Ballinascorney Golf Club

May Medal - Men

With the majors now coming thick and fast the more devout male members in the club were last week heard to be humming “O Ballinascorney we crown thee with birdies this week, King of the golfers and King of the May Medal”. Not quite as easy on the ear but you get my meaning!

While the expected heatwave held off until Monday nevertheless the weekend proved to be the best of the qualifying season so far (mind you that wasn’t difficult!).

Friday started with Frank Warner and Liam Redmond making early shapes toward a metal laden weekend. A brilliant start from Liam with a tap in three on the first laid an early foundation for an outward nett 34. The two par fives on the way home provided further pars as Liams unerring knack of finding the fairways and his medium iron prowess set up his early charge. A brilliant drive down 16 and a nine iron to the middle of the green set up yet another regulation hole and an outward nine to match his earlier 34. The target was 68!

Step forward Frank Warner. Give him a challenge and he will rise to it, unlike his football team! An in and out front nine yielded three solid pars for an outward 36 but past the turn he found the purplest of purple patches. Pars on 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 saw him take the competition by the throat and it looked like records were going to fall as mid afternoon approached. A loose approach on 16 would not be fatal but a Slot like (sorry I meant sloppy) drive on 18 left him in trouble. He walked off the green with a 7 and Liam was now hopeful again. A solid par on 18 brought Frank home in a brilliant nett 32, enough for him to lead on countback. It’s the hope that kills you Liam. But would a nett 68 be enough.

Well, if your name was Paul Gallagher you would say, definitely nowhere near enough!! Driving like Lewis Hamilton in a Bentley Paul eased his way through the front nine to an outward nine of nett 32 and a clear advantage. A nett one under for the homeward journey would give him the Nightwatchman position going into the weekend. A brilliant drive from the new 12th tee box saw his ball fade around the turn on the fairway leaving a lob wedge to the green. Perfectly executed and two putts provided a brilliant par. Another par fell to him on 14 as an imperious chip from in front of the bunker left a simple tap in. Home in nett 34 Paul stole the lead with a 66 and set the objective for the weekend.

Saturday dawned and serial major winner Jim Kennedy was the first to make a run for glory. A brilliant front nine of nett 31 was possibly the best of the competition so far! Unfortunately, 13 and 18 proved to be tricky and Jim had to settle for a nett 70. Richie O’Donoghue and Captain Alan also came home with nett 70’s but Frank Ibbottson and the Man from Mayo were destined to steal the Saturday show. Frank was out in nett 36 with problems on 2 leaving him with some ground to make up. Make it up he did and reached the turn in nett 36, primed to strike! Pars on 11, 12 and 15 brought him within touching distance of Pauls target. But 13 and 17 just got away from him and he had to settle for an excellent 69, just not quite excellent enough.

What about An fear as Maigh Eo? Who?? Oh yeah! David Flynn! At the moment, David is showing better form than Red Rum around Aintree. It’s just the Mayo bit that is stopping him from winning! Maybe David if you tried to get Dublin citizenship you might win something soon! Or maybe change the hat! An unDavid like front nine saw him out in just one under nett 35. Pars on 11 and 12 set him on the road to victory. But he can’t get away from the fact that he is from Mayo. Another par was needed but it just wasn’t there. Clearly, he was saving them for Corballis and Best Cup glory the day after (which of course he delivered alongside Matt Woods, well done lads). In the end a nett 67, the curse strikes again.

So, could anyone make a run on the Sabbath (no Mick O’Boyle not Black Sabbath)? Martin Morris, Mark Maginn and Rafal Jasinski, Ten, kto czasami jest profesjonalista, all had a brave shot at glory but fell short as the fairways firmed and the greens broke the stimpmeter.

Like a real life fighter pilot Iain Briscoe swooped out of the sun and scorched his way to a nett 31 on the way out. Pauls long wait since Friday was now becoming somewhat nervous as the Golf Channel focused on Iain’s Tiger like attack. A setback on 11 was recovered with a superb par on the 13th. A scorching drive to the corner of the dog leg, a slight pull with his nine iron left a long chip from the left of the green and two putts for a tap in five. He needed another shot to nett par but it just wouldn’t come and a nett 35 home saw him just miss out on his medal on countback.

Cue massive sigh of relief in Paul Gallagher’s household!!

