Killarney Advertiser - Golf Feature 2018

GOLFING KINGDOM 2018

Celebrating 125 Years in 2018 Now taking Society bookings with green fees available from just €35.

Limited membership also available.

For information on our membership offers and green fee rates, visit our website.

Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, Killarney, Co. Kerry Tel: +353 64 6631034 Fax: +353 64 6633065 Email: reservations@killarneygolfclub.ie Website: www.killarneygolfclub.ie

Year Of Growth For Killarney Golf & Fishing Club

Killarney has often been described as a golfer’s paradise and Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, located in the surroundings of unrivalled lake and mountain scenery, is certainly one of the jewels of Irish golf. The club has enjoyed many exciting developments over the past 12 months and it continues to make huge strides forward in terms of course presentation and upgrades to its facilities.

Last season saw the club enjoy a very successful season with growth in both Membership Subscriptions and Green Fee revenue. The courses are presenting better than ever before, and the club has received great feedback from members and guests alike. Significant improvements have been made within the club and the most recent project undertaken saw the continuation of a natural stone wall around the 1st green complex, and a re-design of the 1st green on Killeen. In addition to the enhanced aesthetics resulting from the job, there is also a practical element to the project which will offer better protection during flooding in the years to come. The green is expected to be fully in play by May 2018. Many more investments on course projects such as some bunker re-modelling on Mahony’s Point and a re-design of the 6th green on Killeen are also planned.

Killarney Golf & Fishing Club is proud to be the home of the current All-Ireland Ladies Senior Cup & All-Ireland Senior Foursomes Champions – the first time in the history

of the ILGU that this feat was achieved.

The teams will be honoured on February 2 at the Kerry Sports Star Awards for their historic achievements. In addition, club member Mairead Martin will also receive an individual award for her outstanding achievements on the international stage.

2018 is a significant year for the club as it celebrates its 125th anniversary and a number of events have been planned to celebrate this milestone throughout the year. The club have welcomed new caterers recently in the form of local husband and wife team, David and Geraldine McCarthy.

In addition to the Clubhouse bar menu, daily specials are also available. The team at the club can also cater for groups of all sizes and budgets. For those looking to improve their golf game in 2018, the club’s Head Professional, David Keating, offers world-class tuition and club fitting. Individual and group lessons are available at the club seven days a week. Killarney Golf & Fishing Club currently has a number of membership options, all of which offer superb value for money. Membership benefits include the full use of the clubhouse gym and sauna, as well as discounts on bar and Pro Shop purchases. Members can also avail of significantly reduced green fees for their golfing guests in addition to complimentary green fees at Fota Island Golf Club. For further information, contact the club on 064 6631034 or email reservations@killarneygolfclub.ie

GOLFING KINGDOM 2018

Tuesday 24th - Friday 27th April 2018

Thursday 14th - Saturday 16th June 2018

Thursday 19th - Saturday 21st July 2018

Thursday 23rd - Saturday 25th August 2018

BALLYBUNION OLD & CASHEN COURSE DOOKS GOLF LINKS & TRALEE GOLF LINKS

WOODBROOK GOLF CLUB, POWERSCOURT EAST & POWERSCOURT WEST

NARIN & PORTNOO, DONEGAL GOLF CLUB & PORTSALON GOLF CLUB

ENNISCRONE GOLF LINKS (2 ROUNDS) & CARNE GOLF LINKS

• GOLF ONLY - €335 per person / €670 per Team of 2 • PLAY & STAY - €575pps (4 nights’ B&B & Prize Giving Dinner)

• GOLF ONLY - €149 per person / €298 per Team of 2 • PLAY & STAY - €384pps (4 nights’ B&B at Parkview Hotel)

• GOLF ONLY - €169 per person / €338 per Team of 2 • PLAY & STAY - €399pps (4 nights’ B&B at Radisson BLU Letterkenny)

• Other packages available on request

• Other packages available on request

• Other packages available on request

• GOLF ONLY - €165 per person / €330 per Team of 2 • PLAY & STAY - €385pps (4 nights’ B&B & Prize Giving Dinner at Hotel Ballina) • Other packages available on request

Experience Ireland Travel Rockfield, Tralee Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland • T: +353 64 66 22830 • E: info@experienceirelandgolfandtravel.com

GOLFING KINGDOM 2018

Experience Ireland Golf & Travel Launch Their “4 Majors” Killarney based Experience Ireland Golf & Travel will stage 4 Tournaments this year – The Social Media Open in April; Social Media Parkland Championship in June; Social Media Open North in July & The Social Media Links Challenge in August.

