Up Close and Personal - P. O'Hagan

Peter O'Hagan

Peter O'Hagan has been a member of the Professional Golfers' Association Irish Region for more than 30 years.

He has been a member of the executive committee and in 1991 he was elected Captain on the Irish Region. He represented the Irish Region at the 1991 Walker Cup at Portmarnock G.C. as well as the opening of Mount Juliet and The K Club.

Peter is still an active member of the Irish Region and has been the Head Professional at Bandon G.C. in West Cork, Malone G.C. in Belfast, Highfield G.C. in Kildare and most recently at The K Club, home of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

Peter left The K Club in 2006 to follow a playing career on The Champions Tour in the USA and the European Senior Tour with success on both continents.

As Golf director in Glasson Golf & Country Club in Athlone, he was instrumental in directing the resort in their opening year.

Peter then went to Citywest Hotel & Golf Resort in Dublin as Golf Director where he spent two seasons helping to develop and promote golf in what is now the biggest hotel in Europe.

2011 Tuition Programmes : Luttrellstown Castle Golf & CC

2 Day Course choose any 2 Days

3 Day Course choose any 3 Days

5 Day Course Monday - Friday

Programmes begin Monday 14th March 2011

Format:

Monday:09.00 - 11.00 Foundation - Address/grip/posture/balance

11.00 - 12.00 Brunch (Soup/sandwiches/tea/coffee)

12.00 - 14.00 Driver & Fairway woods

Tuesday:09.00 - 11.00 Short Irons - 8/9 & Pitching wedge 

11.00 - 12.00 Brunch

12.00 - 14.00 Pitching 100 metres & in

Wednesday: 09.00 - 11.00 Long Game - Driving and long Irons

11.00 - 12.00 Brunch

12.00 - 14.00 Mid Irons - 6/7/8 irons

Thursday: 09.00 - 11.00 Increasing distance and curing a slice

11.00 - 12.00 Brunch

12.00 - 14.00 Awkard lies and rescue shots

Friday: 09.00 - 11.00 Pitching/chipping & bunker play

11.00 - 12.00 Brunch

12.00 - 14.00 Putting - reading lines/ professional styles 

Costs: 2 Day Courses: €300.00 per person

€400.00 per couple (€200 pp)

€600.00 per group of 4 (€150 pp)

3 Day Courses: €425.00 per person

€600.00 per couple (€300 pp)

€800.00 per group of 4 (€200 pp)

5 Day Courses: €550.00 per person

€800.00 per couple (€400 pp)

€1200 per group of 4 (€300 pp)

Terms & Conditions:

Payment in full must be made at time of booking

Cancellation policy:

Full refund (less 10% handling fee) if cancelled up to 14 days before day one of the chosen course; 50% refund if cancelled up to 7 days before day one of the chosen course; No refund if cancelled less than 7 days before day one of the chosen course.

For more information and reservations

email: golf@peterohagan.com or telephone +353 87 8154366

www.luttrellstowncastleresort.com

Pro Tour - Poulter Speaks out on Rules

Ian Poulter at Volvo Golf Champions, Bahrain

Ian Poulter believes some golf rules need to be re-examined to avoid the kind of disqualifications the sport has seen in recent weeks.

Padraig Harrington and Camilo Villegas were both disqualified from events this month because of violations noticed by TV viewers.

“If you look at the scenarios and situations we’ve had in the last 12 months, I think a lot of rules certainly need to be looked at,” Poulter said ahead of the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain. “I think there’s no common sense involved with a number of the rules, so that needs to be addressed.”

Harrington was in second place after the first round of last week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championships but was disqualified after a TV viewer pointed out that he did not replace his ball correctly when it moved after he picked up his marker.

Villegas was disqualified from the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii after he had swatted away loose pieces of grass while his attempted chip up a slope rolled back toward him – removing objects that could have influenced the movement of the ball.

Both players were disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard, because their violations should have resulted in a penalty.

