West of Ireland

Whyner

I’m heading over to Sligo for Easter to watch the West of Ireland in The Point. We’re planning on playing Castle Dargan and Strandhill but are not sure what the best times would be? Does anyone know what time they usually tee off at? I’ve just checked the GUI site and they’re making the draw tomorrow. They said they’ve received in excess of 215 entries but do not state how many they can accept. Just want to book tee times for the opens in CD and Strandhill and want to make the most of the weekend. I’ll be down Sat morning to Monday evening. How come the comp is on for 5 days? Bit crap finishing on a Tuesday.

Anyone playing in it??

---

http://www.gui.ie/news_detail.asp?area=10&id=2444

Entries are now closed for the Irish Men's Amateur Golf season opening event of 2010 - the Radisson Blu Hotel West of Ireland Open Championship at County Sligo Golf Club over the famous championship links of Rosses Point.

The event which takes place annually over the Easter weekend shall commence on Good Friday April 2 and conclude on Easter Tuesday April 6.

In excess of 215 Entries have been received showing the enormous popularity for the event and the eagerness of all players to get going so to speak with the 2010 season. In fact this is the largest entry received for the West in the last 10 years and as is the norm the standard keeps improving annually.

The projected Handicap Cut off mark is 0.6 with a ballott of 0.6's required, this cannot be established in full until after the West of Ireland Championship Committee meeting on March 10 as their are a number of issues to be finalised regarding some possible entry exemptions in accordance with the Tournament Conditions. The Draw shall be published on Thursday March 11

Thank you to one and all who entered for the 2010 event and to those of you who do not make the starting line up, Entry Fees shall be refunded once the event has completed.

ShriekingSheet

When you're asking about tee times, is it the best players tee times your looking for? Or the best tee times for you to play yourself at the other courses?

When the draw is published tomorrow you'll get a steer here from people who know the best guys to watch. Usually the top Ireland/Provincial players are grouped more or less together in the middle of the timesheet I think.

Whyner

Yes, the best players tee times. Will be working around them.

I'm thinking we should play early in the morning then relax and watch them in the avo - but what about scoops the night before??

f22

Whyner wrote: »

I'm thinking we should play early in the morning then relax and watch them in the avo - but what about scoops the night before??

Are you a man or a mouse?

jj72

Whyner wrote: »

How come the comp is on for 5 days? Bit crap finishing on a Tuesday.

Its just always been that way. i suppose finishin on a tuesday is fine during easter. the comp normally starts on good friday which suits a lot of people been off work.....thats my guess anyways

gorfield

The draw for strokeplay now up on gui.ie

CaptainPendulum

Whyner wrote: »

I’m heading over to Sligo for Easter to watch the West of Ireland in The Point.

Have you been to the Point before?. I went last year and found behind the 6th green a good spot if you're not sure who to follow. The 7th (index 1) is right next to it and behing that is the 14th green and 15th tee box. Castle Dargan is a nice course but suffers from poor drainage IMO. Strandhill is a short but nice Links - perfect if you've had a few the night before.

f22

Heading up for a few days myself, have a few mates playing

Whyner

CaptainPendulum wrote: »

Have you been to the Point before?. I went last year and found behind the 6th green a good spot if you're not sure who to follow. The 7th (index 1) is right next to it and behing that is the 14th green and 15th tee box. Castle Dargan is a nice course but suffers from poor drainage IMO. Strandhill is a short but nice Links - perfect if you've had a few the night before.

Yeah I played it last year. Will probably just walk around and nip into the rough for a quick puke if needs be.

So who should I watch?

CaptainPendulum

Whyner wrote: »

Yeah I played it last year. Will probably just walk around and nip into the rough for a quick puke if needs be.

So who should I watch?