The Social Media Open will take place at Ballybunion Old & Cashen Course, Dooks Golf Links & Tralee Golf Links from Tuesday 24th – Friday 27th April with accommodation available in Ballybunion and Killarney on their Play & Stay packages. This will be the 6th playing of this Tournament which played host to 160 golfers from all over the World in 2017 and expect more of the same this year!

Woodbrook, Powerscourt East & West will be the venues for The Inaugural Social Media Parkland Championship which takes place from Thursday 14th – Saturday 16th June. Play & Stay packages available with accommodation at the Parkview Hotel in Newtownmountkennedy.

The delightful Donegal links courses of

Narin & Portnoo, Donegal Golf Club and Portsalon Golf Club will be the venues for The Inaugural Social Media Open North from Thursday 19th – Saturday 21st July. Play & Stay packages available with accommodation at the Radisson BLU in Letterkenny.

The final “Major” for Experience Ireland will take the form of The Social Media Links Challenge which will be celebrating its 5th Anniversary Tournament from Thursday 23rd – Saturday 25th August. This year’s Tournament will take in 1 round at Carne Golf Links and 2 rounds at Enniscrone Golf Links. Accommodation will be available at the Great National Hotel Ballina as part of the Play & Stay packages.

If you would like to enter any of Experience Ireland’s Tournaments this year please contact Tom Kennedy – tom@ experienceirelandgolfandtravel.com, +353-87-6453537. Of course if you have any Golf, Sightseeing or Luxury Chauffeur Tours in mind in Ireland or further afield drop us a line and let us quote you happy!

Beaufort’s Unique ‘Points For Golf’ Membership Option Beaufort Golf Club is a beautiful 18 hole parkland golf course set at the foot of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, just outside Beaufort Village.

Manager Helen Clifford and her staff take great pride in providing a top class service with a local feel. Helen runs and maintains the Golf Course with her husband Tadgh, who keeps the course in incredible shape all year round. Beaufort has been reviewed on Trip Advisor as the ‘hidden gem’ in Kerry Golf, such is the beauty that surrounds it and the challenge and condition of the course.

Beaufort offers a unique membership option in its ‘Points for Golf’. As a member you can pay €250 and receive

points. Every time you play you will have points deducted from your total points balance. This type of membership allows you to get an official handicap and even use your points to bring a guest, compete in Club Competitions and have your official GUI/ILGU Handicap maintained by Beaufort Golf Club.

This option suits people who love to play golf but don’t have the time to enjoy it as much as they would like or for people who might like to start playing golf and don’t want to pay full fees until they are sure that they are taking it up full time. You can top up your points at any time during the year should you use them quicker than you anticipated.

Playing Golf In The Cold: 5 Smart Tips There are some days when we just don’t feel like braving the elements but golfing in the cold doesn’t have to be a chore. Follow our advice and you’ll keep nice and toasty while enjoying a pleasant round of your favourite game in the process.

1. Come prepared There’s nothing worse than getting out on the course and realising you’ve forgotten your hat, or gloves, or jacket. Before teeing off, make sure you have everything you need to get through your

round in comfort. With our Irish weather, you have to be prepared for every possible eventuality.

2. Manage your expectations When the temperatures dip, no matter how good you are or how well you’ve been playing, you probably won’t be breaking any course records. As long as you accept that beforehand, the round will be far more enjoyable.

3. Use a softer ball A soft-covered ball won’t travel as far but it will give you a little extra feel which is crucial in cold condi-

tions.

4. Take an extra club In general, your shots aren’t going to travel the normal distance when it’s very cold. If you hit 9 iron from 120 yards, opt for an 8 iron instead.

5. Leave the cart at the clubhouse It might seem a bit counterintuitive as you will need to stay outside for longer, but walking around will get your blood flowing and keep you (relatively) warm throughout your round. It’s good exercise too!

