The Irish Golf Club Gazette: 10/23/14

10/23/2014

Relevant Rules

Rule 20-3

Placing and Replacing

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball-marker.

If a ball to be replaced is placed other than on the spot from which it was lifted or moved and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs the general penalty, loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play, for a breach of the applicable Rule.

Rule 6-6

Scoring in Stroke Play

a. Recording Scores

After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it. On completion of the round the marker must sign the score card and hand it to the competitor. If more than one marker records the scores, each must sign for the part for which he is responsible.

b. Signing and Returning Score Card

After completion of the round, the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. He must ensure that the marker or markers have signed the score card, sign the score card himself and return it to the Committee as soon as possible. Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-6b: disqualification.

c. Alteration of Score Card

No alteration may be made on a score card after the competitor has returned it to the Committee.

d. Wrong Score for Hole

The competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his score card. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified. If he returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands.

Club History - Dun Laoghaire

For 97 years, home for Dun Laoghaire Golf Club was just a stroll from the town and the sea, a picturesque, parkland course central to an ever expanding community.

Today the club sits majestically under Carrickgollen Hill in Ballyman Glen, with spectacular views dominated by the Sugar Loaf Mountains and the Irish Sea, and still within the boundaries of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council District. Despite its new vistas, the driving spirit of the founding fathers is as strong as ever.

In 1909, fifty-one residents of Kingstown and district gathered in the Royal Marine Hotel on December 9th, to attend the inaugural meeting of Kingstown Golf Club. It was chaired by Major Bryan Cooper, at that time a Conservative Member of Parliament at Westminster, but who was later to become a member of Dail Eireann for Co Dublin. The Earl of Longford, K.P. was elected President on the night. He was subsequently killed in action in the Dardanelles campaign in 1915 and was succeeded by Viscount de Vesci who held the position until 1958.

Formation of the club got under way quickly. Approximately 200 men and 70 Lady Associates were elected and leases taken out on 36 acres of land at Eglinton Park and Highthorn, where a nine hole course was laid out. A clubhouse was built at a cost of £1,265 and in April of 1910 a Council meeting was held in it.

In November of that year a decision was taken to extend the course to 18 holes and approximately 40 acres on the far side of Glenageary Road were leased and an extra nine holes laid out. At the conclusion of the Great War the noted golf architect, Harry Colt, was employed to produce a new lay-out which stood the test of time.

In 1922 the club title was changed to Dun Laoghaire (Kingstown) Golf Club and finally, in 1951, after an acrimonious debate, Kingstown was finally removed. There followed a period of change with the 'old guard' dying off and an influx of new members whose accents represented a broader spectrum of Irish life, both metropolitan and provincial.

From the sixties to the nineties all the leased land was acquired by the club and the importance of this gradual and far-sighted activity was to eventually lead to dramatic change. From the seventies on difficulties arose with the club's boundaries and it became obvious that it was not totally practical to maintain an 18 hole course that was reasonably safe on 78 acres.

An opportunity to relocate to 150 acres in Cherrywood in 1992/1993 fell through when Monarch Properties made a verbal offer, but subsequently decided to go ahead with a housing and industrial development. Another offer was tabled in 2001 by The Cosgrave Property Group which expressed an interest in the club's lands and indicated that that they would be prepared to re-locate the club to a 320 acre site which they had acquired at Ballyman Glen.

For historical reasons the club went back to the Royal Marine Hotel in June of 2002 where the offer was put to the 327 members present and after a vigorous debate, 79% voted in favour of the move.

Work commenced and Hawtree Ltd designed and supervised the construction of the course. The architects, Campbell Conroy Hickey, and builders, Cleary Doyle completed the clubhouse and associated facilities.

The club moved to Ballyman Glen in August 2007.

www.dunlaoghairegolfclub.ie

Course Focus - Old Head Golf Links

Old Head Golf Links is built on a 220-acre diamond of land, jutting out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The promontory is almost an island with numerous caves running beneath your feet as you play the course. The links and practice area occupy 180 acres and the remaining 40 acres of unspoilt cliff (rising in places to over 300 feet) frame the course.

