Facilities Focus - Ballybunion

Ballybunion was created for the pure enjoyment of golf in Ireland and to help you prepare, we have a practice facility which incorporates:

A Driving Range - tokens are available from the Golf Shop or at the range if the shop is closed.

Chipping Green with Bunkers

Two Putting Greens located beside the clubhouse and a third putting green which is located near the 1st tee on the Cashen Course

2010 Prices

Members:

Basket of Golfballs: €3.00

2 Baskets of Golfballs: €5.00

Non Members:

Basket of Golfballs: €4.00

April, May & October:

Open until 7.30pm daily

June - September:

Open until 8.00pm daily

November - March:

The Ball Dispenser at the Practice Facility is closed. Members may use the facility, using their own golf balls.

Our Golf Professional, Brian O'Callaghan, is available for lessons. Learn the art of shot making - chipping, bump and run, bunkers, playing in the wind and putting. To enquire, please call 068 27146.

www.ballybuniongolfclub.ie

Up Close and Personal - P. Hanna

www.lurgangolfclub.com

R & A - Spotlight on television evidence

Two recent incidents have shone a bright light on the use of television evidence in golf and the penalty structure in the situation where a player returns his score card having failed to include a penalty that he did not know he had incurred.

During the first round of the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii,Camilo Villegas moved a loose divot that might have influenced the movement of his ball in motion – a clear breach of Rule 23-1. Such an act brings with it a penalty of two strokes, but Villegas was unaware of the Rule and did not include the penalty in his score for that hole. The incident was reported to the Committee by a television viewer after Villegas had returned his score card and, as a result, Villegas was disqualified under Rule 6-6d for returning a score lower than actually taken.

A couple of weeks later in Abu Dhabi, TV images showed Padraig Harrington moving his ball in the act of removing his ball-marker during his first round, which of itself is not a penalty (Rule 20-3a), but the ball needs to be replaced. Harrington knew that he had nudged the ball forward, but felt that the ball had returned to the original spot. As it transpired, TV images showed that the ball had stopped a few millimetres short of rolling all the way back onto the original spot. Again the breach of the Rule only came to light when it was reported to the Committee by a television viewer after Harrington’s score card had been returned, and without the two-stroke penalty included in the score for that hole, disqualification under Rule 6-6d applied.

It is a fundamental principle of the Rules in stroke play that the player is responsible for the correctness of the scores on his score card, and if the player has attested for a lower score than he has actually achieved, for whatever reason, the result is disqualification. However, these cases indicate that we have entered a new age of golf viewing where increased coverage, increased use of high definition and super slow motion, the increased viewing of delayed “live” coverage and the ease with which television viewers can make contact with the tournament office through email and the internet make such incidents more likely to occur.

The issues of the escalation of the penalty from one or two strokes to disqualification after the score card has been returned and the admissibility of increasingly sophisticated television evidence have been on the agenda of the governing bodies, and we have been in discussion with the Tours on these matters, but these cases, and the reaction to them, have undoubtedly intensified the discussions on whether the Rules in this regard remain appropriate.

Support Seve's Golf Club Challenge

Severiano Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros is calling on golfers across the UK to help beat brain cancer by asking their club to take part in the National Golf Club Challenge 2011.

The challenge, which takes place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th July, will help raise much needed funds for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, which is working together with Cancer Research UK to fund lifesaving research into brain cancer. 

Hundreds of golf clubs and thousands of golfers across the UK are expected to come together on the same weekend to host their own fundraising stableford competition. The top scoring golf clubs from across the UK will then be invited to compete in the national final in September at The Shire London – the only Seve Ballesteros designed golf course in the UK.

Ballesteros said: “By signing up to the challenge, clubs all over the UK can enjoy the sport while raising money for brain cancer research.

“There are more than five million golfers in the UK and if just a small proportion of those got involved, we’d be well on our way to reaching our target and making a real impact on the lives of people like me who are diagnosed with brain cancer.”

Ballesteros, the five times Major winner, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October 2008 after collapsing at Madrid airport. The challenge aims to help raise vital funds for research into cancer of the brain which affects around 8,000 people in the UK each year.

Justin Rose, a strong supporter of Cancer Research UK, said: ‘‘Please show your support for the great man and sign up for the National Golf Club Challenge in aid of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation and raise as much money for brain cancer research as possible.”

Anyone inspired to take part can get involved at their local golf clubs on the weekend of the 23rd and 24th July by coordinating fundraising activities themselves. 

To sign up to the National Golf Club Challenge for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation visit www.thesevechallenge.com

Shannon SWING Special (SSS)

Play some of Clare’s finest courses in our 3 course special the Shannon SWING Special (SSS). The 3 courses included in our special are Ennis, Shannon and Dromoland. With easy access from Shannon Airport to all 3 courses, your travelling distance wont be a problem, so all you need to worry about is turning up, having a superb round of golf and get to experience the spectacular views from each signature hole.

Ennis Golf Club

Description founded in 1907, is situated in County Clare, in the heart of Irelands scenic Mid-West, some 30 km from Clare's idyllic coastline and the famous 200m high Cliffs of Moher, and the limestone landscapes of the Burren. With a number of hotels and facilities close to the course it's the ideal place to stay and play. The club is widely regarded for it's hospitality and welcome and the course itself is a testing Par 70 Parkland course. A brand new clubhouse was opened in 1999 with a lounge bar, dining room as well as the standard mod cons. It's really a true test of your golfing skills and a test you'll want to take again.

Location just outside Ennis Co Clare, only 20km from Shannon Airport

Course Parkland

Length 5,706 metres

Par Men 70 Ladies 73

Shannon Golf Club

Description established in 1966 was designed by John D Harris as a major championship course of international standard. The course has, over the forty years, matured into one of the best inland courses in Munster and Ireland. A parkland course of 6763 yards with fairways of natural meadow grass planted on either side with Spruce, Evergreens and a wide variety of deciduous trees. For a number of years we hosted a pro-am, which attracted the top ten professionals in Europe together with a contingent of US stars. We have hosted both Irish and European amateur championships and will host the Men’s Amateur Irish Close Championship in 2011.

Location right next to Shannon Airport

Course Parkland

Length 6,673 yards

Par 72

Dromoland Golf Club

Description the Golf Club was set up in 1962 on the grounds of the Dromoland Castle. Since then it has catered to many of the best personalities and golfers around. In 2003, the Dromoland golf course was redesigned to the highest standards by Joe Carr and Ron Kirby. It is situated on 400 unspoilt acres of lush wooded parkland enhanced by the gently flowing River Rine which becomes a feature for three of the many beautiful holes on the course.. You could say that the new look course is Clare's answer to Augusta and it's been elevated to premier status within Irish golfing circles. In 2006 a new Golf Academy was added to the course. The greens in this are the same Creeping Bent grass that is used out on the course so make your mistakes here. Between the facilities and the spectacular views that you will see around the course this will be a golfing experience that you are unlikely to forget too soon.

Location 8 miles from Shannon Airport, 19 miles from Limerick City

Course Parkland

Length 6,824 yards

Par 72

Cost per person €95 Valid for 2011.

Note:

- Promotion available through the SWING office only.

- All courses above must be booked to avail of the rate.

- Additional courses are charged at the normal rate.

- All courses subject to availability at the time of booking.

- Terms & Conditions apply.