Golf Course Designers - J. Howes

Highlights for the JEFF HOWES GOLF DESIGN team include: Gowran Park Golf Course, Co. Kilkenny &ndash the company's first 18 hole project in Ireland was a particular challenge to design as the golf course had to be placed in and around the existing horse racetrack. 

The re-design of Fota Island, Cork in preparation for the hosting of the Murphy's Irish Open in 2001 and 2002 was Jeff Howes Golf Design next significant project. In 2006 Jeff Howes Golf Design added an additional 9 holes making Fota Island a 27 hole golf resort. 

Following on from Fota it was the restoration / upgrading of all the putting surfaces at Mount Juliet in preparation for the WGC American Express World Championships in 2002 and 2004 which preoccupied Jeff Howes Golf Design. 

The year 2004 saw The Heritage Golf & Country Club, Co. Laois - a co-design with Seve Ballesteros open to the public. It hosted the AIB Irish Seniors Open in 2005. 

International golf course designs include Golf Club Adamstal and Golf Club Foehrenwald of Austria and Thunersee Golf Course of Switzerland. 

Current projects include – Farnham Estate Golf Club, Radisson SAS, Cavan, Tramore Golf Club, Waterford and the Carrig Glas Golf Club, Longford, a co-design with Retief Goosen.

Westport GC, Dublin, Ireland

In February of this year Jeff Howes Golf Design remodelled the 13th green at Westport GC. Water ingress & poor turfgrass were the problems experienced by members & greenstaff. The remodelling process and the reconstruction of the green surface and immediate surrounds have eradicated these issues. Green was scheduled to open for play in May 2010.

Newlands GC, Dublin, Ireland

The Official Opening of the fully revamped course was in June, 2010. The main event of the day was a fourball exhibition match which included European Tour Professionals Peter Lawrie (Newlands Member) and Damien McGrane. There was a tremendous turnout of members to witness the opening by Peter Lawrie which was followed by refreshments in the clubhouse.

Farnham Estate GC, Cavan, Ireland

The 18 hole course at the Farnham Estate, opened to the public in April 2010 – the final element of the design – a practice putting green adjacent to the 1st tees was recently constructed and it is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2010.

Exploring New Markets - China

Jeff Howes has made two trips to China this year in a bid to enter this booming golf market.

Malahide, Dublin, Ireland

Malahide opened to great member acclaim in June of 2010. This 9 hole “Blue 9 Course” redesign project is the 2nd such project undertaken by Jeff Howes Golf design at the Club – the previous work involved the revamp of the “Red 9 Course”.

Tramore

Although the 3rd phase at Tramore GC is completed the course has yet to fully open all 27 holes. The last phase is due to open for play by members and the general public in August of 2010.

Jeff Howes Golf Design very recently completed the artwork for the Yardage Books of the 27 hole facility at Tramore GC and they will be on sale at the pro shop in the very near future.

Slade Valley, Dublin, Ireland

Slade valleys 3 hole extension has been in play for 6 months or so now and is proving a bit hit with the members. This 3 hole extension winding through coniferous woodlands offers some even more spectacular views of Dublin city & county to the golfer of this club.

Mount Juliet, Kilkenny, Ireland

Jeff Howes Golf Design recently completed a computer game and uploaded Photorealistic Computer Generated Flybys (to the club’s website) of the Jack Nicklaus Signature designed facility at Mount Juliet.

The game is free to download from the Club’s website and allows people to play the course in a virtual environment – try your hand at beating Tigers 20 under par WGC American Express winning score!

Hermitage GC, Dublin, Ireland

Jeff Howes Golf Design very recently completed the artwork for the Yardage Books, developed a computer game and uploaded Photorealistic Computer Generated Flybys (to the club’s website) of the 18 hole facility at The Hermitage GC.

The game is run on MicroSoft Links 2003 software (which can be downloaded for €5.99) and the game is for sale from The Hermitage GC’s website. The flybys themselves can also be downloaded to your phone and can be accessed while on the course whilst the yardage books are for sale in the Club Pro Shop.

