The Irish Golf Club Gazette

10/30/2014

Past Winners - Padraig Harrington 2007

O'Leary with Harrington in 2007

An Irishman captured the European PGA Tour's 2007 Irish Open Sunday for the first time in 25 years and follows in the footsteps of John O'Leary, who won the event in Portmanock in 1982

Padraig Harrington survived a sudden-death playoff against Bradley Dredge of Wales to take home the title at the Irish Open at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.

Harrington needed just one hole in the playoff: He made par to Dredge's bogey. Both players finished at 5-under-par for the tournament, four ahead of the rest of the field.

"I felt the pressure. It was probably the most nervous I've been for many a tournament," Harrington told Reuters. "I've always said that after the four Majors this is the next event I've wanted to win. The crowd was fantastic. Even when I saved for bogey they cheered and the applause definitely gave me a boost."

The win puts Harrington in third play on the European PGA Tour's Order of Merit; only Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen are above him. the win also puts Harrington back into the world's top 10 rankings.

Harrington's Sunday started off slowly, with bogeys at the par-4 second and fifth. But Harrington rebounded, going birdie-birdie-eagle on the seventh, eighth and ninth.

But he slipped back to the field on his homestretch, with bogeys at the par-3 11th and 17th.

Meanwhile, Dredge was making a charge, with birdies on seven of his last 12 holes, making up a four-stroke deficit on the back nine to force a playoff.

"My long game wasn't great but I hit enough good iron shots close and putted well," said Dredge. "I had a chip in on 14th and knew I had to stay focused. I knew my short game was good enough to battle it out and hope he made a few bogeys as well. In the end it was just one of those things on the last.

"Before I went out I knew I had to shoot a good score and had a good run at the end of the front nine, kept my head down and played my own game. It is just frustrating to give it to him the way I did in the end."

Simon Wakefield of England drained a 30-foot birdie put on his last hole to move into sole possession of third place, at 1-under-par, the only other player to finish under par this week.

May 21, 2007

Irish Open Winners - Ken Brown 1978

Ken Brown is a Scottish former European Tour golfer who now works as a golf broadcaster and writer, primarily for the BBC.

He also works as part of the commentary team for the international coverage of the European Tour on selected events which are not covered by the BBC.

He won four times on the European Tour and in his best season in 1978 he finished fourth on the European Tour Order of Merit at the age of 21. He was an outstanding but largely unfulfilled talent; the last of his four top ten finishes on the Order of Merit came when he was just 26.

He appeared in the Ryder Cup in 1977, 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1987, and had a 4-9-0 win-loss-tie record, including two wins and two losses in singles matches.

His playing career was terminated by injury when he was in his mid thirties.

European Tour wins (4)

1978 Carroll's Irish Open

1983 KLM Dutch Open

1984 Glasgow Open

1985 Four Stars National Pro-Celebrity

Other wins

1983 Benson & Hedges Kenya Open

The Open

Best finish 1980 T6

Factfile

Date of Birth: January 9th, 1957

Place of Birth: Harpenden, Herts, England

Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Nationality: Scotland

Turned professional: 1974

Retired: 1992

McIlroy Misses BMW Masters

Getty Images

The tournament director of this week’s BMW Masters says he is 'disappointed' that world Number 1 Rory McIlroy will not be in the field at Lake Malaren in China.

The 25-year-old, who won two Majors this year, is taking time away from golf to prepare for his multi-million dollar legal case against his former management company in Ireland.

Tournament director Marco Kaussler said: "We are very sorry that Rory McIlroy will not tee off at the BMW Masters for the first time since the tournament has been held.

"We obviously understand the disappointment of the many golf fans in China but we respect his decision."

Also absent from Shanghai is world No 5 Henrik Stenson who withdraw on Tuesday after his wife Emma gave birth in Florida on Sunday.

"We respect his decision"

McIlroy made his announcement last week leaving Jamie Donaldson as the leading European player in the field.

The Welshman is currently fourth in the Race to Dubai standings with only a slim chance of catching McIlroy in the standings.

Donaldson said: "Obviously it would be great to have Rory here.

"I don't know the ins and outs of why he's not playing here but I'm sure he'll be back playing as strong as ever.

"It's mathematically possible to catch him but it's one hell of a stretch."

10/25/2014

Club Profile - Castlemartyr

Castlemartyr Golf Course

Nestled amid Cork's woodlands, Castlemartyr (Baile na Martra) is a destination richly steeped in Emerald Isle history and tradition. The castle from which the village of Castlemartyr takes its name was first built in 1210 by The Knights Templar, who were one of the most famous of the Christian military orders under the leadership of Richard Earl de Clare, more commonly known as Strongbow.

In the centuries that followed, the lands changed hands many times, among its owners were Sir Walter Raleigh and Richard Boyle, the first Earl of Cork. It was under Boyle's stewardship that the construction of the magnificent Manor House took place in the 17th century. Painstakingly restored to its original grandeur, the Manor House now forms the centerpiece of the Castlemartyr Resort.

Other historical features include the unique Templar Cross, which composes the centerpiece of the Castlemartyr's Golf Club coat of arms. Following a rebellion in 1578, the Earl of Desmond James Fitzgerald had his estates forfeited to the Crown and awarded to Sir Walter Raleigh. Prior to Sir Walter Raleigh’s departure from Youghal on historic voyage to South American Richard Boyle, the first Earl of Cork acquired Raleigh's Estates.

The Tomb of the third Earl of Cork can be found on the Estate.

The golf course is challenging and demanding and there are exquisite views and landscapes all aorund the course.

www.castlemartyrresort.ie

Club History - Malahide Golf Club

Malahide Golf Club was founded in 1892 by the Irish landscape painter Nathaniel Hone, R.H.A. and is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland.

Its original layout was a nine-hole Links course on the dunes at Malahide. Sadly, it quickly became obvious to the members that serious erosion from the sea threatened their course and, as early as April 1906, three holes were opened on an adjacent site. Six holes were retained on the seashore until the late 1920's when due to constant erosion the Club was forced to abandon the links and move entirely inland.

This new golf course enjoyed a reputation as a charming and challenging layout with its famous Quarry hole and splendid views from the top of the course. However housing development in the popular Malahide area resulted in a move in 1990 to the current championship 27 hole complex, designed by Eddie Hackett, at Beechwood, Malahide.

From its foundation Malahide Golf Club played a leading role in the development of Irish golf. Affiliated to the Golf Union of Ireland in 1896, the club's first Irish Champion was John Francis Jameson (of whiskey family fame) who won the Irish Amateur Close Championship in 1910. The club gained some notoriety in 1947 because, in common with several other golf clubs, it recognised ladies as full members. The GUI threatened to expel the club from the Union and, in April 1946, following the club's refusal to comply, it was expelled from the GUI. This situation remained until March of the following year, when the Club changed its constitution, amending the status of Lady golfers to that of associates - a situation which remained in place until 2001.

In more recent times the magnificent achievements of Tom Craddock, winner of many trophies including both the Irish Open and Close Amateur Championships, twice a member of the Walker Cup team and holder of numerous international and inter-provincial caps, have brought great distinction to the Club. The late Paddy Caul was also an exceptional player at international and inter-provincial level.

Recent distinguished members include Philip Walton, Walker Cup player, winner of the Irish, Scottish and Spanish Amateur Championships, 4-time Irish PGA champion, and hero of the European Professional Golfers win in the Ryder Cup at Oakhill in the U.S. in 1995.

www.malahidegolfclub.ie