Poulter said the rule was outdated, since there was no longer much of a need for an official scorecard handed in by the players.

He added: “Every shot is visible for everybody to see on television, we have walking scorers, and there are the stats people. Therefore, it’s not like you can cheat your score. Therefore, leave the door open if someone has made a mistake. If they get a two-shot penalty, they are still in the tournament. The tournament still benefits from having some of the world’s best players in the field.”

Poulter himself was given a one-stroke penalty during a two-way play-off at the Dubai World Championship in November after he dropped the ball on his coin marker on the green, effectively giving the victory to Robert Karlsson of Sweden. In that case, the Englishman immediately called over the referee to notify him of the violation.

Golf viewers have been warned not to turn on players if they see them grounding their clubs on sand in Bahrain this week as, for the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions, there are deemed to be no bunkers, just acres of sandy waste areas.

The European Tour’s ruling allows players to take practice swings, move loose impediments and ground the club 'lightly behind the ball’ in all sand areas.

Chief referee Andy McFee, the man who broke the disqualification news to Harrington in Abu Dhabi last week, said: “We have taken this decision to provide clarity for the players.

“The golf course is absolutely fine, but the blurring of the boundaries between desert and bunker, whilst visually attractive, potentially provides a major problem of definition. As this is common throughout the course and not restricted to the odd situation here and there, we felt this was the best way to exercise our duty to define the course properly. It will lead to some odd-looking situations, but that is infinitely preferable to players incurring penalties.”

By Telegraph staff

Equipment News - Callaway

JB Holmes

Callaway Golf Company announced it has reached agreement with PGA TOUR Professional J.B. Holmes. The winner of two PGA TOUR events and former Ryder Cup team member will play a full complement of Callaway equipment and compete with a Callaway branded staff bag and headwear when he makes his 2011 PGA TOUR debut this week at the Farmers Insurance Open in La Jolla, California. 

“I am thrilled to be a part of the Callaway Golf family,” Holmes said. “I feel honored to be joining such an elite PGA TOUR staff. Callaway has a rich history of winners playing their equipment and my goal is to add to that tradition.”

Born and raised in Kentucky, the long-hitting Holmes had perhaps his most consistent PGA TOUR season in 2010, notching ten top-20 finishes in 26 starts. Over two consecutive weeks last season, he finished tied for third at the Northern Trust Open and tied for second at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

His two victories on the PGA TOUR both came in front of the raucous crowds of Scottsdale’s FBR Open (now the Waste Management Phoenix Open). In 2006, his rookie season, Holmes won the FBR Open by seven shots in just his fifth professional start. He won the same event in 2008, making a birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Callaway Staff Professional Phil Mickelson. His ability to perform under pressure suited him well as a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup team, when he earned 2 1/2 points for a victorious U.S. team at Valhalla in his home state of Kentucky.

“J.B. is an exciting young talent that fits quite well with Callaway’s brand philosophy,” said Nick Raffaele, Vice President of Sports Marketing, Callaway Golf. “His recognition of our great products and desire to win clearly matches with our goals. We look forward to many years with J.B. and what we expect will be plenty of winning with Callaway.”

Holmes played his college golf at the University of Kentucky, where he helped lead the Wildcats to their first SEC title. In 2005, he was the SEC Player of the Year and an Academic All-American in 2004-2005. Holmes grew up as an impressive golf prodigy, playing on his high school team as a third-grader and winning the Kentucky state high school title as a sophomore.

Holmes plays in the Farmers Insurance Open this week at Torrey Pines

Farmers Insurance Open Tee times

New Tourism Marketing Network

Building on the success of Fáilte Ireland’s 2010 Tourism Marketing Network, and due to huge demand from the tourism industry, Fáilte Ireland is running another tourism marketing network programme in 2011.

The new Tourism Marketing Network programme has been specifically designed for tourism businesses as part of Fáilte Ireland’s investment in assisting tourism businesses to increase their customer base from key overseas markets.

