Mullingar Golf Club: Men’s branch contest benefits from break in weather

The weather unfortunately put a dampener to the golf diary for the best part of the week. However, the heavy rain subsided for part of the day on Sunday to allow the men’s competition to go ahead.

Senior men’s competition

As a result of the adverse weather conditions last week the course remained closed for Tuesday, so no senior men’s competition took place.

Sunday competition

Last Sunday’s competition took the form of a 15 hole single stableford competition played from the yellow tee markers. Weather conditions were quite cold; however, this did not stop the 66 members who participated in the competition.

Despite the weather conditions during the week the course, and in particular the fairways and greens, was in excellent condition for this time of the year. The category winners were: Category 1 Stephen O’Brien (3) who scored 10 pars and one birdie for a score of 29 points; Category 2 Ciaran McCormack (12) with a score of 34 points; Category 3 Gerard O’Sullivan (16) with a score of 30 points and Category 4 Brian Collentine (29) with a score of 34 points.

Next week’s competitions

Next Sunday is a 15 hole sweepstake competition with a playing handicap limit of 28 in order to win first prize. Please note that the yellow tees are in play as are local rules, so please repair pitch marks and replace divots.

Ladies’ branch

Due to extreme weather conditions and subsequent course closures the final presentation of prizes was held on Wednesday December 21 and included our final 18-hole major competition, The Lighting Showroom Christmas Hamper, kindly and very generously sponsored by Peadar and Ann Marie Conlon.

Congratulations to Ann Hannon who was the winner on the day with an incredible 42 points [16], followed in second place by Fiona Burke with 38 points [9], with gross prize going to Aideen Kelleghan with 25 gross points [10].

In third place was Teresa Shaw with 37 points [32], while fourth place was won by Fiona O’Riordan with 35points {18]. Cat 1 was won by Bernadette O’Carroll with 34 pts [15], Cat 2 won by Mary Gillen with 32pts [23] and Marion Mahon won Cat 3 with 35 pts [43]. Senior winner was Cepta ReIdy with 30 pts [24]. Super Senior was Nuala McCaughey with 27pts [34].

The front nine was won by Brenda Butterly with 17 pts [33]. Back nine was Louise O’Donovan with 19 pts [22]. Winner of Nearest the Pin on the 12th was our new Lady Captain Rosemary Whelehan. Mary Gillen was winner of nearest the pin on the 15th, and The Longest Drive on the day was won by our new Lady Vice-Captain Sheila Cassidy.

The 9-hole competition winner was Liz Osbourne with 18 pts [28], with Ann Tubridy in second place with 16 pts [19]. Super Senior winner was Gabrielle Murtagh with 13 pts [22].

Congratulations to all our winners on the day and our sincere thanks to Ann Marie and Peadar Conlon, The Lighting Showrooms for their continuous generous support of the Ladies’ Branch.

Our very popular Ladies’ 9-hole team of three waltz competition on November 23 attracted over 30 teams of three. It was kindly sponsored by Lady Captain Rosemary Whelehan, ex officio Paula Davitt and Marion Bate.

Winners on the day with 36 points were Dorothy O’Keeffe, Siobhán O’Donnell Murphy and Ann Marie Conlon. In second place with 35 points were Paula Davitt, Rosemary Whelehan and Marion Bate with Anne Tubridy, Joan Brennan and Sarah Farrelly coming third with 34 points. Thanks again to our sponsors and congratulations to all the winners.

Our 9-hole Competition on Wednesday November 30 was very kindly sponsored by Kathy Whelan and attracted over 80 entries on the day. In first place was Marjorie Donoghue with 21 pts [15], in second was Eleanor Maloney with 20 pts [22]. In third place was the very much on form Paula Davitt with 20pts [9] from B O’Carroll and Rosemary Whelehan. The Senior winner was Miriam McManus with 15 pts [14]and the Super Senior prize was won by Ber Chambers with 17 pts [18].

The final 9-hole competition for 2022 on Wednesday December 21 was the Christmas Social Mince Pie Competition played on the front and back nine with a shotgun start at 11am.

A full timesheet and ideal weather conditions facilitated a great day of golf and showed a great enthusiasm for mince pies. Our sincere thanks to Fiona Foy for her very generous sponsorship of the competition.

Front 9 competition: Winner Joanne Charles [14] with 20pts. In second place was Bridie Shaw [15] with 20 pts, Senior Prize winner was Bernie Mulroy [12] with 19 pts and Super Senior winner was our Lady President Patience Collier [11] with 14pts.

Back 9 competition: Winner Josephine Purcell with 23pts. In second place was Anne Marie Fagan from Siobhan Ruane with 19 pts. The Super Senior prize was won by Ber Chambers from Catherine McDonnell with 13 pts.

The Christmas Turkey Competition, very kindly sponsored by Jackie Mills of Slanebeg Free Range Bronze Turkeys, Mullingar: Winner was Ger Noonan with 45 pts. In second place Margaret Forde with 42 pts and in third place was Paula Davitt with 40 points.

The Competition for the Best Dressed Christmas outfit was won by Louise McGonagle. In second place was Patricia Smyth and in third place was Anne Marie Fagan. Well done to everyone for providing so much fun with the variety of Christmas costumes on show.

Sincere thanks to all the sponsors in December for their continuous and generous support of the Ladies’ Branch of Mullingar Golf Club. Congratulations to Kathy Whelan on a spectacular presentation table of prizes. It was truly amazing work; thanks Kathy.

January news

Yoga classes recommenced on January 10. The Golf Club Bridge Club resumed on Thursdays in the golf club, on January 5 from 11am to 5pm each week. The Winter League Competition remained open to December 31.

The 9-hole stableford competition on Wednesday January 4 was kindly sponsored by Ann Bennett. The winner was Bridie Shaw [15] with 17 pts and in second place was Aideen Kelleghan [5] with 17 pts from Jean Bennett. There were 28 entries.