The Irish Golf Club Gazette: 10/24/14

10/24/2014

Profile - Brendan McDaid

Brendan McDaid is based at the Carr Golf Centre, Spawell in Templeogue, Dublin with all the on site facilities for his tuition needs. As European Tour coach continues to help golfers get the most out of their game is currently working with Irish golfer, Peter Lawrie.

Whether starting out for the first time or a seasoned campaigner, the McDaid Academy offers something uniquely different for golfers.

The Swing Reader, the most advanced video solution, analysis of your swing during the lesson, after which videos are made available to ensure continuous improvement.

At the Carr Golf Centre Brendan offers individual classes, one day golf group schools or junior golf lessons. All bookable on-line to more easily plan a lesson at a convenient time.

McDaid has coached many individuals and teams to success both at home and abroad, ranging from junior competitions to European PGA Professional tournaments. His Mother was a Inter provincial and also played for Ireland. His sister Eileen Rose Power played Curtis Cup in 1994 with his nephew Mark Power winning the Peter McEvoy Trophy this year

Under McDaid Peter Lawrie claimed his maiden victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. The following year he defended his title valiantly only to finish third in the end.

Having graduated from UCD on a scholarship Lawrie reached the European Tour through the Challenge Tour, after finishing fourth in the rankings at the end of 2002. All testament to his determination having spent one year on the Asian Tour and three seasons on the Challenge Tour.

Brendan has also coached former European Tour player Gary Murphy, and Challenge Tour players Colm Moriarty and Michael McGeady. As well as Tara Delaney, a one time member of the Ladies European Tour. As head coach for the Team Ireland Golf Trust for a number of years, McDaid has always been at the cutting edge of all golf coaching in Ireland and Europe.

McDaid has held a Category 14 card and played on the European Tour

www.brendanmcdaidgolf.com

Slow Start at Sea Island for Harrington

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Padraig Harrington carded an opening round of one over par 71 at the McGladrey Classic left him six shots off the early pace at Sea Island.

Harrington, who is relying on sponsors’ invitations at the moment, had birdies at the seventh and 15th, then dropping shots at the fourth, 12th and 14th.

Erik Compton is happy with where he is in golf, and he's not referring to his 5-under 65 on Thursday for an early share of the lead in The McGladrey Classic.

A return to Sea Island provides an occasion to take stock of how far he has come in the last 13 years, and what Compton refers to as the "hurdles" he didn't anticipate.

There's a medical term for these hurdles. It's called a second heart transplant.

"I'm almost 35 years old. I've had a good career in golf, really," he said. "Even though I've had some time off, I've been able to support myself and have a good life."

Compton remarkably earned a PGA TOUR card just four years after he drove himself to the hospital while suffering a heart attack, dodging death until he received a second transplant. He now is in his fourth straight season on golf's toughest circuit, and he has shown steady improvement.

The next step is to win, and Compton has been around long enough not to get overly excited about a good start.

He opened with a pair of birdies in the morning chill on the Seaside Course at Sea Island, dropped only one shot and joined Sea Island resident Brian Harman and Michael Thompson atop the leaderboard among the early starters.

"I expect I should win this year. That's a goal of mine," Compton said. "It's always been a goal, but I think every time I get on the course it becomes more of a realistic expectation."

Compton first played Sea Island when he competed in the SEC Championship while at Georgia in 2001. A few months later, Compton played in the Walker Cup at nearby Ocean Forest.

The first hurdle when he turned pro was realizing that "everybody out here is really, really, really, really good." The more serious hurdle was his heart.

Compton had his first transplant when he 12 because of cardiomyopathy, an enlarging of the heart that hinders its ability to pump blood. He had his second in 2008 and ended that year by making the cut in the final PGA TOUR event.

His story never gets old, and Compton is happy to tell it, especially if that means bringing attention to the "Donate Life America" campaign. He prefers to look ahead, at the next shot, the next tournament, trying to get the most he can out of his game, just like the guys he is trying to beat.

Compton played on that Walker Cup team with 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover along with Bryce Molder and D.J. Trahan, who both went on to win on the PGA TOUR. The Britain & Ireland team featured former world No. 1 Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell, the U.S. Open champion at Pebble Beach.

