Course Designers - C. O'Connor Jnr

Over the past 16 years Christy O’Connor Jnr has turned much of his attention to golf course architecture and his portfolio now consists of over 30 golf courses throughout Ireland and Europe. This has earned him a reputation as one of the finest golf course architects in the country, so much so that his talent and expertise are now being sought on an international level. 

Some of his projects include Mount Wolseley in Tullow Co. Carlow, the magnificent new course at Headfort, Kells Co. Meath, Galway Bay Golf and Country Club, Co. Galway and most recently Palmerstown House, Naas, Co. Kildare.

After spending over thirty years playing professionally, Christy has had the opportunity of competing on many of the greatest golf courses in the world. Christy then employs much of this experience into all of his designs with the challenge of creating a championship standard golf course whilst bearing in mind the playing skills of golfers of all levels.

The Design Process

Site Inspection:

During site inspection Christy O’Connor Jnr will meet with the owners/committee members to discuss their needs and objectives. He will then undertake a detailed study of the land which will include initial environmental impact review, soil conditions, water features/wetlands, topographic features and vegetation.

Course Design:

A hallmark of any great golf course designer is to preserve the natural lie of the land. This is the simple design philosophy by which Christy O’Connor Jnr and his team adhere to. By creating a golf course seamlessly with nature and preserving something beautiful to enjoy for years to come.

Environment:

Christy O’Connor Jnr and his construction team are very environmentally conscious and spend a great deal of time during the design process to utilize the greatest number of trees, shrubs and landscape in their natural state rather than removing them. Indeed he will bring many of these features into play whilst shaping the golf course. His main objective is to create something natural and beautiful that will stand the test of time.

Design Implementation:

Christy O’Connor Jnr will personally remain actively involved throughout the whole project. He will work closely with the construction team through each phase from clearing and moving through to the grow-in period of time, and continue to make follow up visits even after the golf course is complete. Unlike, some golf architects Christy employs a direct hands on approach and is on site on a regular basis ensuring that the project is finished to a very high standard.

Computer CAD Design:

Christy O’Connor Jnr and his golf team utilizes the latest software to produce a document ranging from conceptual plans to construction drawings.

Follow up Visits/Post Construction Design Service:

During this phase Christy O’Connor Jnr will continue ongoing post construction site visits, which will include consultation and design review services. Christy will continue to cooperate with the owners in the publicity of the golf course and be present and participate in the grand opening.

Redesign

Golf courses change dramatically during their lifetime with the quality of the drainage systems, soils and bunkers decreasing with age. External factors such as the maturity of the trees and excessive golf play can create a need for the remodelling and redesign of a golf course. Much experience and expertise is required here and this is an area which Christy O’Connor Jnr gets much enjoyment from. Redesigning a golf course affords him with the opportunity to work with many architectural masterpieces, whilst enabling him to put his own mark of expertise into the project.

Biography

Honorary Members - J. Nicklaus

Jack visited Headfort in 2006 and is an honorary life member.

Jack Nicklaus won 73 PGA Tour events in his career. Only one golfer won more. But in the majors, how do other golfers stack up against Nicklaus? They don't.

Nicklaus won 18 professional majors - twice as many as all but one other golfer. He finished second 19 more times, and third nine times. In all, Nicklaus posted 48 Top 3 finishes, 56 Top 5 finishes and 73 Top 10 finishes. Perhaps Tiger Woods will someday challenge that record. But for now, Nicklaus remains - by far - the most accomplished player in the history of major championship golf. And he did it all exhibiting great class and sportsmanship.

Nicklaus shot 51 in his first 9-hole round of golf at the age of 10. By age 12, he was winning the first of 6 straight Ohio State Junior titles. He missed the cut in his first U.S. Open in 1957 at age 17. Nicklaus won the 1959 and 1961 U.S. Amateur titles while playing collegiately at Ohio State. He finished second to Arnold Palmer in the 1960 U.S. Open.

He turned pro in 1962, earning $33.33 in his first event as a pro. But things quickly got better, and he won his first major that year, defeating Palmer in an 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Open. By age 26, Nicklaus had completed the career grand slam. Then he won all the majors a second time. And finally, with his 1978 British Open victory, he'd won them all at least three times each. His final major came in 1986, at the age of 46, with his sixth Masters. 