Ditch to the right of the 8th tee box should do the job

Whyner

gorfield wrote: »

The draw for strokeplay now up on gui.ie

Can you link it please? I can't find it.....:o

f22

Whyner wrote: »

Can you link it please? I can't find it.....:o

Draw link in right hand panel

http://www.gui.ie/championship_details.asp?id=42&area=10&type=0

Whyner

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/wests-elemental-test-separates-men-from-the-boys-2098923.html

Sunday March 14 2010
Pádraig Harrington was in far-off Miami last Wednesday, renewing familiarity with Doral's Blue Monster, when details were announced of the forthcoming 88th West of Ireland Championship, under the banner of Radisson Blu. But he was still accorded honourable mention as winner of the title in 1994, the centenary year of Co Sligo GC.

Since then, the West has continued to produce distinguished champions such as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, though it has to be said that the Holywood star was remembered with mixed feelings by two locals in particular.

"We took a hiding when he won for the first time," conceded Tom Gavin who runs the 'book' on the West with partner Dominic Rooney. This was in 2005 when, as a 15-year-old, McIlroy became the youngest winner of the title after his father, Gerry, bet €100 each-way on him at odds of 8/1.

According to Harrington, facing the generally brutal challenge of Rosses Point at Eastertime did much to shape him as the player he has become. "It instilled a determination to simply get on with it when things looked especially bleak," he said. "Finding a way to cope has since stood to me in my professional career. That's what the West did for me and I imagine it would have had a similar impact on Shane and Rory."

McIlroy triumphed again in 2006 and Lowry, after winning in 2008, was runner-up to England's David Corsby last year. With so many locals supporting the Offalyman, the occasion prompted feelings reminiscent of the quintessential English actor, Robert Morley, in the movie Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines. "The trouble with these international events," bemoaned Morley, "is that they attract so many damned foreigners."

As it happens, there will be quite a sprinkling of visiting players this year, including a German, an Australian and a strong representation from the UK. But Corsby won't be defending, having decided to turn professional.

Meanwhile, things are changing at Rosses Point. My visit coincided with glorious weather and I have never seen the course in better condition, especially the greens which are remarkable for the time of year. And looking towards next year's Home Internationals, director of golf David O'Donovan informed me of plans to extend the overall length of the course by about 85 yards, through new back tees at the first, second, fourth and 18th.

Given that the West has been held at Easter since 1931 and the US Masters starts on the Thursday of the first full week in April, the events frequently overlap. "I remember being in Rosses Point and thinking of Augusta, which we saw on TV," said Harrington. "Then, having become a regular in the Masters since 2000, there are times at Augusta when I wonder how they're getting on at Rosses Point.

"Both events are special because they mark the beginning of a new year, for amateur championships in Ireland and for the game's professional majors. And I have a great affection for both places. I grew to love everything about Rosses Point, like its cosy little pubs and wonderful village atmosphere. Though I wasn't a drinker, I could see the tremendous appeal of spending a wet, cold wintry day sitting in a pub beside an open fire and having a few quiet drinks."

Interestingly, the great English golf scribe, Pat Ward-Thomas, was similarly smitten. Having visited there, he wrote of "the eternal entertainment of Irish stories told in voices swift and liquid as a mountain stream. The miracle of bars that fill, although doors remain firmly locked; the growing enthusiasm for golf . . ."

But he never wrote about the weather, which caused Harrington to shoot 90 in his opening strokeplay round in 1989 and still qualify. "You never knew what you were going to get," he said. "Nowhere in the world have I played in wind as strong or temperatures so cold and while it wasn't good for your golf swing, it shaped you as a competitor.

"It was really intimidating to see the weather building up in the distance, out in the Atlantic. You

knew that when the showers arrived, there was no place to hide, except perhaps in a dip in the dunes.

"I remember hitting shots on the range that would come back over your head. We'd do it on purpose, probably with a nine iron. To be honest, I could no longer do the pretty decent matchplay scores I did in the conditions back then. You found a way of overcoming the wind and getting the ball up and down and holing putts."

Harrington led the qualifiers in 1994, which we had come to expect of him. And as a perennial nearly man, it wasn't a great surprise that he went four down after nine to local favourite Ken Kearney in the final. But after a magnificent rally over the back nine, he took the title by two holes, despite a birdie from Kearney on the formidable 17th.

"With my dad looking on and Tadhg (brother) caddying, I looked destined to lose," he recalled. "But in the end, it became very much the exception to some serious disappointments I had during my amateur career."