Compton's hopes were not much different from theirs -- turn pro, win tournaments.

"I think when I was younger, I had some unrealistic expectations," he said. "I knew I was a good player. I obviously had some hurdles that I had to deal with in front of me, which I didn't see coming. I didn't know I was going to have to deal with that."

What's real to him now is being a PGA TOUR regular. He's going to the Masters next year for the first time, courtesy of his runner-up finish in the U.S. Open. That remains his biggest highlight in golf.

What's next? He's curious to find out. Compton is learning not to swing so hard to take advantage of his putting stroke.

"I just want to get the ball in play and hit on the green and see where I can go," he said. "And that's difficult to do in four days, and it's proven difficult for a lot of guys who have never won on TOUR who have great careers. I happen to be one of those guys right now, and I feel like if I can do the things like I did today and get out of my own way, there's no reason I shouldn't continue to progress in this game."

Q School Test Awaits Irish Players

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Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin failed in their bid to retain their autromctaic playing righst on the Europaan Tour for next season after failing to make the cut at the ISPS Handa Perth International on Friday.

Kevin Phelan retains a chance on paper but needs a weekend of high scoring to improve on share of 35th place and clode the seven stroke gap with the leader, Peter Whiteford.

So the battle to keep a Tour card will go right to the wire over the weekend with Whiteford, Sihwan Kim and David Drysdale all in the frame for a last-ditch assault on the top 111 on The Race to Dubai.

Only the top 110 Full Members will retain their playing privileges for the 2015 season – Brendan de Jonge’s inclusion in the Race to Dubai as an Affiliate Member pushing the critical position back to 111th – and Whiteford, Kim and Drysdale are leading the charge of those players outside that mark looking for one last monumental effort this weekend to secure their place among the European Tour elite.

As things stand at the halfway stage of the ISPS HANDA Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Whiteford, as 36 hole leader, could climb to 89th from 149th with victory on Sunday. He needs to finish first or second to secure his card. Drysdale in position to climb from 116th to 100th. Kim, lying third, is still on the wrong side of the bubble as that would only lift him to 116th from 138th as he needs a top two but it’s all to play for.

“It’s no holds barred,” said Whiteford. “Win or bust.

“I am very nervous. There's no doubt about that. I’ve got to just keep attacking. I don't want to go back to school. Nobody does. But I get what I deserve in this game, and I've been awful all year. It's nice that the form is coming back later on in the year.”

For some, its season over as those who missed the cut can do no more. For Maximillian Kieffer in 106th place on the Race to Dubai, Steve Webster (107th), Anthony Wall (108th) and particularly Lee Slattery (110th), an anxious weekend awaits as they missed the cut and the outcome is now out of their hands. If they are passed by enough players they may yet be bumped out.

For others it is back to the Qualifying School, and among those whose last chance has gone after missing the cut are former Tour champions Ricardo Santos, the 2012 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, Alastair Forsyth, and José Manuel Lara.

Peter Lawrie avoided a return a year ago with a top twenty finish. A feat that proved beyond David Higgins last year in Perth, and he lost his card, reliant on a number of exemptions for this season.

Kevin Phelan produced a fine last round at PGA Catalunya in last years tour school to grab his first season as a professional. He may have less fears returning to claim his rights for 2015.

Maybin faces his first trip in seven years after first qualifying in 2007 - within two years of trying pro.

Lawrie was last in Q School in 2001, and has a fifty percent record in four appearances since first earning his card in 1998.

Club History - Woodbrook

Established in 1921, by Sir Stanley Cochrane as his private club, Woodbrook was first affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland in 1926. Sir Stanley had previously indulged his enthusiasm for cricket at Woodbrook, a fact that is still reflected in the pavilion-style clubhouse and the cricket bell, which tolled the start and finish of play and now hangs in the bar.