So many congratulation Paul, a superb win with some brilliant golf. Well done also to our Class winners, Liam Redmond, David Flynn and Iain Briscoe.

Ladies report will follow, but maybe not tonight!!

Vice Captains Prize to the Men

May is always a pivotal month in the Clubs competitive calendar. The Inter Club fixtures have moved into the second rounds, the Club matchplays are up and running and the majors are coming thick and heavy.

This weekend it was the Vice Captains Prize that captured the imagination and the practice regimes across the Club. As with all the majors the VCP generates huge tension and excitement as people look around and try to figure out the favourites. Even Paddy Power can’t get that one right!

All that practice really paid off as nine men managed to break nett 70 with just three strokes separating them all over the weekend.

Paul Gallagher set the trend on Friday afternoon as he carded a nett 68 following a blistering back nine of 29. Great golf in difficult conditions and Paul was setting the pace!

As Saturday morning dawned John McKennedy found his way to the first tee, helped by his compass, and despite a difficult first hole he stormed out in a nett 34 with pars on 3, 4 and 6. The new 12th hole saw a brilliant drive to the corner of fairway and a sumptuous nine iron to the middle of the green. Two putts yielded the first of a run of four consecutive pars through 15. Back in nett 32 the target of 66 had been set.

Who would take it on?

Step forward Ger Spain! A superb five iron to the middle of the 6th green produced a third par in four holes and Ger had found his groove. Out in 35 the best was yet to come. A par on 10 prefaced a difficult 11th, but a booming drive around the corner on 12 set up a wedge to pin high. The putt was never in doubt and the wagon was rolling with a superb birdie. A further par on the now short 15th was just a harbinger of brilliance to come. A fairway splitting drive was in perfect position 10 yards of the water hazard on 16. A soft wedge to the green and a ten foot uphill putt brought another birdie. John McKennedy was now firmly in his sights. Another McIlroy like drive on 17 left him within wedge distance of the green. Yet another classic ex*****on and two putts produced another par. Home in nett 31 for his own 66 for eighteen holes and enough to slip by John with a back nine countback.

Bobby Colgan led the charge at the new target and looked like he could sneak past the two lads at the top of the leaderboard. However, a wayward drive on 18 left him well out of position and he had to settle for a nett 34 home and a 67 overall. Jim Kennedy and Michael Gray had a run but both came up just two shots shy on 68.

Sunday morning dawned and Super Seniors manager Martin Morris stormed through the front nine in a nett 32. A brilliant nine iron to 10 found the front half of the green and two putts suggested that the prize would be there for the taking. Unfortunately, 11 and 17 proved to be the rocks that Martin’s challenge foundered on, think iceberg and Titanic and you will get my meaning. A nett 67 in the end, almost but no cigar Martin!

Michael Gray was also forced to go without his Hamlet despite six pars, out in 34 and home in 34 Michael just couldn’t force the extra putts to make up the two shot gap.

So Ger Spain takes the first key major of the year with John McKennedy taking second place and Bobby Colgan in third. Well done also to Vincent O’Keeffe who took the best gross with 83 strokes, a brilliant nine pars proving the Vincent just operates on a different level! Congratulations Vincent.

I couldn’t let this go without mentioning Thomas Duffy who hit three brilliant birdies on 3, 13 and 15. Not forgetting Rafal Jasinski, who having knocked down his drive to the left on 10 played an exceptional wedge past the three on the left of the green, over the bunker to the top tier and an incredible birdie two. To which he uttered the brilliant comment that we would all like in our locker “czasami moge byc profesjonalista”! Perfect!

A marvellous Vice Captains Prize, many congratulations Val on a brilliant competition and a fabulous weekend!

Vice Captains Prize to the Ladies

If you thought the Men’s Prize was competitive, well, they were only trotting after the Ladies!

The scene was set on Friday as Catherine Brown stepped up to the first tee. She set out her stall early with a thundering drive down the second fairway. A solid five wood sailed past the pylon and a brilliant lob wedge over the stream left her with a birdie putt. Two putts meant Catherine had to settle for a par but she had made her intentions clear and a major victory featured in her plan for the weekend. Her consistency then became the bedrock of her round and she found herself out in a nett 35.