GC Adamstal, Ramsau, Austria

Jeff recently made a trip to GC Adamstal our European Trophy Course as this progressive club continually seeks to improve the golfers experience. Discussions with the owner are currently underway to convert a par three to a par 4 and to introduce more water on the back nine.

Kilkenny Golf Club, Kilkenny, Ireland

In December 2009, Jeff Howes Golf Design were commissioned to develop a MasterPlan for this prestigious course in the South East of Ireland. Following extensive discussions with the Course Development Committee a MasterPlan for the existing golf course and adjacent lands owned by the club was agreed upon.

Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club, Wexford, Ireland

This relatively newcomer to the golf scene in Ireland has celebrated its 2nd year in operation by hosting an Irish PGA Pro-Am tournament in May, of 2010. Predictably it was won by resident Professional Mr. Ian Kerr who as a member of the Owners Consortium was present most days during construction and therefore had an unfair advantage over all others in the field.

Private Putting Greens Czech Republic & Paris

Recently Jeff Howes Golf Design teamed up with Mike Van Der Lee of GreenFields B.V. (Holland) to design two private practice putting greens whose putting surface is made of artificial turf.

Private Putting Greens Czech Republic & Paris

Jeff Howes Golf Design were appointed to draft a report on the playability of greens 1 & 6. This report has been furnished to the club for their consideration and action.

www.jhgd.com

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Harrington Seeking Own Valhalla

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Pádraig Harrington embarks on his 16th PGA Championship campaign striving to recover the mental strength to stop him "getting in my own way".

The three-time Major winner, whose victory in this tournament in 2008 at Oakland Hills was the first by a European golfer in the event since Scotland’s Tommy Armour in 1930, is set to tee off at Valhalla on Thursday first round alongside fellow former champions Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

Yet while the Dubliner feels his golf is in great shape it is what’s going on between the ears that is troubling him right now.

“The game is good but mentally I am getting in my own way and I am working hard to get out of it and every week I hope it is going to be the week I do,” Harrington said.

“It is the nature of things and I’ve always known the mental side of things is the area I excel in and I’ve probably put myself under a bit too much pressure in that area knowing what success it brings when it is right.

“You put a little bit more intensity into things and you try a little bit harder but sometimes these things aren’t the best when it comes to the mental side of the game.

“(It was) at a very good level before and you always try to improve on that but maybe it’s due to a little lack of intolerance having done it already and not be able to do it all the time, and maybe that has eaten away at me.”

Harrington’s frustrations have been reflected by his finishes on tour this year, his tie for fifth at the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa in his first start of the season in January remaining his best placing of 2014. His tie for 14th at Fota Island in the Irish Open at the end of June represents the next-best finish on the European Tour while his best chance of a first top-10 finish in the United States came at the HP Byron Nelson in Texas earlier that month but was derailed by a third-round 79.

Nothing, though, that a low round wouldn’t take care of this week.

“Four of them would be nice in a row,” he said with a grin, “but then I don’t have much momentum in the game and you can see that in plenty of players that when they do get a good result, they continue to have good results and I haven’t been doing that.

“Physically, there is nothing wrong with the game at all and yes, I could do with the momentum and yes, I could do with the getting out of my own way but all those things are very logical and easily said but a lot harder to do.”

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Ilonen Leads On Day One at Fota

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Mikko Ilonen carded a course record 64 at Fota Island Resort to establish a two shot lead after the first round of the Irish Open.

The 35 year old from Finland made eight birdies and dropped just the one shot during his seven under par effort, which left him two clear of Germany’s Marcel Siem, former European Number One Robert Karlsson and his fellow Swede Magnus A Carlsson.

Having turned in a three under 32 Ilonen bogeyed the first – his tenth – after missing the green with a wedge in hand.

Ilonen, who won the British Amateur title in 2000 at next month's Open Championship venue Hoylake, is looking to climb into the Official World Golf Ranking's top 50 for the first time and boosted his chances with five birdies in his last seven holes.

“It was a slow start really,” said Ilonen, who lost a play-off to Sergio Garcia for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters earlier in the year.

“The first sort of four or five holes I felt like I can't get anything going, but I stayed patient and then the birdies kept coming. In the end I managed to hit a couple of good putts which was nice.”