However, it is as a venue for top class international golf, that Woodbrook is justly famous. Woodbrook hosted the first major professional tournament in Ireland. The Hennessy Tournament in 1958. This once-off event, proved so popular amongst the Irish sporting public, that the following year it became the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes Tournament with the then biggest prize fund 5,000 guineas. All the leading players arrived to play Woodbrook and International Tournament Golf in Ireland was born. In 1963 the tournament that really established Woodbrook as a major golf venue began – The Carrolls International. Carrolls brought the cream of British European and, indeed, American golfers to play the fairways of Woodbrook in the ensuing years up to 1975.

Many of today’s legends of Golf played the course. Some, as winners, like Christy O’Connor, Senior and Junior, Bernard Gallagher, Neil Coles, Brian Huggett and Bernard Hunt. Others, as rookies on the day, like Jack Newton, Eamon D’Arcy, John O’Leary and Sam Torrance. Superstars, like Open Championship Winners, Max Faulkner, five times winner Peter Thompson, Gary Player, Tony Jacklin, Tom Watson and Ken Nagle all delighted the larger Irish galleries.

Anybody who was anybody, in the history of British and European golf from 1963 to 1975, appeared at the Carrolls in Woodbrook.

The Irish Open

The Irish Open had been discontinued in 1953, having run almost continuously since 1927. Carrolls revived this great Irish Title in 1975 at Woodbrook and the modern Irish Open was born. This is now an integral part of the European PGA Tour. An all-star field, including the British Open Winner Tom Watson, played for the first Prize of £5,000 and the inaugural winner was Ireland’s Christy O’Connor Junior, nephew of the great Christy O’Connor Senior, himself a four times winner of the Carrolls International.

The Train -Trains have always played a major part in Woodbrook’s history.

In olden days the Dublin-Bray train stopped at the club and in the early days of tournament golf, spectators alighted on the course. Up to 1956, when members wanted to go home, they pulled a switch in the club house bar and the next train, to pass along the way, stopped for two minutes to pick up those who were travelling to Bray or Dublin. Alas! Today, such hospitality is unavailable, but on six holes, the spectre of the DART and the railway line looms large for the wayward driver.

The Course - Where the wind has sculpted the trees.

Although a flat course, “Woodbrook”, as Christy O’Connor, Senior put it “may look easy, but it is a very difficult course, with the constant threat of out of bounds and other hazards that can wreck your card”. In this regard the wind plays a most significant role. When it blows from the North, nine holes are affected, including three out of the last four.

When it’s from the South, the index one tenth plus the par three eleventh, and the par five – 12th, 14th and 16th, all become very difficult long holes. A crosswind from the East affects almost every hole on the course and calls for shot making of the highest calibre. With its configuration of five par threes and five par fives, Woodbrook’s layout is unusual but, in the opinion of those who have played there, it is a championship course in every meaning of the word.

Recently redesigned, with three new holes and 18 sand based greens, built to USPGA standards, Woodbrook is once more a challenge for the best.

The club has hosted 18 major international championship events, a record unlikely to be surpassed, and numerous Irish Professional and Amateur Championships through the years. The staging of the AIB Sponsored Irish Seniors Open in the club in 1998 completes a remarkable journey for many of those stars of yesterday, bringing them back to the fairways they once graced so well.

Woodbrook is unique in Irish Golf, with its heritage and tradition, ambience and atmosphere and the quality and layout of its course. For members and visitors alike it represents a challenge to be met weekly or just occasionally, but always enjoyably.

www.woodbrook.ie

Rule of the Week - 19-5/1.7

19-5/1.7 Ball Dropped on Putting Green by Opponent or Fellow-Competitor Falls on Player's Moving Ball

Q: A makes a stroke on the putting green. B, A's opponent or a fellow-competitor, accidentally drops his ball, which he had lifted, and it falls on A's ball, which is still in motion. What is the ruling?

A:In match play, since A's ball was deflected by B's equipment (see Note 1 under Definition of "Equipment"), Rule 19-3 applies. A has the option of playing his ball as it lies or canceling and replaying the stroke. Neither A nor B incurs a penalty.

In stroke play, A's ball was deflected by a moving outside agency. Therefore, A must cancel and replay his stroke, without penalty, under Rule 19-1b. B incurs no penalty.

