Spring Newsletter 2010

SPRING NEWSLETTER 2010

A message from the Club Captain

I am greatly honoured to assume the captaincy of Co Meath Golf Club for 2010. I am indebted to the members for their trust in me and look forward to carrying out my duties to the best of my ability. Despite the very inclement weather we have been very busy organising the fixtures and sponsorship for the calendar year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have helped me in this regard. I would particularly like to thank those who have again sponsored the club in 2010.

The year began once again with the Scurlogstown annual bash. My thanks to Scurlogstown Olympiad for again choosing the club as their venue for this fine event. My wish is that the club could attract a greater number of similar events throughout the year.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Patricia on her election as Lady Captain and wish her and her committee the very best for the challenging year ahead. I would also like to congratulate Olive on her election as President. The second lady ever and a fine ambassador for the club.

I would like to pay special tribute to all the members of the management committee. The work and dedication shown has been truly uplifting. My fullest thanks to all. It is very encouraging to see the course development work finally reaching a conclusion. The weather had seriously hampered progress over the last two years. A number of I.T. projects are ongoing (under the watchful eye of Brian Lynch) which hopefully will improve the service to members particularly text bundles which should generate quicker and earlier information about the state of the course etc.

I would also extend a special word of thanks to the staff of Co Meath Golf Club. They have been very helpful to me. Their efforts will no doubt ensure that the club will be run as effectively and efficiently as possible over the year.

And finally I would like to wish our members and visitors a happy and fulfilling 2010. I look forward to seeing you on the course and in the clubhouse and it would be my wish that presentations and the other social events are widely supported.

Every best wish.

Bill Goulding

A message from the Lady Captain

It is a great honour and privilege for me to be appointed Lady Captain of Co. Meath Golf Club in 2010. I would like to thank all the members of the club for their support and best wishes to me since becoming Lady Captain. I have a wonderful team of officers and committee who are dedicated to working in your best interest.

To all our sponsors who have pledged support to our club for 2010, I would like to thank you most sincerely. To all our team managers and team players I would like to wish them success. It's a great honour to represent your club and a great experience. Our junior members are very important to our club; our girls in particular need your support and encouragement.

I would like to welcome our new members to the club this year, Josephine Hutton and Bernadette Walsh, enjoy your golf ladies.

Ladies we have many events and competitions planned for the year and I'd like to encourage every member to participate in these events. Thank you for your continued support.

I am looking forward to working with Captain Bill and President Olive and wish them both a very successful and enjoyable year. To our Vice-Captain Gerry and Lady Vice-Captain Alice, I'd like to wish them every success with the Tuesday Evening Mixed which is always a very enjoyable and fun evening.

Finally I would like to wish all our members good health and great golf in 2010.

Patricia Westphal

A message from the President

It was a great honour for me to be elected as the President for Co.Meath Golf Club for 2010 and I look forward to fulfilling the role to the best of my ability and in the best interest of Co. Meath Golf Club. I very much appreciate the support and good wishes I have received from you, the members. I wish our Captain, Bill and Lady Captain, Patricia every success for the year. May it be a memorable year for them both.

Work is proceeding nicely with the various holes on the course and we will all be looking forward to the new challenge the changes will bring. May you all enjoy good health and happiness throughout the year and hopefully we will have plenty of glorious weather to make the golf, good or bad, more enjoyable.

Olive McHugh

Junior News

Our first competition for 2010 took place during the February break. We had a total of 46 Juniors out to play despite the cold day. My thanks to Jimmy Hegarty and the greenkeepers for opening nine holes for us. Our next competition will be held during the Easter holidays. Please check notice board and website for details and any changes.

Our Junior A.G.M. will be held on Saturday 12th June at 10 o'clock. All new members and their parents / guardians are asked to attend. We are currently updating our Junior files and all Juniors are asked to get their parents / guardians to fill in a form with current contact details. Forms are available from Janice and Junior Officer.

Congratulations to Ciaran Boggan who won "Junior Golfer of the Year" for 2010. The Junior Golfer of the Year Trophy is kindly presented by Minister Noel Dempsey. It is competed for on a league basis in designated events during the year. Details will be posted on the Club Notice Board.

We would like to thank our outgoing Junior Captains, Sean and Emma for their help during the year. This years Captains will be elected at our A.G.M. All our competitions were well supported last year and in particular Adult and Junior Competitions. We hope to have more this year and would like to thank the Ladies and Gents Captains for their help in making the timesheet available to us.

We would like to wish our Junior members the best of luck in the coming year. They are great ambassadors for the club representing both club and school in event.