GOLFING KINGDOM 2018

2018 MEMBERSHIP RATES • Gents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . €375 + GUI levy • Ladies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . €300 all inclusive • New Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€250 • Away Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€225 • Mon – Fri Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€225 • Husband & Wife Membership. . . . . . . . . .€600 • Junior Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . €50

GOLFING KINGDOM 2018

Dooks Dancing Into New Era For The Club In March of 2016, the ladies section at Dooks Golf Club, Co. Kerry boasted just 10 ladies under the age of sixty and, as active members were diminishing at an alarming rate, were struggling to field inter-club teams.

This is according to Kay Woods who, in her Lady Captain’s year, decided to take on the task of beginning to rebuild a sustainable ladies club.

The CGI Ladies Get Into Golf programme was a “life-saver” as it gave some structure and guidance to the process.

“We were in dire straits here in the club with no young members really to speak of,” explained Kay. “The young members we did have got involved, especially Caroline Breen, our youngest playing member, and helped to spread the word through social media and their friends about the six-week programme we were going to run.”

The online activity enticed 62 to attend the first taster session and then the sixweek programme of lessons and oncourse activities began.

“Without the Get Into Golf programme I

The idyllic Ross Golf Course is a 9-hole parkland course designed and built within and around Killarney Racecourse.

This unique setting takes in the breath-taking views of the beautiful Killarney National Park, Ross Castle, Killarney Lakes and MacGillycuddy’s Reeks.

The rich parkland available for this project ensured the design and creation of a top class 9-hole golf course. This 6,514yard course extends beyond the confines of the racetrack where an abundance of existing trees were carefully incorporated into the design, making for a challenging but ultimately fair

really don’t think we would have a ladies club now. The programme was great but we wanted to provide a follow-on to integrate the new members into the club after the six weeks.”

So, Strictly Come Golfing, an autumn to winter league where new members were “partnered” with existing members to practice and play as a foursomes pair, was born. The culmination of the set was a shotgun start followed by music and entertainment where the ladies could really swap their golf shoes for dancing ones!

“We always wanted to make sure the new members were involved and integrated in the club,” said Kay. “Most have young families or are working but we always encouraged them to play some golf - and make sure they had some time for a coffee or a drink with their playing partners!”

Two years on and Dooks ladies club has grown with 42 taking up some form of membership, while the average age has decreased significantly. There’s certainly a bright future ahead for the club.

Ross Golf Course round of golf.

Just a five-minute stroll from the town centre, we open every day from 8am during the summer months offering casual green fees with no booking required.

Forget to bring your clubs?

Don’t worry, we’ve got everything you need available to hire from our warm & welcoming clubhouse.

Ross Golf Course is affiliated with the Golfing Union of Ireland and is widely regarded as one of the best 9-hole courses in the country. Experience a truly unique round of golf set against the backdrop of the world famous Killarney scenery.

6 Ways To Improve Your Game In 2018 Golf can be a frustrating sport for everyone, even the best players in the world, but just a few simple adjustments could lead to drastic improvements in your game. Follow these simple tips and 2018 could be the year that you finally reach your potential.

1. Join a club Becoming a member of one of Killarney’s many wonderful golf clubs will not only save you money on green fees, it will also encourage you to play more. Spending more time on the course and on the range will give you the opportunity to get to know your game and highlight any issues you might be having, allowing you to focus on certain areas and make adjustments.

2. Take lessons If you’re unhappy with an element of your game, ask for help. You could be tinkering with your swing for years but it might take a professional ten seconds to identify a problem and suggest a solution.

3. Leave your comfort zone We all have our favourite courses, clubs and shot types but sometimes we can become two comfortable with the norm. Try something new. If you always lay up on a certain hole, decide one morning that you’re going to go for it. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

4. Don’t dwell on mistakes Mistakes are bound to happen, the important thing is how we react. All the best golfers have the abili-

ty to forget that missed putt or shanked drive. You can’t change the past so focus on the next shot.

5. Exercise Golf hasn’t always been considered an athlete’s game but if you look at the new brand of players dominating the professional game, they’re a far cry from the likes of John Daly and Colin Montgomerie. Working out will improve your strength and stamina, while also improving your psychological well-being in the process.

6. Practice, practice, practice In the words of legendary South African golfer Gary Player, “the more I practice, the luckier I get.”

Get out on the course, work on your game and have some fun.