In either form of play, B must replace his ball on the spot from which it was lifted -- Rule 20-3a.

Rule 19-5b does not apply because B's ball was not in motion after a stroke. (Revised)

www.randa.org

Club Focus - Warrenpoint

Established in 1893, Warrenpoint Golf Course is an 18-Hole, Par 71 Parkland Course set in the beautiful natural scenery of the Mourne area, close to Narrow Water Castle, the inspiration for our Club Badge Logo.

Warrenpoint Golf Course is very proud of its record in producing great golfers over the years, with JW Hulme, JL Bamford, Ken Stevenson, Paddy Gribben, Ronan Rafferty, Raymond Burns, Gary McNeill and Jim Carvill all playing for Ireland at senior Level, with Ronan, Raymond and Paddy representing Ireland & Great Britain in the Walker Cup. Jim holds the world record for the fastest ever round of golf. Paddy went on to win the European Amateur Open in 1999 and Ronan was a Dunhill Cup winner who also played in the Ryder Cup.

Alison Coffey also brought great honour to the Club over the years, and played in the Curtis Cup in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Other members who represented Ireland at Junior level include Ruairi McCormack, Pat Trainor, Peter O’Hagan and Dorothy Hulme. 17 All-Ireland Titles have been won since 1981, the year Warrenpoint won their first. In 1987 we won 5, a feat which is unlikely ever to be matched, and in 1989 Raymond Burns won all four Boys titles.

www.warrenpointgolf.com

Club History - Castle Golf Club

With just a few years to go to our centenary (2013), Castle Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs in the greater Dublin area.

Nestled at the foot of the Dublin Mountains, the club was originally established in part of the estate of Rathfarnham Castle. A firm of builders, Bailey & Gibson acquired the Castle and lands in 1912 with a view to developing a housing scheme with the golf club at its centre. The Castle was sold to the Jesuit Order, and the Club was established on 7th February 1913.

Although Bailey & Gibson never fully developed their housing plans, and sold the club to the members in 1918, the Club is now completely surrounded by houses! Cecil Barcroft, W.C. Pickeman and Tom Hood (Professional at Royal Dublin Golf Club) designed the original layout of the Golf Course. In 1918/1919, Harry S. Colt, one of the foremost golf course designers of the time, updated the original design. His brief was to reconstruct the course ‘on the best modern lines’.

Apart from minor changes over the years, the layout of the course remained largely unchanged until the latest programme to upgrade and redesign all our greens to USGA standard, commenced in 2000. The Course was originally a Par 74 layout, with a length (after Colt’s work) of 6,300 yards. Over the years, some of our Par 5’s became Par 4’s and the 10th hole was reduced from a Par 4 to a Par 3 in the mid ‘60s, reducing the course to its current Par of 70. The length of the course is largely unchanged to this day.

The course was used by some of the most notable names in golf throughout its existence. Henry Cotton and Jack Smith played a match against Willy Holley (Club Professional 1921-1965) and Willy Nolan in 1928. The Club hosted the Irish Close Championship in 1938, an event won by one James Bruen. How appropriate, then, that the first senior GUI All Ireland pennant won by the Club (in 2003) was the ‘Jimmy Bruen’. In 1954 the North v South professional match was played in the Castle, a highlight being the drawn match between Fred Daly and Harry Bradshaw. Joe Carr played in an amateur tournament here in 1956.

In 1999 a major upgrade to the facilities at the Club, both on and off the course, was begun. Working with Jeff Howes, the Course Development committee oversaw reconstruction of all eighteen greens to USGA sand-based standard. The project included a major upgrade to the practice putting area and realignment of some fairways to fit in with the new greens. The clubhouse was extended and completely refurbished in 2001/2002, raising the standard of the facilities to match those on the golf course. We hope you enjoy your visit to Castle Golf Club.

www.castlegc.ie

Apres Golf - Glen of Downs

Raheen Restaurant

The Raheen Restaurant is named after the ancient fort on the golf course. Its setting is as appealing as its name suggests, with views overlooking the picturesque landscape. Open to both members and visitors, it is an attractive venue for a fulfilling meal with family or friends, offering an impressive wine list and a la carte menu. With seating for up to 120 people, it is also an ideal choice for hosting corporate events.

