Cois Buekes 3 Nation Cycle Challenge

7th Hole,Holywood Golf Club

PGA Professional Paul Gray is embarking on 350 mile cycle in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care and is looking for the support of his fellow Professionals and golf industry colleagues. 

In November 2010 a friend of Paul's, Cois Beukes, lost his 10 month battle with a rare and aggressive form of Cancer known as Sarcoma and Cois' passing at 35 years of age is a tragic loss to all that knew him. He leaves behind a loving wife and daughter. 

Cois proved to be an inspiration throughout his life and through his passion and involvement with rugby as a player and a coach, Cois had an incredible way of caring for others around him. An honest, loyal and loving man, Cois' memory lives on. 

To pay tribute to Cois, in aid of Marie Curie Belfast, his wife and a group of 29 friends have decided to embark on a charity ride from Cardiff to Belfast. The Cois Beukes 3 Nations Cycle challenge will cover 350 miles over 4 days through Wales, England and Ireland. The journey will mirror that of Cois when he first moved from South Africa to Cardiff in 1997. 

Two of the four days will be spent cycling nearly 100 miles per day through the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia national parks. Areas that are believed to have the odd hill! Its going to be a tough challenge so please get behind the team to raise money for a worthy cause. 

You can donate to Pauls Cycle challenge by clicking on the following link and leaving your donation and a message for him and the team  www.justgiving.com/coiscycle . 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. 

Thank you. 

Paul Gray 

P.G.A. Professional 

General Manager 

Holywood Golf Club 

Demesne Rd 

Holywood 

Co. Down BT18 9LE 

Tel: (028) 90423135 

New Golf Event

A team of six girl golfers from Great Britain & Ireland will cross swords with their opposite numbers from the Continent of Europe in a new match, to be played for the first time at Royal Porthcawl, Wales, on 24 and 25 June this year. 

The match was announced by the Ladies’ Golf Union and the European Golf Association and will involve 12 youngsters, aged 16 and under, going head to head in four sets of matches over a two day period. All six youngsters will play in two sets of three foursomes and two sets of six singles matches. 

Gillian Kirkwood, Chairman of the LGU, said “The standard of girls’ golf is improving all the time, and it was apparent to us that the top girls really deserve the same playing opportunities as their boy counterparts. The absence of a girls’ international match was a gap in the schedule of events, and its institution provides an ideal platform for introducing talented young golfers to the pressures and pleasures of team match play golf." 

The new match, the name of which will be announced in the next few weeks, will be played concurrently with the ladies' equivalent, the biennial Vagliano Trophy match, which was first contested between GB&I and Europe in 1959 and which will be defended by the Continent of Europe in Wales. 

Gonzaga Escauriaza, EGA President, said "The new International Match will be a welcome addition to the European calendar and will support the trend that our players are reaching elite level at an increasingly younger age. A void will be filled for European girls' golf and we are very grateful for the LGU's cooperation and The R&A's support in inaugurating the first edition this year." 

As with the Vagliano Trophy, team selection will be conducted by the LGU and EGA for the GB&I and Continent of Europe teams respectively, with the teams due to be named at the end of May 2011.

Golf Course Walkthrough - Blainroe

www.blainroe.com

Causeway Coast Tournament 2011

Tullamore Dew, the world No. 2 Irish Whiskey, is honoured to be the title sponsor of The Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament for the next 5 years. This is the largest amateur golf tournament in Europe, held every summer on the glorious courses of Northern Ireland.

The Tullamore Dew Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament is one of the top three highlights in the Northern Ireland sporting calendar and regularly attracts up to 1100 golfers from as far afield as South Africa, Canada, Australia, the USA as well as Europe. Golfers appreciate the camaraderie, hospitality and above all the magnificent setting of the area, known as a 'golfer's paradise'.

The tournament takes place in the beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery of the Causeway Coast, a World Heritage site and Northern Ireland's premier tourist attraction. The Portrush Valley, Portstewart, Ballycastle and Castlerock clubs - which provide some of the best golfing anywhere in Europe.

The competition's international profile, its huge popularity and prestigious reputation is therefore the perfect platform for Tullamore Dew. As the market leader in many European markets Tullamore Dew is an ideal partner. We look forward to welcoming you to what is set to be the golf event of the year!

The 2011 tournament is taking place from June 13th - 17th at the Royal Portrush, Portstewart, Ballycastle and Castlerock golf clubs. The four-day 72-hole Stableford competition, for teams of four, is perfect for amateur players at every level, and incentives of individual and daily prizes are on offer throughout the tournament. 

Please note the maximum handicap is 20.

www.causewaycoastgolf.com