Her back nine had a more modest start and the 11th threatened to upset her plans for Sunday evening! However, the short 15th steadied the nerves. A smooth Korda like nine iron found the middle of the green. Unluckily, the birdie putt did a dance around the rim but a par was enough and Catherine was back in major winner territory. A solid finish brought her home in 36 for an 18 hole round of 71. The target was set!!

South Dublin was agog as Saturday morning dawned. Who would make the challenge? A win needed a three under par nett return. Three better than handicap on lightening hard greens, with a bit of a May breeze and Irish summer hailstones, magnified the collective problem. But Ballinascorney Ladies are a formidable force, always up for the challenge! Catherine’s breakfast was a little worrisome.

Suzanne Reynolds was the first to have a real cut. Out in a one under par nett 36 Suzanne was splitting the fairways and her wedge play was finding the greens with unerring accuracy. She turned thinking “ I can see you Catherine”. Again the 15th was a key hole with Suzanne’s nine iron finding the green for another par. Now she was tied in the lead. But you never win a competition in Ballinascorney until you have successfully negotiated the 17th. Unfortunately, Suzannes challenge foundered off the tee and she slipped to a nett 74.

Mary Fitzgerald was next to find Catherine in her sights. But this was a real slow burn. Mary had adventures on 2 and 5 which saw her out in a nett 38 and needed to go three under on the way home, that seemed daunting!! But she turned brilliantly and began to find the scent again. The customary par on 15 followed but she still needed to find a further shot on the last three holes. Sadly for Mary it was not to be but she did come home in 34 and a 72 overall, just one shot shy of the lead.

Next up, on Sunday morning, was Bernie Roche. The early conditions on Sunday were a challenge but Bernie battled hard with the feature being a brilliant par on 6. Turning in nett 39. At the turn a nett 32 was required on the way home to challenge for the lead. But it began to turn for her and Bernie was right back in contention standing on the 17th tee. A bogey would have ruined Catherines lunch, but it was the 17th and Bernie’s hopes had evaporated as the group left the green. But in typical Bernie fashion the best was retained until the last. A superb drive down the middle was followed by an 85 yard wedge to about 12 feet below the hole. A brilliant putt yielded a sumptuous birdie for a round of 74. Still good for 3rd place and that birdie will be recalled many times in the Clubhouse in the years to come!!!

So a brilliant win for Catherine with a nett 71, second place for Mary and with Bernie just nipping past Suzanne for third. Congratulations to each on some marvellous golf.

The Gross prize went to Mary Fetherston with a gross 93. Some spectacular golf on the front nine saw pars on 2 and 3, a birdie on 6 followed by another par on 8. The back nine produced pars on 14 and 18 and once again Mary provided a masterclass!

Congratulations also to the Class winners Jacqueline Sweeney, Ellen King and Suzanne Reynolds. The Front 9 prize went to the indefatigable Joan O’Farrell with Mary Hayes prevailing on the Back 9.

Thursday possibly saw the worst weather of the week but the nine hole competition was really well supported. In the end Siobhan Lawlor came home in a soggy first place on nett 35 just edging out Joan O’Reilly-Whyte on countback.

Once again thank you Vice Captain Val on a brilliant Prize. Well done all of the Ladies that took part, some terrific golf and a wonderful competition.

The Medal is next this week?

Tally ho!!!!

Finally, real golf!

After a winter of storms, relentless rain and wind that put a reverse gear onto every premium golf ball in Christendom, last weekend finally brought us back to real golf. We said goodbye to the temporary tees a couple of weeks ago, the bunkers are more beachy than quarry like and at long last placing is no more…………at least until the late Autumn. Just in time for the April medal competitions………..as if the medals weren’t hard enough!

In addition, the abeyance of rainfall in recent weeks and the increasing sunshine in late April dried out the course quite significantly, and of course reduce rain, sunshine and dried out course equalled ….overclubbing!! You can see it in the scores. So, the April Medal became a test of who could adapt quicker than the rest of the field, both Men and Ladies.

The first victims, sorry contenders, for the Men’s Medal ventured forth on Friday afternoon. Fifteen brave souls were left on Friday evening scratching their heads, all of which had varying degrees of hirstuness, less so when they came off the 18th. To steal a cricket term (sorry Vinnie) three fought it out for the prize of Friday Nightwatchman, Eamon Fitzpatrick, Ger Gilroy and Jimmy Fitzachary (what was that about hirsuteness?) with Eamon sneaking that dubious moniker on countback after a nett 74. Nobody went home to make room on the mantelpiece.