Siem stormed home in just 29 shots – almost holing his approach to the 14th in the process – as he carded seven birdies and two bogeys in his round of 66.

That was swiftly matched by Karlsson, who would have held second outright but for a missed five footer at the last following a sensational wedge approach.

The 44 year old has gone four years without a European Tour victory, but showed signs of return to form with a brilliant closing 63 at the recent Nordea Masters and started here with a bogey-free round.

"It was nice, I'm very, very happy," said Karlsson.

"I worked quite hard when I've been at home since the Nordea Masters, so it's been nice to keep it going.

"I've done a bit of work with my coach and things are coming together quite nicely. The long game was very, very good today."

Carlsson is targeting his first European Tour victory after two runner-up finishes, carded six birdies and a single bogey.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington returned a two under 69 matched by defending champion Paul Casey, who dropped two shots in his last six holes to finish one behind playing partner Graeme McDowell.

English teenager Matt Fitzpatrick, who was the leading amateur in last week's US Open, carded a one over 72 in his first tournament round as a professional.

Rory McIlroy could only manage an opening 74, despite the 25 year old having the added incentives of being able to move top of The Race to Dubai and getting back inside the top five on the Official World Golf Ranking with a good performance.

"I still drove the ball great and got in the positions that you need to, but short-sided myself a couple of times, hit a couple of loose shots with my wedges and could not get a putt to drop," said McIlroy, who had carded an approximate 62 in Wednesday's pro-am.

"I was pretty sloppy with the scoring clubs so I might head to the range this afternoon to work on those. I need to do better tomorrow to be here for the weekend."

Michael Hoey signed for a 68 and  shares 9th place with McDowell and  a number of others.

Peter Lawrie matched Harrington with an opening 69, along with Amateur Gavin Moynihan.

Shane Lowry, Kevin Phelan, John Kelly, Garethr Maybin and Cian McNamara all carded 71's.

David Higgins, Darren Clarke, Damien McGrane, Simon Thornton and Amateur Gary Hurley were a stroke further back.

Paul McGinley signed for a 73 and is joined in that crowded group by Brian McElhinney and Dermot McElroy AM.

With McIlroy on 74, four players two strokes behind - Mark Staunton, Gareth Shaw, Eamonn Brady and Daniel Sugrue. 

Damian Mooney finished n 77 along with Ruardhri McGee.

Robbie Cannon AM ended the day on 79 strokes.

Brendan McGovern was eleven strokes over par on 88.

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GUI Name Fota Island Four

Four top amateurs get Irish Open invite with two former Irish Amateur Open champions included in the Golf Union of Ireland's [GUI] four man selection for the Irish Open at Fota Island on June 19th. 

Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) and Gavin Moynihan (The Island) are joined by Gary Hurley (West Waterford) and Dermot McElroy (Ballymena).

The four amateurs are included in a field alongside Major champions and Irish favourites Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke and European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley

The 2009 winner Shane Lowry, who won in enthralling circumstances as an amateur at Baltray, is also included in the field.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director said “The amateur game in Ireland has always been vibrant, thanks mainly to the commitment and endeavours of the Golfing Union of Ireland.

“We are delighted to welcome Robbie, Gavin, Gary and Dermot to join a world class field of professionals at Fota Island Resort. The experience they get from playing in the Irish Open will be invaluable as they progress in the game of golf.”

Albert Lee, Honorary Secretary of the GUI said: “Playing in the Irish Open is an important step in the development of these players and we acknowledge the support of the European Tour in allowing us nominate four amateurs to compete in what will be a fantastic display of golf at Fota Island.”

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Lowry Launches Fota Countdown

Golfile

Shane Lowry, the 2009 Irish Open champion, took to the high seas today to launch the countdown to the Irish Open, which will take place at Fota Island Resort from June 19-22.

With four days of world class competition involving 156 players, over 1,600 staff, a €2m prize fund and an expected attendance of around 100,000 spectators, Cork will play host to an unforgettable festival of golf this summer.

