Cub Of The Year Award for West Waterford Golf Club

At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Golfing Union of Ireland, Munster Branch, West Waterford Golf Club was voted Club of the year 2009. This prestigious award is fitting recognition for the enormous contribution to, and promotion of the game of golf by West Waterford Golf Club since its inception.

Established in 1993, the club immediately put in place an extensive programme to encourage youth into the game. It wasn’t long before this ambitious initiative bore fruit, when they brought the first Munster pennant to the club by way of the Fred Daly Trophy in 1997, a title they successfully defended in 1998. They followed this up with the Munster Youths title in 2000. The Munster Junior Foursomes title was next up in 2005 which culminated in the capture of the All Ireland title, the first Irish pennant for West Waterford. They then went on to repeat this feat in 2007 with another Munster and Irish crown and went on to make history in 2008 when they won both the Munster and Irish Junior Foursomes titles for the 3^rd time.

These indeed were exciting times for the club with the emergence of Seamus Power as a major force in Irish amateur golf. Seamus won the Irish youths Championship in 2005, 2007 and 2008 to match John McHenry’s record and was runner-up in 2004, a year in which he also captured the Munster youth crown. Seamus has gone on to represent Ireland at youths and senior level. Seamus was preceded on the International scene by Alan Harty who was selected for the Irish Boys team, while the new kid on the block is Gary Hurley who has recently been promoted to the Irish Boys A panel, and is likely to play for Ireland in 2010. West Waterford Golf Club has also provided the entire team for Dungarvan C.B.S. who have won the Irish Schools Championship on 2 occasions. Other notable achievements have been Seamus Power’s captaincy of the St. Augustine’s team to an Irish Schools Championship and John Dunphy’s selection as the most improved young golfer in the British Isles in 2000.

The icing was truly put on the cake in 2009 when the Senior Cup team brought the Munster Championship back to the club, the first pennant at senior level. They went on to Tullamore for the Irish Finals, where they comprehensively beat Ulster Champions, Castlerock in the semi-final, only to be narrowly beaten by Galway in the final.

The Club of the year award is just another milestone in the remarkable success story that has unfolded in the Brickey Valley over the last 15 years, and with stalwarts of the like of Pat and Justin Spratt, together with the unstinting support of the entire membership of the club, it is likely to continue well into the future.

Roll of Honor at West Waterford

Munster Fred Daly winners 1997 & 1998

Munster Club Youths winners 2000

Munster Junior Foursomes winners 2005, 2007 & 2008

All Ireland Junior Foursomes winners 2005, 2007 & 2008

Munster Senior Cup winners 2009

All Ireland Senior Cup Finalists 2009

Seamus Power, Munster Youths Champion 2004 and Irish Youths Champion 2005, 2007 & 2008

Competition Results

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 27^th, 28^th & 29^th November – Club competition, 16-hole Stableford

1^st: Pat Landers (13) – 42pts. 2^nd: Peter Foley (13) - 40pts. 3^rd: Johnny Sweeney (16) – 39pts. 4^th: Michael Landers (15) – 39pts.

South East Junior Alliance Sunday 29^th November

1^st: Mark Grant (10), Kilkenny GC – 42pts. 2^nd: Martin Lynch (13), Dungarvan GC – 41pts. 3^rd: Jack Elstead (16), Dungarvan GC – 41pts. 4^th: Frank Murphy (12), Carrick –on-Suir – 38pts. 5^th: Larry Gretins, (13), Kilkenny GC – 38pts. 6^th:  Paul Dalton (17), Waterford GC – 31pts, (back 9).

Winter League 2010

Preparations are well underway for the Winter League which following the success of last year’s event is bound to generate huge interest. At present there are 2 lists posted on the main notice board in the hallway for those intending to play and those not intending to play. All new members are especially welcome to take part and the first step is to simply place their name and contact number on the list posted in the Clubhouse, inform the office that they intend to play on a team, or contact Pat Power on 087-6611276. All members are asked to keep an eye on the notice boards for current news on the Winter League.

Fixtures

Wednesday 2^nd December – Autumn/Winter Open

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 4^th, 5^th & 6^th December – Christmas Hamper, club competition, 16-hole Stableford

Wednesday 2^nd December – Autumn/Winter Open

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 4^th, 5^th and 6^th December – Christmas Hamper, club competition, 16-hole Stableford

For a full list of our fixtures and other information please visit our website:

WLR Lions Club Christmas Hamper Appeal

The WLR Lions Club Christmas Hamper Appeal Open Golf Competition which has been a staple of our calendar for many years takes place at West Waterford Golf and Country Club on Thursday 17^th, Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th December. West Waterford Golf Club members and numerous visitors are sure to be out in strength to lend their support to this most worthy of causes. All proceeds from the competition go to the appeal.

Quiz Night

In conjunction with the WLR Lions Club Christmas Hamper Appeal a quiz night is scheduled to take place in the Clubhouse on Friday 18^th December. All proceeds from the night will again go to the appeal.

Deise Golf Winter Opens

These competitions are Open 18-hole competitions for male and female golfers from the 9 participating Golf Clubs, handicap limits 20 for men and 30 for ladies. Entry fee at each Club will be a very attractive €15 per person. The top 5 from each week will qualify for the final in April 2010 at a Golf Club on a date to be confirmed. Overall first Prize on the Final Day: 4 Green Fees & 4 Meal Vouchers from each participating Golf Club.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

Waterford 051-876748 – 30^th Nov. to 6^th December.

Williamstown 051-853131 – 7^th to 13^th December.

There may be time limitations at some clubs.

Green Fee Voucher Books

Specially discounted Green Fee Voucher books are now available for purchase at a very attractive price and would make an ideal Christmas present to the discerning golfer.

Captain’s drive-in

The 2010 incoming Captain’s Marie Curran Michael Landers will start their year with the Captain’s drive on Sunday 20^th December at 1pm. This will be followed by the Christmas Scramble, Free 1010 Sub draw and Club lotto

Texas Hold’em Tournament

West Waterford Golf Club plays host to a Texas Hold’em Cards Tournament on Friday 4^th December. Registration takes place at 8pm with play commencing at 8.30pm, €20 to play with a €10 re-buy, all proceeds for the Brickey rangers GAA & Camogie Club.