Lakeside Lounge and Bar

The view alone is enough to entice you to the Lakeside Bar and Lounge. Complemented by comfortable seating and a vibrant atmosphere, it is an inviting place to unwind after a round of golf. The extensive bar menu is served all day and is open to both members and visitors. The menu features freshly prepared dishes to suit all palates along with tempting specials of the day. Not forgetting a fully stocked bar.

Spike Bar

Ensuring both our members and visitors are well looked after is our priority. Aside from our popular Lakeside Bar, Glen of the Downs also has a stylish modern bar where you can enjoy a drink with friends before or after your game of golf. The Spike Bar is compact with comfortable leather seating, a wide screen television and a fully stocked bar. Many regulars regard it as their favourite location to enjoy the perfect pint.

Lakeside Deck

For many visitors the nicest après golf scene is the lakeside deck. In fine weather you can dine alfresco or enjoy a coffee with breathtaking views of the lush green course. It also has the ideal vantage point from which to watch golfers at play on the 18th hole.

www.glenofthedowns.com

Golfers 10 Commandments

Thou shall know the RULES OF GOLF. And knowing them, shall enforce them, as honestly as possible, even on thine self.

Thou shall regard TIME SHEETS as sacrosanct. If unable to play, thou shall either ring the club or those on the time sheet with thee.

Thou shall always arrive in time for the Time Sheet. To keep thy partners waiting is a grave transgression, an disrupts the time sheet.

Thou shall not engage in SLOW PLAY. Too many practice swings and aping what thou sees on television gravely offends against this commandment.

Remember always to keep the GREENS in a heavenly state. Thou shall repair all pitch marks, even those made by thine neighbour and thou shall replace divots.

Thou shall never leave Caddy Cars in front of greens. Nor leave them on the wrong side of the green. Thou shall always leave by the shortest route to the nest tee box.

Thou shall never - NEVER - mark thine Cards on the green. Greens are for putting on, not for marking cards.

Thou shall always rake a bunker when your shot is complete. Indeed, when noticing a bunker which needs it, thou shall rake it, even if the footmarks had not been made by thyself.

Thou shall always observe GOOD MANNERS on the course. Obey all directions and keep thy voice down, so that it shall not distract the play of thy neighbours.

Thou shall take infinite care in marking and signing of thy card before placing it in the competition box, this ensuring thy winning score shall not be disqualifying.

About The Course - County Louth

1st Hole at Baltray

The late Frank Penninck wrote in an article in 1962 in the "Golfers Companion" referring to the Course as "natural unspoilt seaside territory with towering sand hills, murderous rough, and a rating of long holes that call for powerful hitting".

In more recent times the "Golf World" magazine was moved to observe:

"County Louth is one of the best kept secrets of Irish golf. Sometimes also referred to as Baltray this has to be one of the most enjoyable Links in Ireland and undoubtedly represents superb value. There is not a weak hole on the course and some of the holes merit greatness".

The present course was designed in 1938 by the renowned Tom Simpson. The course is laid out in two loops covering some 190 acres with no two holes running in the same direction. The only exception being the 12th and 13th which run along the sea. It speaks highly for Simpson's design that he saw need to introduce only fifty bunkers in the course's defences the rest was taken care of by the natural terrain.

The 14th hole is regarded as the signature hole a short par four measuring only 332 yards you can drive all the way to the green and end up taking six or more, wondering what did you actually do that was wrong. The four par threes are superb. Averaging 160 yards it is seldom one will have a good score that does not include a par at each of these.

In 1985 the numerical order in which the holes were laid out was slightly altered to accommodate a new starting position. Other than that little has changed from 1938, until 2003 when the firm of Donald Steel and Company undertook a course upgrade under the guidance of Tom MacKenzie, himself an undoubted fan of Simpson's work.

The changes although minimal have had a significant impact on the course and with the addition of some new Tees "Baltray" now measures over 7,000 yds thus bringing it in line with the modern game.

www.countylouthgolfclub.com

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10/24/2014

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