But before the event gets underway next month Lowry, who captured the Irish Open while still an amateur amid chaotic scenes at Baltray five years ago, decided to test his skills over an altogether different golf course – on board the 962 foot long Brilliance of the Seas cruise ship, which docked in Cobh for the day.

Lowry boarded the impressive Royal Caribbean International-owned ship to take part in a pre-tournament photo shoot, and at the same time to tackle the miniature golf course and Fota Island Resort’s Golf Pro Kevin Morris ably stepped up to the challenge on the nine-hole course.

Lowry commented: “It’s been a great buzz to board the Brilliance of the Seas and just appreciate the scale of these cruise ships. The Irish Open is an event close to my heart and I was delighted to come to Cork today to help promote the event with Captain Manolis and Mayor Noel O’Connor, as well as getting the chance of some early practice over the Fota Island course.”

Major champions Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke along with Lowry and European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley will form part of an elite home challenge and the Irish contingent is expected to be on top form and hungry to add to its four Irish Championship titles on home turf since 1975.

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Saltman Record Wins Audi Irish Masters

Elliot Saltman broke the course record to win the Audi Cork Irish Masters by eight shots at Fota Island Resort and move top of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit by just £8.33.

It tops off a superb week for the Scotsman, who arrived at the event on the back of qualifying for the 2012 Open Championship via a play off on Tuesday evening.

At the start of the final round in Cork, Saltman (Archerfield Links) was tied for the lead with Australian Rika Batibasaga and Welshman Stuart Manley but a superb ten-under-par 61 saw the Scotsman to a comfortable victory.

He opened with a par at the first and then hit four consecutive birdies from the second. He completed the remaining four front-nine holes to par and made his fifth birdie of the round at the 10th. A birdie three followed at 12 before back-to-back threes at 14 and 15, both par fours.

He then completed his round with back-to-back par breakers at 17 and 18 to return to the clubhouse to sign for 61 and collect his £10,000 winner’s cheque.

“I have always had that there to be honest,” he reflected after the round. “I felt it was a matter of time until I came out and produced something like that.

“Last time I was in Ireland [for the Ulster Bank Open at Galgorm Castle, Ballymena] I got five under in the last round and came second, and then to shoot a combined six under par at Open Qualifying meant my confidence was flying coming to Fota Island.

“I made a target of nine under for the tournament so to shoot ten under in one round was a great performance that I am very proud of.

“Fota Island is an immaculate golf course. It is very, very good and a lot of the players have been giving it very high praise. Everything was immaculate, it was a very well-run tournament and it is something Fota Island should be proud of.”

Manley (Machynys Peninsula) has moved up to fourth on the Tour Order of Merit after finishing second and collecting £5,000. The top five golfers at the end of the season will be rewarded with a card for the 2013 Challenge Tour, putting them just one step away from the European Tour.

The Welshman signed for a 69 at the end of his final round, beating Scotland’s Duncan Stewart to second by one shot.

Stewart (Grantown on Spey) had been tied for fourth overnight and shot two under par in his final round to move to five under for the tournament.

Batibasaga (Indoorphilly GC) carded a three-over-par 74 in his final round and finished the competition tied for 15th.

The 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour remains in Ireland for the Kingspan Concra Wood Open, which gets underway next Wednesday, July 11.

Leaderboard

Three Leaders at Fota Island Audi Masters

A gripping final day of play is in store at Fota Island Resort in Cork as three golfers share a one-shot lead ahead of the concluding round of the Audi Cork Irish Masters.

Rita Batibasaga, Stuart Manley and Elliot Saltman are all four under par after 36 holes of the seventh event of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour season.

Five players are just one shot behind the leaders, setting up an exciting final round on Friday - 

final round tee times

Rita Batibasaga (Indoorphilly GC) made birdie six times in his second round but was pegged back by four bogeys. Starting at the 10th tee he picked up back-to-back birdies at his opening two holes before bogeying the 12th.

Three successive birdies from the 16th saw him move up the leaderboard and a birdie four at the fifth further improved his score. However, he concluded his round with three consecutive bogeys and signed a two-under-par 69, equalling his first round to moving to four under for the tournament.

