Cloverhill Golf Club - Tenth Anniversary Weekend Huge Success

The tenth anniversary celebratory weekend of golf and entertainment was a huge success as both a sporting and social occasion. Golfers from all over adorned the fairways and patrons packed the clubhouse for the great music on offer on Friday and Saturday night. Friday was wet for most of the day but thankfully by the time it came for the3 person scramble shotgun start the weather had taken a turn for the better which reflected in the turnout of 31 teams for the 9-hole event. It was Dublin visitor Paul O Donoghue (who had arrived earlier in the day to play the course for the first time) who led by example as he with the aid of close friend Robbie Norton and club professional Tony Fenton (you have to pay for Tony to play on your team, well so says Robbie) who came out on top by a decimal point of a shot to capture first prize from the father and son combination of Jim & Christopher McKay, taxied along by the ever reliable Dundalk cabbie Noel Magill.

The burgers and salty chicken skewers only whetted the thirst as we waited the session of traditional music headlined by Jimmy Kelly brother of the famed Luke accompanied by Josh Burns, Mick Mullins, John Kelly and former club President Peter Mackey. Needless to say with a line up like that the music was brilliant and the sing song even better thoroughly enjoyed by all into the wee small hours. A special thanks to Peter, for organising the music and to his wife Patricia, who provided food and accommodation, for the very talented musical quartet.

The fourball better ball on Saturday began at 8am with the last teeing off at 6pm. No fewer than 14 of the 54 competing pairs returned 41 points or better but they needed an awful lot more to displace the runaway home winners. The fourball sparked off a weekend double for two former Armagh players as All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Benny Tierney teamed up with college chum Ollie Reel to produce a two under gross score that yielded 49 stableford points. Benny (8) and Ollie (12) could not have envisaged such a round following their bogey at the first hole but 3 birdies at holes 3, 8 and 17 combined with14 solid pars produced the terrific winning score. Ironically it was another All-Ireland medal winner Clareman Stephen O Hara and another Reel, Christopher that finished in the runner up spot with 44 points. No doubt the winner will be well able to reel off a few yarns about this winning feat in the weeks ahead.

The Presentation of prizes with music by the very popular Trevor Dixon was later on that evening with another good night had by all.
Aoibheann Smyth, Personal Travel Counsellor, was the sponsor of the club major competition held on Sunday morning. A few vying for the early start to get to the match were a wee bit late for their scheduled start, maybe they should have stayed instead of going home from the presentation. Despite the sore heads and the driving rain scoring was very good in this golfer of the year competition. Conor McGivern (19) was the overall winner with 43 points. It is good to see Conor transfer his good Junior Cowdy showings into a major winner. David Pilkington (8) will rue a bogey at the final hole as he finished second with 42 points one ahead of third placed Paul McCourt (17). Club Captain Peter Byrne (19) got off to a flyer with 23 points to win the front nine but the weekend exertions and late nights took their toll as he finished just out of the main prizes. Mark Keogh (10) was the back nine winner with 22 points with Jim McKay (6) picking up the gross with a 4 over par 73. The club would like to thank Aoibheann for her most appreciated kind sponsorship.

Despite the counter attraction of the football 21 teams took part in the afternoon open mixed competition. Seamus McGivern knew what he was doing when he invited Veronica McGreavy (10) to be his partner as the Royal County Down member carried him round his home course to success from local pairing Ann Murphy and Paul Owens.

The committee would like to thank all participants for making the first of the anniversary celebration such an outstanding success. The Wednesday Cup off the back nine Green markers saw Vice-captain Nial Smyth take the honors with 25 points. Next Wed is off the front white markers. The club match play in both singles and doubles are progressing along nicely with a share of shock results being recorded as fancied players bite the dust.

Preparations for the biggest day in the club the Captain’s Prize on July 13 are well advanced. The eagerly awaited tee-times will be available on Saturday once Peter makes the all important draw. The top 12 finishers plus ties will play an extra 9 holes in the late afternoon to determine the winner. The full timesheet is testimony to the popularity of our Captain.
The Sam Rutherford team is in action on Sunday away at Ringduffrin 2pm in the first leg of their quarter final match. The juveniles are in Craigavon Cup action home and away against Loughgall this week and also have to arrange their Ronan Rafferty quarter final with Tandragee. The Junior Cowdy team will face Mannan Castle in the last 8 match as they beat Clones to reach the quarter final.