The programme is short, interactive, and practical and focuses on real issues that challenge tourism businesses on a day-to-day basis.

The network will offer practical supports to -

Help you really understand marketing

Focus your marketing activities

Set realistic, achievable targets

As part of the network you will also learn–

About current developments and marketing trends and

How to implement these in your business as well as extensive networking opportunities

Benefits of the network include:

Gain knowledge about domestic and international market trends

Better understand how to research and target national and international markets

Exposure to good practice in a range of areas such as eMarketing; working with other tourism providers to attract more business; and developing a PR strategy

Access to a marketing mentor to support you in the preparation of a realistic marketing plan for your business and to support your application of ideas and good practice in your business

Gain the know-how to monitor the implementation and impact of your marketing plan

Develop your knowledge and marketing ideas through networking with other tourism businesses

Programme duration

The programme consists of a number of training workshops running in Dublin between 11th February and May 2011.

Cost

This programme is heavily subsidised by Fáilte Ireland. Participants are asked to contribute just €100

Who should apply?

Owners, Senior Managers or Marketing Managers with responsibility for marketing activities

For further information or to indicate your interest in the programme contact, Karen Curry, programme co-ordinator on 071 9165973 or Breda McNally at breda.mcnally@failteireland.ie

Supplier News - PGA Show

Matt Kuchar, 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team member and winner of the 2010 Vardon Trophy for lowest average score by a Tour professional, will be joined by celebrated saxophonist and golf enthusiast, Branford Marsalis and PGA of America officials in the grand opening of the 58th edition of the global golf industry’s PGA Merchandise Show, January 27-29, 2011, in Orlando, Fla.

Marsalis, a three-time Grammy winner, will entertain attendees beginning at 7:45 a.m. in the Grand Lobby of the Orange County Convention Center. At 8:15 a.m., PGA of America officials will officially present Kuchar with the Vardon Trophy and Kuchar will hit the ceremonial first ball from the 2nd floor stage to open three jam-packed days of golf business among nearly 1,000 golf companies and brands and more than 40,000 PGA Professionals and industry executives from around the world.

“We are thrilled to have our 2010 Vardon Trophy winner Matt Kuchar and the world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis join us to open the 58th PGA Merchandise Show,” said PGA President Allen Wronowski. “The Grand Opening has become an exciting new tradition to begin the PGA Merchandise Show and a tremendous way for our industry to launch the business of the new golf season.”

Kuchar and Marsalis are among a long list of participating celebrities at this year’s industry-only PGA Merchandise Show. Many exhibiting companies will host PGA and LPGA players and renowned PGA teachers including Greg Norman, Paula Creamer, Peter Jacobsen, Annika Sorenstam, David Leadbetter, Rosie Jones, Brittany Lincicome, Rick Smith, Hank Haney, Natalie Gulbis, Brian Gay, Ryan Moore, Dave Pelz, Michael Breed, Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist, Nancy Lopez and Johnny Damon.

The very best names in golf are introducing an abundance of new products to drive golf retail in 2011 including Bridgestone, Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf/Srixon, Cobra-PUMA, Nike Golf, PING, Titleist, TaylorMade-adidas, Fairway & Greene, E.P. Pro, Zero Restriction, Greg Norman Collection, Under Armour, Gear for Sports, Callaway Apparel, Ahead, Club Car, Wilson Golf, Mizuno, Imperial Headwear, Antigua, E-Z Go, Cutter & Buck, Polo/Ralph Lauren, Divots Apparel, Yamaha, Peter Millar, Adams Golf, Yonex, Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, SkyGolf, Dynamic Brands, Seemore Putters, Ben Hogan/Sport Haley, Sunice, Tour Edge, Pima Direct, Bugatchi Uomo, ProQuip USA, Flightscope and many more.

Organised in partnership with The PGA of America as a trade-only event, the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show will be held in the Orange County Convention Center January 27-28

www.pgashow.com