Weather proves a spoil sport at Mullingar Golf Club
From a golfing perspective we have endured a rather sad end to the year as the weather proved a real spoil sport at the Mullingar club. None of our golfers need reminding that the course was closed practically all week thanks to the extremely rainy conditions.
While the weather forecast for the first week of 2024 is given mixed, drier spells can be expected, particularly towards the latter half of the week. So, keep an eye on the forecast and, if the course is open, the best advice is to grab your chance to play as soon as it comes along.
The club house is expected to remain open for all food and beverage requirements.
The Men’s Branch Committee wish all members a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. Let us hope that the golfing gods bestow us all with extraordinary skills throughout 2024.
New Year's Eve Scramble
Unfortunately this Competition was cancelled due to consistent heavy rainfall during the week the course was waterlogged in many places unlikely to recover on time for the event. It certainly proved to be popular with a full timesheet, thanks to Helen Moorhead for her efforts perhaps the weather will be kinder in 2024.
Ladies Branch Notes: upcoming fixtures
Wednesday January 10: ladies 9 hole fourball betterball, kindly sponsored by Ann Fagan and Liz Armstrong. Wednesday January 17: ladies 9 hole stableford kindly sponsored by Emily King. Alternate days Saturday and Sundays prior to Wednesday competition.
Winter League
The weather continues to be challenging and unpredictable and has caused the course to be closed for several days. Due to the lack of opportunity for ladies to submit cards, it has been decided to extend the closing date for the first phase of our winter league to Sunday January 7. Best of luck to all participating teams. Let's hope the weather improves and we can get back to our winter league competition for 2024. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a happy new year and we look forward to an exciting year of 2024 golfing fixtures.
Memorable 2023 for Mullingar Golf Club
As a New Year begins this week, we can look back on a great 2023 for Mullingar Golf Club.
The Open Competitions took on a new look during the year with the introduction of an order of merit competition under the headline of Egan Auctioneers Order of Merit Summer Series. The series was a huge success with full time sheets almost every Friday and with the introduction of the meal voucher included it created a great buzz in the clubhouse. The overall winner was our own Brian Reidy who’ll no doubt be making plans to set a new record in Kinsale this year.
In 2023 we also hosted the Writech Pro-AM. The Pro Am hosted some of Ireland's leading golfers including Damien Macgrane, Simon Thorton, David Higgins and Peter Lawrie , ll of who played on the DP European Tour.
Play commenced at 7.40 in the morning with Jimmy Bolger kicking us off with the Lemongrove team. The course played quite long after heavy rain the night before but this did not detract some superb shooting from the Ulster man Richard Kilpatrick shooting six birdies and no bogeys for a Professional course record of 66 and claim vistory by two shots from Limericks Tim Rice and Damien Mooney and Andy Hogan shooting 3 under.
It was a wonderful success a special thanks to Ted Wright from Writech for their support of the event. Also a special mention to James Quinlivan who ensured everything went off without a hitch.
In its 60th year, the Mullingar Scratch Cup continues to attract the best amateur golfers in the country all vying for this prestigious cup. Connemara’s Luke O’Neill was the winner for 2023 finishing with an outstanding -13 after rounds of 68, 71, 68 & 68. The Kansas State man was elated to finally win the Mullingar Scratch Cup and joked he would struggle to fit it in his VW Polo for the journey home. He joins a list of renowned winners including Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy. Thanks again to Davitt & Davitt Sherry Fitzgearld and Pinergy for their continued sponsorship of the event.
Our junior programme kicked off in July expertly guided by Eleanor McArdle, Aideen Kellaghan, Pat Reynolds and a support network of volunteers from both branches.
For the first time this summer we saw the girls and boys playing together and it proved to be a popular move from the feedback in the clubhouse. The social side of golf is so important and it’s a pleasure to see our young members socialising after their golf.
It was certainly a busy year in the club in 2023; we would like to thank everyone who makes it the wonderful club it is: our wonderful crew, members, volunteers, friends and sponsors together we continue to make Mullingar Golf Club excellent.