Designed and constructed by a unique team, Ron Kirby - former designer at Jack Nicklaus’s Golf Design Services, Paddy Merrigan - Australian course architect and agronomist, Liam Higgins - one of Ireland’s best known golf professionals currently on the Seniors Tour, the late Eddie Hackett - former Irish golf professional and golf course designer, the late Dr. Joe Carr - Ireland’s most successful international amateur golfer and finally, Haulie O’Shea – building contractor.

Old Head, par 72, comprises five Par 5s, five Par 3s and eight Par 4s – stretching to over 7,200 yards from the tips, with a minimum of six tees per hole. Nine holes play along the cliff tops, and all eighteen holes provide stunning ocean views. With the ever-changing sea breezes, the course provides a stern test to the touring pro and the high handicapper alike.

Old Head Golf Links is designed as a walking course where Members and Guests are encouraged to walk the links with a Caddie. Old Head boasts one of the largest group of professional Caddies in the country, with approximately 160 Caddies working at the Club throughout the season. The Old Head Caddie Programme is among one of the most extensive and professional worldwide.

The course is set up, depending on conditions, on a daily basis. Facilities include a warm up range with complimentary golf balls and a short game practice area. Old Head has a team of fully trained outside services staff to cater for your every need.

Old Head Tour the Course

High Quality Service in Donabate

Second Hole on Red Nine

Donabate Golf Club is among 30 golf clubs newly accredited under the National Standards Framework for Golf Clubs by Fáilte Ireland . These new standards were developed in conjunction with the Golf Quality Assurance Group as part of the Golf Forums role in developing golf in Ireland.

They follow the customer's journey through the booking process from their arrival at the course and reception and clubhouse facilities, all the way to golf standards and post game facilities to ensure that the customer can expect -

High quality customer service from all staff, who can provide information on costs, tee-times, course disruptions and more from arrival through to departure

The golf course is in good condition with good maintenance practices in place

The clubhouse facilities and food and beverage services are of appropriate quality and condition

That the club meets all health and safety standards and legal obligations

Good signage and clean building on arrival with adequate car parking

That adequate facilities are made available for mobility impaired guests

Green Fee offers:

Daily Rates: Monday - Thursday - €25; Friday - €30; Weekends / Bank Holidays - €35

Early Bird (Up to 11am) - Monday - Friday - €20; Weekends - €30

Twilight (After 5pm in April) - Visitors - €15

Friday Special 3pm - 5pm - Visitors - €22, With Food - €30

Late Rate Sunday After 4pm - Visitors €25

Guest with Member - Monday - Friday - €15; Saturday & Sunday - €20

Our dedicated staff member Sheila Gannon is responsible for all society bookings and their co-ordination. Please contact Sheila at sheila@donabategolfclub.com or by phone on 01-8436346 regarding our very competitive group rates.

Donabate Golf Club membership offers

Understanding Frost Delays

Frost is an interesting process that occurs on clear cold nights when turfgrass plants reradiate heat (exothermic reaction). As the plant loses heat to the atmosphere the plant leaf cools. If the plant temperature is cooler than the air temperature then moisture from the atmosphere will condense on the leaf.

Should the leaf temperature drop below freezing then the water freezes and frost forms. This will occur even if the air temperatures are slightly above freezing. At this time of the year it is not uncommon to have frost form even if the air temperature is in the mid to high 30's.

Frost does not form as readily on cloudy nights because the clouds reflect, or absorb and then reradiate the energy back towards the turf. Thus, the plants receive heat from this rerediation. Frost also does not form as readily under conditions where a breeze is present.

Through convection the mixing air closest to the plant and the atmosphere buffers the leaf temperature drop (also promotes evaporation of the water droplets from the leaf). Areas with little slope have a greater potential for frost than sloping areas (air moves downward resulting in a mixing).

Frost will normally form early in the morning before sunrise. This makes sense because if the plants have been reradiating energy throughout the night, the leaf temperature should be the coolest prior to daybreak. Actually frost may continue to form briefly even at daybreak due to the low angles of light coming from the sun may not directly hit the leaf.When frost is present golf course superintendents delay play until the frost has melted. This is done to prevent damage that affects the quality of the playing surface and could potentially be very expensive to repair.