Stuart Manley (Machynys Peninsula) carded a five-under-par second round of 66 with the help of an eagle three at the fourth. He had been one above par overnight but that eagle and three birdies saw him finish day two with a share of the lead.

Elliot Saltman, who qualified for this year’s Open Championship earlier in the week, started at the 10th and made four birdies on his front nine. He added to that with a four at the par-five fourth but bogeyed the seventh to sign for a 67.

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler is among the five golfers tied for fourth, one shot off the lead. His round didn’t get off to the best start when he double bogeyed the second but an eagle at the 10th pulled those dropped shots back and he added two birdies to his card at 12 and 18, and despite a bogey at the 13th he signed for 70.

Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), Zane Scotland (Woodcote Park GC/Princes GC), Dan Seymour (Newbury Golf Centre) and Darryn Lloyd (Acrabuild Ltd/W.Ash & Sons) are also just one shot off the leading trio.

Overnight leader Michael Collins (Mallow Golf Range) shot a second-round 74 and is three shots off the pace.

Ahead of Friday’s final round a cut of the top 50 and ties has been made. Golfers with a total score of four over par or better will play another 18 holes to determine the winner. 

Leaderboard

Collins Masters First Day at Fota

Michael Collins leads the way on four under par at the end of the opening day of the Audi Cork Irish Masters at Fota Island Resort in Cork.

Dan Seymour is second, one shot behind Collins in the seventh event of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour campaign. Seymour won the season opener at Wensum Valley in Norfolk in April and is well placed to build on that victory at Fota Island.

Collins (Marlow Golf Range) began his round at the par-five tenth and got off to a superb start with an eagle.

He continued to build his score with a birdie two the following hole and added another at the par-three seventeenth. Turning home he registered a third birdie at the first before making a bogey five at the eighth to sign for a 67.

Seymour (Newbury Golf Centre) opened with two birdies on the front nine; at the first and ninth. Another birdie at 13 saw him move to three under par but bogey fives at 14 and 16 looked to have forced him down the leaderboard. However, an eagle at the par-five 18th restored Seymour to second on the leaderboard with a score of 68

Seven golfers are tied for third, two shots off the lead. Among those to have carded an opening round of 69 are Cian McNamara and Paul Cutler.

McNamara (Team Ireland/Limerick GC) made birdies at one, 10 and 12 but dropped a shot at the par-five fourth.

Northern Irishman Paul Cutler (Portstweart) started with a birdie at the tenth and picked up further shots at 17 and two before bogeying the third and completing the remaining holes to par to sign for a 69. Behind them four golfers are one shot under par.

The second round of the Audi Cork Irish Masters gets underway at 8am on Thursday morning. After all golfers have played 36 holes a cut of the top 50 and ties will be made ahead of the final round on Friday.

Audi Cork Irish Masters leaderboard

Fota Island Hosts Cork Irish Masters

The 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour heads to Cork this week for the Audi Cork Irish Masters at Fota Island.

The event will be played on the resort’s Deerpark Course and below Fota Island’s Director of Golf Kevin Morris picks out five of its key holes.

Three

Par: 3; Yards: 165

“The third is a tricky par three with water short on the right and left and a bunker at the back of the green.”

Eight

Par: 4; Yards: 478

“This is a great par four. It’s a left-to-right dog leg with a ditch running up the left hand side for your second shot, turning into a lake on the left-edge of the green. Then you have four bunkers left of the green, so it is a really good hole where your second shot will probably be about 200 yards.”

Ten

Par: 5; Yards: 500

“Ten is a short, downhill par-five which has out-of-bounds off the tee on the right and trees down the left and the green is surrounded on three sides by water. It’s quite a short shot in there - I reckon the professionals will be using short to mid irons - but it is one where, even after hitting the fairway, you could still run up seven.”

Twelve

Par: 4; Yards: 428

“There are no bunkers on the 12th but it has a water hazard on the left which runs across the fairway at about 300 yards.”

Eighteen

Par: 5; Yards: 507

“The 18th is the only genuinely tight driving hole on the golf course but a drive to the top of the hill is going to leave you a long to mid iron into the green. The green is a small green which is surrounded again by water on three sides. It is a good, strong finishing hole.”