West competitors this Easter will see a life-size cut-out of Harrington in the Co Sligo locker-room, advertising FootJoy shoes. It stands as a vivid reminder of where a rather special golfing examination could eventually lead them.

Sunday Independent

jimboddb

Who do people fancy for it this year? Doran is the favourite I suppose?

Is he the best in the country by a long way now?

f22

jimboddb wrote: »

Who do people fancy for it this year? Doran is the favourite I suppose?

Is he the best in the country by a long way now?

Good player that he is he will be far from top of the betting which will probably be Paul Cutler in my opinion.

There is a wealth of Irish internationals and interprovicials in the field aswell as some really good English players.

gorfield

This is on the weekend before the west, should give a good indicaton of how the west will go...........
http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=go_type&category=SPORTS&disp_cat_id=&ev_class_id=7&ev_type_id=13082

jimboddb

Cant get into PP at work, that the odds for lee valley?!

gorfield

jimboddb wrote: »

Cant get into PP at work, that the odds for lee valley?!

Paul cutler 7/1
Dara lernihan 12/1
Alan dunbar 12/1
Cian curley 14/1
Paul dunne 16/1
Niall gorey 16/1
Des morgan 16/1
Luke lennox 18/1
Andrew hogan 18/1
Connor doran 20/1
Reeve Whitson 25/1
Chris selfridge 25/1
James monaghan 28/1

Winner should come from that group

madds

Hmm...had a look down through the draw and recognize one or two names from here. Best of luck to those involved. Do let us know how you get on. Hope "the turf stays dry and firm".

Punchbowl4

West odds up on PP now, Cutler 8/1, Dunne 11/1.

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/golf/west-of-ireland-amateur-championship

post your tips now boys!! Couple of foreign boys playing so hard to know how they'll match up to our own. Hurst has gone well the last couple of years if i remember correctly.

Forecast for the week is brutal, so it could throw up a shock winner.

f22

I'll take a punt on Dara Lernihan at 20/1 and Eoin Arthurs at 28/1 for lead qualifiers, especiallly with the horrible weather forecasted.

JCDUB

f22 wrote: »

I'll take a punt on Dara Lernihan at 20/1 and Eoin Arthurs at 28/1 for lead qualifiers, especiallly with the horrible weather forecasted.

I'm gonna take Arthurs out in Sligo the night before just to feic your bet up, he won't meed much arm twistin:cool:

f22

JCDUB wrote: »

I'm gonna take Arthurs out in Sligo the night before just to feic your bet up, he won't meed much arm twistin:cool:

I'll be down there this weekend drinking with him for feck sake JC!

Whyner

My plans for Easter:

Driving down to Sligo with some mates after work..

Playing Castle Dargan early Saturday morning then heading to Point to watch a few hours of the strokeplay. I heard they cut the rough so expect a lot of birdies.

Back to Point on Sunday morning for some matchplay before teeing off in Strandhill at 1pm. Weather has picked up, only a few showers on Sat, sunny and partly cloudy on Sun with no rain, temps have gone up also. I won’t be getting too carried away, The Point can be like standing on the Cliffs of Moher, some say they have resident winds.

Home Monday for Team Classic in home course. Monday night watch recorded Houston Open, pot of tea and golf mag. Savage.

ShriekingSheet

Whyner wrote: »

My plans for Easter:

Driving down to Sligo with some mates after work..

Playing Castle Dargan early Saturday morning then heading to Point to watch a few hours of the strokeplay. I heard they cut the rough so expect a lot of birdies.

Back to Point on Sunday morning for some matchplay before teeing off in Strandhill at 1pm. Weather has picked up, only a few showers on Sat, sunny and partly cloudy on Sun with no rain, temps have gone up also. I won’t be getting too carried away, The Point can be like standing on the Cliffs of Moher, some say they have resident winds.

Home Monday for Team Classic in home course. Monday night watch recorded Houston Open, pot of tea and golf mag. Savage.

you've got it bad man, haha!

f22

It's pissing rain and baltic down here, just aswell the bar is open!

