick Maguire have been detailed with providing patrols and making it impregnable. The rumour mill is rife with talk of Paddy Farrell, Tony Gregory, Tom Clarke and Noel Rogers being asked out of retirement to help out but Patrick’s motto is that of the clique’s “No-one will knows who is in it”. After Eric’s President Day in the Slieve Russell his close and trusty friend Basil will officially commission the wall.

Captain Liam stressed a low-key card for his year with reduced mileage and easier courses his priorities. From the card you can se his request was listened to with Mullingar, Greenore, Russell, Concra, Headfort and Rossmore all within easy reach and very playable. The twinning competition this year will be calculated on the combined scores from The Heritage and Rossmore. Expect a battle royal for this prize “A complimentary night’s stay for two people B & B in a Ballesteros penthouse at The Heritage-worth €240.”

Early favourites for this luxury romantic break include Andy & Ann, Michael & Olivia, Aidan & Vanessa, Jimmy & Kate, Adrian & Valerie, Jim & Dolores, Paul & Lisa and James + 1. However, my soothsayer is definite about the outcome, he has him nailed down as a stonewall certainty – the one and only Wee Nev.

At our AGM, Gerry Eagleton regrettably stepped down from his role as handicap secretary. I must acknowledge on behalf of all members our enormous gratitude to Gerry for setting up, developing, maintaining but above all devising a handicap system that epitomized fairness. Sincere thanks Gerry for your loyalty, belief, commitment, work and leadership for the last 20 years. A warm “Bualadh Bos!” Best of luck Gavin in your new role – big shoes to fill but we are all quietly confident. By the way Gerry hasn’t gone away. Could I please request that members respond to Andy’s texts promptly so we can update numbers accurately for each golf club? Members not on the texting list please forward your mobile number to Andy @0860831259.

Outings for the year are again pitched at €40 with the notable exception being Lough Erne which is again priced at €55 to include the two’s and offset the sterling differential. President Eric requested that our weekend away would include a visit to Trump land and the closest we found for him was Doonbeg on Friday 27^th October at 11.00am followed by Dromoland Castle on Saturday 28^th October also at 11.00am. Now for the bottom line, the cost for 2 B & B’s plus 2 evening meals in West County Hotel Ennis plus golf is €195.00. A cracking deal lads!

I must congratulate Shane Dillon, Adrian Kelly and Raphael McEvoy on becoming fully- fledged handicapped Virginia golfers and Shane will negotiate a competitive price for fellow Shamrocks hoping to join. I believe Shane intends setting up a What’s App group similar to our Headfort members and friends. Is there a possible challenge match in the offering? All members wish Sean McEvoy every success in his Captaincy of Virginia Golf Club and hope his year is filled with treasured memories and outstanding highlights – a Bailieborough winner of his Captain’s Prize would be one. Liam has also asked for delegation to become a mindset during 2017 and volunteers are sought to help out at the start of each outing and checking the cards after the golf. If available and interested please ring 086 0532174 for a time slot – the more the merrier. A speedy recovery to full health is extended to our former member Bobby O’ Callaghan and memories of our halcyon days in Birr still live fresh.

A massive thank-you to all members who rallied around and supported so generously our fund-raiser last year. Lads, it was a brilliant effort and a mighty celebration for our 20 years as a society. Heartiest congratulations to Kieran Rogers on his outstanding Captaincy and his very generous treatment of members during his term. I salute Padraic Clarke our outgoing President on his excellent two years at the helm and his passion and love for the society shone like a beacon. The website photograph of his entrance into The Russell on President’s Day truly captures his engaging approach to the role. A Classic moment!        During 2017don’t forget to wear society attire at outings and that includes the hats, which were kindly sponsored by Nixy. Members who didn’t receive their hat yet please see me at the first outing but like The Late Late Show there is only one for everyone. I often look at the Chinese calendar for inspiration and this year is the year of the Rooster and I am hoping David came a year early.            Finally,

 

Guess what member composed this?