But as Saturday dawned it was a perfect day for golf. The Nightwatchman was vulnerable! It didn’t take long for the challenge to emerge. Perennial early riser, and possessor of more medals than Tiger Woods has majors, Jim Kennedy made a considered start, feeling his way around the changed course conditions and found his way to a nett 39 for his outward nine. As he started for home Jim's well renowned Tiger like qualities immediately returned to intimidate the field. His pitching and lob wedges began to hum and the putter was like the proverbial Harry Potter wand. His numbers were par, birdie, par, par, bogey, par from 10 through 15. The birdie on eleven underpinned the round. His drive down the middle set up a long iron past the pylon, out with the pitching wedge and five foot putt to set him up as Saturdays Nightwatchman (sorry Vinnie). Home in a brilliant nett 32 Jim was now the man with the target on his back, and it was 71. Carl Keenan pushed hard to edge past Jim but a difficult finish over 17 and 18 left him on 73 and sitting second as Saturday turned into Sunday.

Stephen Connnolly was the first to show on the Sabbath, out in 35 with pars early on 2 and 4 really setting his momentum but the turn did him no favours and bad luck on 12, 13 and 14 left him with too much to do. In the end he was just two shots off at 73. Enter Barry Keegan, who with five pars on his card should really have been ruining Jim Kennedy’s lunch but disappointments on 11 and 13 left him ruing what might have been.

Unfortunately for Jim, his lunch was about to be ruined anyway as Eamon Harkin arrived on the first tee. A par on the first was a portent of what was to come although, canny golfer that he is, he managed his way to a nett 36 out. He needed to pick up some shots quickly if he wanted to make his challenge. A brilliant drive on 12, a pitch to the back of the green and two putts proved to be the catalyst for a brilliant round of golf. Pars followed at 13 and 14 and Eamon found himself coming home in a nett 31 for a round of nett 67. A four shot victory margin and the first medal of the season was in the bag.

Congratulations Eamon, now you just have to go back to back in May……………………..no pressure!

And What of the Ladies!

Well Tuesday was the pivotal day for the Ladies with all decided in one shootout worthy of the OK Corral!
Out in 38, in Class 1, Therese McDonnell was probably not making waves in the early stages. All changed on 11 with a brilliant par as her putter began to resemble Burt Lancasters six gun! There followed a super drive on 12 a pitch to the fringe and two quick fire putts for another par, Therese was smoking now. A par on 15 maintained the momentum and a final fairway splitting drive on 18 set up a final par and a nett 73………………catch me if you can was the message to the field!

Ok says Joan O’Farrell! Having turned in 36 Joan could sense that medal and had the perfect mantelpiece place all marked out in her mind. Playing steadily all day Joan’s putter resembled Magnus Magnusson on Mastermind rather than Burt Lancaster but she was on point all day. Nick Faldo won The Open with 18 pars on the final day some day yonks ago but this was Joan’s persona also. Managing the course brilliantly she plotted her way to a homeward 36, a nett 72 and the Medal in Class 1.

Congratulations Joan well done. Hard luck Therese, there is always May.

Class 2 of the Ladies Medal proved to be even more competitive, if that were possible. A difficult front nine for Phyllis Delaney saw her out in nett 40 and in need of a spark! The spark became fireworks as bogeys on 10, 12 and 15 saw her cruise to a nett 31 on the way home. Her back nine was underpinned by a brilliant four on 15. Unlucky with her second shot which bounded through the hard green, her wedge back was pure brilliance and a six foot putt from below the hole brought the medal into view. A superb back nine of nett 31 left her on nett 71 for the round, the best of the day and put her firmly in pole position.

With the target set the rest of the field were vying to have a crack but only one came close. Monica Byrne was out in 38 and on course to pocket the prize. She didn’t know at that stage that she needed a nett 32 to win but the par threes left her in with a real chance. Both were exquisitely played off the tee and seemed to have left her ready to pounce. Unfortunately, a couple of blips late on left her settling for a nett 73, just two shots adrift. Not to be this time Monica.

Congratulation Phyllis, well done!