Whyner

Deadly, get to try out the new rain gear...ah well.........we'll make the most of it. Could always go for a surf...

Mister Sifter

West of Ireland Update
Good Friday, April 2, Day 1

Well the rain has just arrived hitching a ride on the 30mph winds ripping accross the course from the East, the Temp says 7C but I'd safely say the windchill is about -1C.

Please Not the last Group left the 1st Tee at 15.20hrs (due to weather delays)

Updated at 20.35hrs, play suspended due to failing light with 9 Players remaining to finish.

Those 9 Players shall conclude their rounds at 07.45hrs;


Round 2 shall commence as scheduled from the 1st Tee at 07.45hrs.



Par 71 SSS 72

TOT
Players

70
S Mc Connell (Ballyclare)

71
R O'Donovan (Lucan)

72
N Murray (Dunmurry), R O'Sullivan (Fota Island), A Hogan (Newlands), A Dunbar (Rathmore), D Mc Elroy (Ballymena), L Lennox (Moyola Park)

73
S Mc Glynn ( South County), R Evans ( Moyola Park), T O'Flynn ( Fota Island), J Monaghan (The Island), R Bridges (Stackstown), S Ryan (The Royal Dublin)

74
R Carter (Lansdown, UK), D Morgan (Mullingar), R Whitson (Mourne), T Mc Gowan (Strandhill), M Durcan (Co. Sligo), D Coyle (Co. Louth), M Mc Ginley Jnr (Grange), M Buggy (Castlecomer)

75
R Cannon (Laytown & Bettystown), R Mc Namara (Headfort), M Mc Knight (Lisburn), L Reilly (Galgorm Castle), G Mc Dermott (Co. Sligo), N Kearns (Omagh), R Leonard (Banbridge), R Mc Carthy (The Island), R Mc Connell (Belvoir Park), R Kenny (Hermitage), J Senior (Heysham, UK), D Reilly (Westmanstown), B Anderson (Co. Sligo), A Kearney (Castlerock), S O'Hara (Co. Sligo), J Hurst (Shawhill, UK), P Cutler (Portstewart), D Lernihan (Castle)

76
D Kernohan (Galgorm Castle), M Walsh (Styal, UK), I Kettyle (Rathmore), M Shanahan (West Waterford), D Murphy (Portarlington), B Walton (The Island), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), C Brown (Royal Portrush), D Downie (Sutton), J Kerr (Robinhood, UK)

77
P Dunne (Greystones), C Doran (Banbridge), D Crowe (Dunmurry), J Fox (Portmarnock), D Coghlan (The Royal Dublin), S Crowe (Dunmurry), E Mc Cormack (Galway), D Ruddy (Thurles), J Lyons (Galway), C Abernethy ( Dun Laoghaire)

78
K Mc Donagh (Athlone), D Hallissey (Muskerry), M Sinclair (Knock), N Grant (Knock), J Martin (San Roque, Esp), T O'Connor (Athlone), G Collins (Rosslare), B Best (Rathmore), D Dunne (Co. Sligo), S Heavey (Co. Sligo), A Lynch (Royal Tara)

79
N Gorey (Lee Valley), J Greene (Carlow), D Glynn (Galway), C Fairweather (Knock), P Sheehy (Newcastle West), S Moloney (Castletroy), J Mc Intyre (City of Derry), P Balfe (Rosslare), A Kiernan (Forrest Little), R Walsh (Kilkenny)

80
M Hammond (Moyola Park), I Brennan (Greenore), A Wynne (Strandhill), K Egan (Curragh), S Barry (Laytown & Bettystown), M Eichmeier (Hochstall Hurtsfeld, Ger), P Sheehan (Ballybunion), A Kelly (Charleville), C Curley (Newlands), D O'Donovan (Muskerry)

81
A Harty (West Waterford), S Barry (Lee Valley), D Mallon (Dungannon), C Lavery (Rossmore), K Kennedy (Thurles), D Barry (Mahon), S Paul (Tandragee), C Drumm (Rosslare), J Mc Ginn (Laytown & Bettystown), G Lawlor (Newbridge), G Kelly (Co. Louth/UCD)