A Junior golfer must have reached his or her 10th birthday at the time of election and may continue to be a Junior Member until the 31st December of the year in which they reach their 18th birthday. Junior Fee for 2010 is €105.00. All Junior members (including Family members) must be registered with the club.

Finally, we would like to wish President Olive, Captain Bill and Lady Captain Patricia the best of luck for the coming year. Any queries in relation to Junior golf may be directed to Bernie Kelly (Junior Liaison Officer)

Course Report

Despite inclement weather the months of January and February has seen a big advance on course development. The tenth hole is more than 80% complete, the fourteenth teeing ground is complete, the fifth is almost complete and the ladies' fourth and sixteenth teeing ground are complete. Work on the sixth hole and on the third tee box is advancing.

All bunkers have to be lined with sports creet and sanded this will be done a short time before opening for play. Predicted date for opening is between the middle and end of April depending on weather conditions. The work which is done is of a very high standard with minimal tracking on the course. We look forward with great anticipation to playing an upgraded course.

As I write this we are nearing the end of February and approaching March. We look forward to spring time on the course with the daffodils blooming and the trees leafing. We are also hoping as all the members are for a good spring and a good summer. We would like to offer a word of apology to the members and beg their patience for all the inconveniences caused by bad weather and development work on the course.

We wish everybody good health and good golfing in 2010.

Jimmy Hegarty

House Bar and Catering

I was very pleased when Captain Bill asked me to chair the House, Bar and Catering committee. The committee has some wonderful people on it namely Valerie Fitzgerald, John Tobin, Larry Eyres, Patricia Westphal, Fergal Hilliard and Charlie Flattery.

We have an excellent bar manager in Sean Carroll and he is very ably assisted by Shelia, Marie and Robert. Jimmy Elsofany is a first class chef and is working in a very competitive business. We would ask you to support him by using the restaurant as often as you can. We had two very successful evenings recently in the restaurant and the excellent food and service was talked about worldwide. I must say that Janice is a great help to the overall running of the club and her attitude to queries and requests for assistance is terrific.

We are doing our best to cut down on the cost of running the clubhouse. You may have noticed that we have installed sensors on the lights in the changing areas which will have lights on only when somebody is in there. We have also replaced, as much as possible, high wattage light with low wattage lights. We are in the process of changing the out dated telephone system. The new system will pay for itself in just over one year and continue to make savings forthwith. Although the clubhouse is not used as much as it was, we still have to maintain it to a good standard. We hope to give it a lick of paint shortly. We would be delighted if you would use the changing rooms after your game and go upstairs to the bar and have at least a cup of coffee.

I wish Captain Bill, Lady Captain Patricia and President Olive a good and pleasant year.

Must go now, lots of work to do. All for a parking space with a headstone.

Jack Wallace

Bridge Club News

Up to fifty bridge club members continue to enjoy the game of bridge in our clubhouse. March is a very busy month for our members. We hold our charity night on the first of the month with all proceeds going to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. The captains (Michael McHugh) prize will be played for over two nights, 22nd and 29th March for which keen competition can be expected.

Bridge is now played throughout the year on Monday nights and commences at 7.30pm. New members are always welcome.

A message from our Club Professional

As the new golfing season fast approaches let's hope that we have seen the back of the extreme weather, and that we can look forward to playing some good golf!!

Although the weather has played a massive part in how much golf we have all been allowed to play it is encouraging to see just how many people have battled on in an attempt to keep their game going. For the rest of the members its that time of the year again where you can start dusting off your equipment and head back to the fairways.

The first thing to do before jumping on the first tee is to check the condition of your clubs. Check that the grips are not too worn, if they are they will be very smooth and offer little grip. If this is the case you can roughen up the grips using a nail brush and some washing up liquid or alternatively if they are very bad you can drop them into me and have some new grips put on them.

You will also need to look at the condition of your soft spikes on your shoes. Slipping when you swing is a very quick and easy way to injure yourself and can easily be avoided by regularly cleaning your shoes or having new spikes fitted. Finally check the condition of your swing. A couple of practice sessions spent down on the range is the easiest and best way to set yourself up for the season ahead. Remember if you do head down to the range to practise, always work through the entire bag of clubs, don't go down there armed with just your driver!! Start with the wedges and hit a few shots 50 - 75 yards trying to loosen out and get a feel for the swing again. Then move through the bag progressing onto the shorter irons to the medium irons and long irons before finally making it onto the woods. Always finish off by returning to the wedges for the last few shots.

If, having spent a few practise sessions on the range, you find yourself struggling for consistency you can always pop into the shop and ask for some help! It's always available.

Good luck to everyone for the season ahead.

Robin Machin

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