Overall, a superb return to real golf, a great start to the major season and to our three winners, well Rory has set the back to back standard! No pressure!!

The Defence Begins!

At sometime close to 18:25 (Greenwich Meantime) on Saturday evening, as Storm Dave ripped across Ireland, Ballinascorney’s own Storm Dave and Maelstrom Martin clinched a brilliant 5 and 4 win against a valiant Druids Heath partnership. This was the point that copperfastened the Clubs opening win in defence of the Best Cup.

On an afternoon that Tom Crean (Kerry’s legendary Antarctic explorer) would have happily sat in front of the fire in his Anascaul pub, twenty golfers from Ballinascorney and Druids Heath restated the definition of insanity.

Just 20 miles from Rathfarnham the Miracle in Medinah was being re-stated as the Bobby and Frank show in Newtownmountkennedy. Druids Heath is a fine golf course but it is markedly deficient in places of shelter. Imagine Saturday afternoon, a colony of polar bears would have been unable to find any comfort.

But not Bobby and Frank, Frank was making his Best Cup debut while Bobby was returning to an old stomping ground and providing the experience (years and years and years of it!) Four up after 13 the two lads went on to clinch their match ridiculously early for an away venue, but ultimately with great relief for the final pairings out on the course.

Back home Captain Alan led from the front although Richie O’Donoghue would have a view on who led who! Whoever it was, the first outcome of the afternoon came about on the 14th and the foundation for a famous victory was set.

In the end the three points required were achieved with two matches still out on the respective courses. The last two pairings Dermot Murray with the only Mayo man with a winners medal last year David Flynn, Ger Spain and the guy who misuses his laptop throughout the season were thrilled to get into the clubhouse early.

To put this win in perspective, last season Druids Heath took us to sudden death in the semi final, in what was possibly our toughest match of the campaign. As all Liverpool fans have painfully discovered it is always difficult to defend a title but Saturday marked a fine start for this Best Cup panel as the Thrust for Two began in earnest.

The photograph attached was sent to me by Iain Briscoe and highlights just how well our course can look, pity it wasn’t like that on Saturday!

Changing of the Guard

With the passing of a momentous 2025 it is time for us to thank Captain Doreen for her wonderful contribution to the Club during her Captaincy. We hope you enjoyed your time at the helm Doreen and thank you for driving the club to even more heights of community and togetherness.

As December fades into January Vice Captain Alan will step up at midnight on Thursday night. A daunting challenge for every new Captain but we have all seen Alan’s commitment to the members and the success of the Club over the last twelve months as he supported his predecessor (what was her name again??) every day of the year.

Thanks again Doreen and the Very Best of Luck Captain Alan!

Happy New Year to all the members of Ballinascorney Golf Club!

Champion Golf in Mount Wolseley

Ballinascorney golfers continue to sparkle around the country and we have news of a very special achievement.

Huge congratulations to Vincent O’Keeffe who has been crowned Champion Golfer of the An Post Golf Society.

The final round of the Society’s Order of Merit was fought out in Mount Wolseley. We have all seen Vincents brilliant form this year and many will remember his recent nine hole par performance at home. Well, that form was carried into the spectacular Tullow track.

His winning round was vintage Vincent. The key was his back nine which he covered in a gross level par 37, sound familiar?

A brilliant birdie on the monster par five tenth set him on the road to victory. Another birdie two on the short 13th followed and his fellow competitors began to feel like the rest of us in Ballinascorney most weekends!

A superb achievement Vincent, well done. Of course, your success comes as no surprise to anyone in Ballinascorney we see your quality right through the year.

The photograph shows Vincent collecting the Gus Meinhardt Trophy which was presented by the Society President John Foley and the Society Captain John O’Sullivan.

Ladies September Medal

The Ladies September medal was played out just over two weeks ago, apologies to the Ladies for the writers tardiness in dispensing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

The front nine proved pivotal to the Ladies September Medal. Marian Molloy set the target on Friday with an outward nine of nett 34. The feature was a brilliant par on 3. A sparkling drive split the fairway and a Korda like eight iron left a fifteen footer for two putts. Marian set the target at a nett 73 and held the Clubhouse lead overnight and through the weekend.