Nicklaus played sparingly on the Senior PGA Tour, but won 10 times, including 8 senior majors. He founded and hosts the prestigious Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour. Nicklaus brought power to the forefront in golf, being the longest driver of his generation. But he also was one of the best clutch putters ever, and his concentration skills were legendary.

Along the way, Nicklaus created his own equipment company and has designed hundreds of golf courses, among many off-course interests. Jack Nicklaus was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

www.headfortgolfclub.ie

Juvenile Members - Curragh

Juvenile Members of the Curragh have a Captain for the first time. The Club Captains, Mr Seamus Rothwell and Mrs Maggie McElroy, proposed the establishment of this role to enable Juvenile Members have an input, through their Captain, in Juvenile activities and competitions. 

The 2010 Juvenile Captain is Mr James Tighe. 

Competitions have commenced and further regular competitions are planned. Juvenile Competition issues are being looked after by Mr Tom O'Donoghoe.

www.curraghgolf.com

Green Fees - Fermoy

Visitors are welcome to Fermoy Golf all year round and that during the Summer months Fermoy hosts a Mens Open singles competition every Wednesday. 

The following are the green fee rates at Fermoy Golf Club: 

Weekday: €23

Weekend: €33

With a member: €18

Trolley Hire available: Yes

Club Hire available: Yes

Caddy Hire: Yes, on prior arrangement

Lessons Available: Yes, on prior arrangement

Members and Guest are asked to obey the Golf Club rules at all times.

www.fermoygolfclub.ie

Disqualification Highlights Dumbness

Padraig Harrington's disqualification highlights dumbness of the rules | Lawrence Donegan | Sport | guardian.co.uk

Harrington Disqualified in Abu Dhabi

Martin Kaymer is on course to retain the Abu Dhabi Championship and take the world No2 spot off Tiger Woods after a scintillating second-round 65 today.

But that was not the story of the day in the desert. Padraig Harrington's disqualification when in second place was the big talking point – and it might lead to a change in the rules of golf.

Even the referee who called in the three-times major winner to study a slow-motion video of him replacing his ball on the 7th green in his opening 65 said that the punishment did not fit the crime.

In the week that Elliot Saltman was given a three-month ban after being accused of repeatedly moving his ball forward after marking it, there was no suggestion of Harrington trying to gain an advantage.

But the fact that his ball was deemed to have been accidentally nudged a tiny fraction of an inch was enough to put him out of the £1.7m event.

Harrington, who would have received only a two-stroke penalty if the incident had come to light before he signed his scorecard, said: "It seems harsh – it feels harsh.

"But the rule is there for other and bigger reasons and we love the fact that we have the best game in the world when it comes to the rules. It's an absolute game of honour and even if a player is seen to breach rules and can't be caught out by the officials he would be ostracised and have a very lonely life on the Tour.

"It gives us the higher ground, let's say. It's a dimple and a half today, half an inch tomorrow, an inch next week and then five inches the following week. If it's moved, it's moved – that's the fact of the matter and you can't argue over how much it's moved."

A television viewer raised the matter of Harrington's ball rocking forward and then rolling back as he brushed it with a finger while picking up his marker. Only when the coverage was slowed down could the European Tour senior referee Andy McFee be sure that the movement back was not as much. And because Harrington had signed his card by then, disqualification was the only outcome as the rules stand.

Yet the European Tour wrote to the ruling Royal and Ancient Club three years ago on whether that was too severe a penalty in such circumstances and discussions on whether it needs to be changed are still ongoing.

McFee is the man who gave Harrington the bad news today and also disqualified him when he was five ahead with a round to go at The Belfry in 2000. The Dubliner was discovered on that occasion to have failed to sign his scorecard on the opening day.

"It is very harsh – the punishment does not really fit what the player has done," he said. "That's unfortunate. It's something the PGA Tour and ourselves have raised with the governing bodies [the rules in America and Mexico are governed by the United States Golf association] and as yet we have not put forward an argument that has convinced them."

Grant Moir, the Rules of Golf director for the R&A, told Press Association Sport: "Obviously in the light of this and what happened to Camilo Villegas [the Colombian was another victim of 'trial by television' in Hawaii earlier this month] the significance of the disqualification penalty has been brought sharply back into focus.

"Certainly with the introduction of every-increasing scrutiny and enhanced images there is a fresh impetus to have a look at it and see if the rules are still appropriate."