82
J Dillon (Headfort), D Coyne (Tuam), C Campbell (Warrenpoint), G Mc Grane (The Royal Dublin), G Carew (Edenderry), W Telford (Rathmore)

83
P Murray (Limerick), D King (Tramore), S Cannon (Athenry), D Scully (Galway), B Campbell (Malone), R Weldon (Killeen Castle)

84
G Mc Kenna (Fortwilliam), G Dillon (The Heath), S Doherty (Malone), D O'Sullivan (Strandhill), J Keating (Fota Island), J Patterson (Knock), J Foran (Thurles), C O'Sullivan (Fota Island), C Martin (Kilkenny), R Mc Lister (Cardiff, Wal), M Horan (Birr)

85
L Burns ( Sundridge Park, UK), D Callister ( Mount Murray, IoM)

86
A Mc Cormick (Scrabo), D Lally (Mullingar)

87
G Leahy ( Okeeheelee, USA)

89
D O'Connor (Athlone)




NR
S Brady (Co. Sligo)

Mister Sifter

Madds, is that the same R O'Donovan that won the youths earlier in the week?

f22

Mister Sifter wrote: »

Madds, is that the same R O'Donovan that won the youths earlier in the week?

That's him alright

madds

It is. Here's an interview with him and others from the West of Ireland Podcast Series.

He went out in 3 over and back in 3 under.

Sheet - good score from a fellow SC member there (S McGlynn).

madds

Day 2 scores here.

Great shooting from Hogan of Newlands. Pity the poor Spaniard who was disqualified/pulled out after his first round 78. Anyone see what happened on Shot Tracker??

neckedit

.

Sheet - good score from a fellow SC member there (S McGlynn).[/QUOTE]

I'd say they've played a bit together:p I.ve had a few games with Shane in the past, good player, hits it loooooonnnnnnng too. hope he can keep it going.

madds

neckedit wrote: »

I'd say they've played a bit together:p I.ve had a few games with Shane in the past, good player, hits it loooooonnnnnnng too. hope he can keep it going.

Had a feeling 'twas him alright.

thegen

Anyone know what time the draw is at tonight?

madds

GUI site said there were 24 players still on the source at 18.55 so it won't be before 7:30pm.

Blunder

Great round From Pat Murray too. 68 today.

Whyner

Our first viewing session included some lad taking a 9 on the 14th (4 hacks from the rough) and another lad hitting 7 off the tee on the 15th, yes 7.

Some pictures from a sunny Saturday. Just created the account so hope it's alright.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/71189868@N00/sets/72157623777010880/

madds

Some smashing photos there Whyner. I've never played Rosses (I know, the shame of it) but it looks fantastic. I noticed in one of the pics someone putting from 10 yards short of the green...I'd say that's the order of the day on a lot of holes with a stiff breeze behind you.

scrubber72

coverage on twitter countysligogc. Pretty up to the minute coverage too

Whyner

madds wrote: »

Some smashing photos there Whyner. I've never played Rosses (I know, the shame of it) but it looks fantastic. I noticed in one of the pics someone putting from 10 yards short of the green...I'd say that's the order of the day on a lot of holes with a stiff breeze behind you.

Cheers, wish I took more. I could have taken some cool shots if I knew what I was doing and had more time. Those swings would look good anywhere. We actually didn't get to see as much as we wanted. Next year we're going to rent a gaf for 6 days and watch the lot,especially the last 2 days. I love it over there. We planned on watching a few hours yesterday morning but it was lashing...

Not sure about the breeze and the putter, I think that's clever links play regardless of any wind.

Yeah The Point is class and only €550 for the year :eek:

f22

Saw a young guy down there, Jeff Hopkins from Skerries who was beaten in the quarter finals. Fine young player who was a monster off the tee.

For example he hit driver / 9 iron into the par 5 third, measuring 483m.

On the par 4 17th (414m), he landed his drive 35 yards clean over the gap, leaving a wedge in for his second.

He had other players and spectators shaking their heads on the third when they saw his ball landing. I think he's only 17 or so, and although he's a good player now, I can only imagine what he will be capable of in a couple of years time.