Frost is basically frozen dew that has crystallized on the grass, making it hard and brittle. A grass blade is actually 90 percent water, therefore it also freezes. Because of the short mowing height (4mm in the Winter) and fragile nature of the turf, putting greens are most affected by frost. Walking on frost-covered greens causes the plant to break and cell walls to rupture, thereby losing its ability to function normally. When the membrane is broken, much like an egg, it cannot be put back together.

Golfers who ignore frost delays will not see immediate damage. The proof generally comes 48-72 hours later as the plant leaves turn brown and die. The result is a thinning of the putting surface and a weakening of the plant. The greens in turn become more susceptible to disease and weeds. While it may not appear to be much of an issue if a foursome begins play early on frost covered greens, consider the number of footprints that may occur on any given hole by one person is approximately 60. Multiply that by 15 holes with an average of 110 rounds per day and the result is 99,000 footprints on greens in a day.

Key points to be aware of:

Frost is basically frozen dew that has crystallized on the grass, making it hard and brittle. A grass blade is actually 90 percent water, therefore it also freezes.

Walking on frost-covered greens causes the plant to break and cell walls to rupture, thereby losing its ability to function normally.

When damaged, the putting surface weakens and becomes more susceptible to disease and weeds.

One foursome can leave several hundred footprints on each green, causing extensive damage.

Courtesy Bray Golf Club

Societies at Royal County Down

14th hole - Annesley Links

The Annesley Links is an ideal venue for society days providing an interesting and challenging course which gives an enjoyable day out for golfers of all abilities. We welcome societies throughout the year but would strongly recommend that society organisers consider a day out in the winter months when the links will be dry, playable and there will be no temporary greens or teeing mats.

Society Green Fees - Annesley Links:

April to October - £25 per round.

November to March - £20 per round

Please contact the Secretary’s Office for more details and for bookings.

Luttrellstown Golf Club

The 18 hole championship golf course is unique, not only because and the club is so close to the city, but because we had an amazing parkland palette from which to work - gentle rolling countryside with lakes and ancient trees that make this an incredible course.

Designed by Tom MacKenzie and Donald Steel whose work includes Turnberry, St Andrews and Royal St Georges. Our unique and custom-built practise facilities include a driving range, short game area and a three-hole short course designed to sharpen the wedge game.

Tee times can now be booked on line from our home page. Alternatively, you can book through Reception or the Pro Shop by dialing (01) 8609600 or you can fill in the Request Form and submit it and we will confirm your request within 24 hours by email.

All bookings require credit card details to confirm the booking. Our cancellation policy is 48hrs in advance without any charge, 24 hrs with a charge of 50% or within 24hrs the full amount will be charged to your card enquiry form

Email: golf@luttrellstown.ie

Maybin and Lawrie Facing Q School

Getty Images

Gareth Maybin edged closer to a visit to the European Tour School after an opening 71 left him sharing 53rd spot at the Perth International.

Maybin needs to finish in the top seven in the Australian event to have any chance of retaining his tour card.

He went into this week's event 122nd in the Race to Dubai - some £25,000 off the 111th spot that will ensure safety.

Ballyclare man Maybin is seven behind leaders Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen and Australian veteran John Wade.

Damien McGrane is the leading Irishman on two under which leaves him sharing 25th spot.

McGrane has already secured his tour card for next season as he is currently 94th in the order of merit.

Kevin Phelan, third at last week's Hong Kong Open, shot an opening 72 but only a top-three finish is likely to be enough for him to retain his card as he is 130th in the standings.

Peter Lawrie looks certain to have to make a trip to the tour school as his opening 75 left him 11 shots off the pace.

Lawrie is currently 174th in the Race to Dubai after a second successive poor season and went into this week's event needing a win to hold on to his card.

His opening round left him sharing 124th place.

Olesen and Wade have a two-shot lead over a quartet which includes England's Tom Lewis and Australian's Michael Sim.

10/23/2014

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