Unfortunately, when you are leader in the clubhouse there is always a Fitzachary around when you don’t need one! Tuesday morning dawned and Jimmy was busily cleaning Patricia’s golf clubs while she got in the zone over her bowl of Weetabix. An opening nine iron to the centre of the green set Tricia off with a brilliant par. Obviously very good boxes of Weedabix in Glencullen. Another par followed on 3 and a drive up the middle of the fifth put Tricia firmly in the box seat, yet again. Out in a nett 32 and Marian’s lead had evaporated. A solid back nine yielded a nett 70 for her eighteen holes and she had leapfrogged her way into the lead for the Division 1 medal.

Jimmy assures me that his medal haul is still the largest in the Fitzachary household. I sense though that the gap has closed and 2026 might see a changing of the guard.

We are all with you Tricia!! That will be some write up.

The Division 2 medal was claimed by Monica Flood with a memorable back nine of nett 31. The twelfth was the key to the round, and the competition. A marvellous drive left an 80 yard wedge which Monica flew to just three feet. The birdie putt was drained and Monica was on her way to crowding her mantelpiece yet again.

Louise McKennedy continued the McKennedy clan assault on medal honours over the weekend but alas she just could not close that gap to the Flood maestra. A nett 74 left Louise in second place but looking forward to the 2026 season with renewed hunger for medal glory.

Well done Tricia and Monica and congratulations to all the competitors over the weekend and throughout the season.

Onward to 2026!

Men's September Medal

Eddy Merckx is a, well retired, Belgian cyclist who is considered to be the most successful cyclist since the wheel was invented. A prolific winner he was known as “the Cannibal” because he would not let any of his teammates win!

The Men’s September medal was played over the weekend of the 19th to the 21st September, apologies for the writer’s tardiness in writing up the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Saturday proved to be the most clement day of the weekend and it was no surprise that the main moves were made early that day! John McKennedy bounded out of bed, grabbed his Weetabix and scuttled out the back garden and down to the first tee. He should have eaten the Weetabix because he started double bogey, double bogey! But a brilliant drive on three followed by a nine iron and two putts steadied the ship. The fifth brought another par and John was out in nett 35. A par on 12 following a lipped putt was the early feature of his back nine, rounded off when a wedge to ten feet on 18 brought yet another par and the local resident was leader in the clubhouse on 69.

The Man from Mayo was prowling early and he burst into the frame around the turn. With a par on 9 he went par, par, par, birdie from 9 to 12. One under par gross for the four holes, a playing partner had a thermometer in his bag just to check David was not overheating. The prospect of a Mayo medal was looming large and David bogeyed his way toward the finishing line. A slight blip on 18 yielded a nett 68 overall. Enough to sn**ch the clubhouse lead……..but would it be enough for Mayo glory? You don’t often see those two words in one sentence!

Kevin Barry decided that he was having none of it! It took him a while to wind up though. Through the front nine he was threatening but not quite catching fire. However, an astonishing birdie, birdie burst on 12 and 13 catapulted Kevin into the box seat. Yet another leader in the Clubhouse in a matter of a few hours.

Would there be another?

Well step forward Ballinascorney’s golf version of Eddy Merckx……………Robbie Campbell!!!!! There was no way Robbie was letting anyone else win! Yet another slow burn, akin to the ascent up the Alpe du Huez. Out in a nett 37, little did anyone know what would emerge on the back nine. A brilliant par on 11 following a rasping drive and a three wood that split the fairway. Another par followed on 12. A Rory like drive up the hill and an eight iron to the middle of the green brought a brilliant birdie on 14. The Clubhouse leadership role was becoming very popular! On 18, Robbie was not quite sure of the target score but realised he would have to stay full on the pedals and out of the saddle to bring the medal home. Another fairway splitting drive, followed by an 8 iron that depressed the Captain, left him 12 feet from victory. Two putts for a nett 28 on the way home and a nett 65 overall. A brilliant score, possibly the lowest major winning score of the season (I could be wrong!) and one if translated to cycling would befit a Grand Tour title.

Congratulations Robbie! A brilliant victory and well deserved.

Ger Spain took the Class 1 prize with a nett 72 just edging Michael Gray by a shot. David Flynn took Class 2 (to trophy David, sorry) edging Weetabix deprived John McKennedy. Kevin Barry’s wonderful 67 was enough for Class 3 ahead of Maurice Neville in second place.