1/12/2011

Two Course Deal......


For those planning a golf vacation Ballybunion offer a "Two Course Deal".

Play our two courses (The Old and the Cashen) from May-September 2011 for just €180. This offer must be pre booked and the two courses must be played within 7 days. 

In April 2011, you can play our two courses for an amazing €95 .



Golf Academy : Brian Cosgrove


The academy is located adjacent to the friendly & welcoming setting of Athy Golf Club. Our facilities boast:

Ireland's 1st Online Coaching Academy
GASP LAB Video Analysis Technology
Indoor Putting Studio
Golf Fitness Room
Custom Fitting Centre

We offer a wide range of services with something for all golfers to experience. Our services include
Game Assessment Session
Individual Tuition
Group Coaching
Golf Fitness Assessment & Exercise Prescription
Custom Fitting - Titleist & Cobra
Junior Tuition - YMG Golf & Junior Camps

Our diverse level of services ensure that you can get the best tuition and P.G.A. advice to help make this wonderful game that small bit easier & more enjoyable.

Brian Cosgrove PGA, BSc, TPI
PGA Professional. Sport & Exercise Scientist 
Email: bcosgolf@gmail.com 
Tel: 00353 861052539

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Club Sponsor - Raheen Woods Hotel

14th tee at Athenry Golf Club

Enjoy a Winter Getaway in the Raheen Woods Hotel this holiday season. Our hotel is delightfully nestled in the world famous Fields of Athenry in a most tranquil woodland setting with beautifully landscaped gardens only minutes from the ever vibrant city of Galway.

This magnificent Galway hotel is conveniently located just 1km off the M6 Dublin-Galway motorway, only 10 minutes from Galway Airport and 15 minutes from Galway city centre - within walking distance of the medieval town of Athenry.

The hotel is a fresh fashionable blend of sleek design and contemporary luxurious interior with state of the art conference and event facilities, complementary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel and a magnificent leisure centre and spa, along with, Kardio Kids, our dedicated childrens activity centre.

Our many splendidly appointed lobby areas and marble halls offer the perfect rendezvous for guests to meet with family, friends or colleagues to enjoy a cosy afternoon tea or hot drink on on cold Winter evenings.

Whether you are visiting Galway for business or pleasure our famously friendly and efficient staff together with our unique location will make your stay with us at Raheen Woods Hotel a truly first class experience and one that exceeds all your expectations.


"There are no tricks or nasty surprises..


Portmarnock has hosted the biggest amateur and professional tournaments held in Ireland. Seventy-five championships have been held from the first Irish Amateur Open in 1899 to the Irish Open in 2004.


The legendary Harry Vardon competed in 1899 having introduced the new grip which still bears his name, a new swing pattern and innovative stylish clothing of plus fours and tweed sports jacket. The first official Irish Open Championship was held in 1927 with a prize fund of £1,000. This was won by George Duncan who returned a final round score of 74 in atrocious weather conditions. 

This was described as “the greatest round in the circumstances in the history of golf”. Henry Cotton finished as runner up, two shots off the pace. Ten years later Cotton was again runner up, this time to A.D.Locke of South Africa. In 1937 Jimmy Bruen and J.B.Carr played in the open for the first time.

After an interruption by war the open returned in 1946 when Fred Daly became the first Irish winner before going on to win the British Open in the following year. In 1948 the winner again in Portmarnock was Dai Rees and the event then lapsed until revived in 1975. In the following year the tournament returned to Portmarnock and was played here every year until 1983. After a short break it returned again in 1986 for a further five years.

The 1976 winner was Ben Crenshaw who was leading the US Tour money list at the time. With four holes to play Crenshaw led Billy Casper and Brian Barnes by three shots. He then played Arnold Palmer’s “best par three in the world” in a total of five shots with his lead reduced to one. After recovering to finish par, par, birdie for a two stroke birdie Crenshaw added his own description of the fifteenth – “the toughest par 5 I ever played”.

Bernhard Langer shot 67-68-66-68 in 1987 for a record shattering total of 279 beating the previous best by seven shots.

Other well known winners include Hubert Green, Ken Brown, Mark James, Sam Torrance. John O’Leary, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Jose Maria Olazabal.

The Amateur Championship of 1949 was staged in Portmarnock in 1949 – the only occasion on which was held outside Great Britain. The British Press grumbled about a “foreign Country” but Max MacCready of Ireland beat the great American Willy Turnesa in the final.

The Canada Cup, now known as the World Cup, was won by the U.S.pairing of Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer in 1960.

Portmarnock hosted the Walker Cup in 1991 when America triumphed by 14/10. Phil Mickelson and David Duval represented America, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley played on the home side.


There are no tricks or nasty surprises, only an honest, albeit searching test of shot making skills."

Tom Watson   5 Time Open Champion