Royal Dublin Mail

Royal Dublin Mail Volume 2, Number 3. December 2009.

Walker Cup star Niall Kearney’s performance at the Walker Cup announced his arrival on the international stage.

Niall is pictured with his proud parents, Fiona and Joe, at the Merion Club in September.

Royal Dublin Mail Message from the Captain

Joy…and sorrow… in our golfing lives Since I wrote in our last newsletter in July, we have experienced the full range of emotions here in Dollymount. Our sadness at the loss of Larry Gunning was great and fully in proportion to the enormous contribution he made to Royal Dublin. Larry Gunning was one of our greatest ever members and because of his work at every level, he ranks with the likes of John Lumsden and Plunkett Barton in the history of our club.

Stephen Ryan has written an excellent tribute to Larry in this edition (p12) which I commend to you.

Our hearts may have been heavy but Larry would have been proud of how they were lifted by Niall Kearney, a young man carrying the colours of Great Britain and Ireland on his back, at the Walker Cup. We, and our friends at Corrstown Golf Club, have known of Niall’s great talent for many years, but I believe he emerged as an international golfing star at the Walker Cup. His performance in the face of a hugely talented US team, playing on their home patch, filled all of us with great pride. As we go to print, he is at an advanced stage in his attempt to qualify as a professional

golfer on the European Tour in 2010.

He knows he carries the great good wishes of all of us in his endeavours.

If Niall Kearney is an emerging star, then Christy finally received the sort of recognition in the USA that he has enjoyed on this side of the Atlantic for decades. His inauguration into the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida in November also lifted our hearts. It was a worthy and fitting tribute to a man who has been a distinguished ambassador for our Club since 1959.

As my year of Captaincy draws to a close, I want to thank the many people who helped to make it such an enjoyable experience. Chief amongst these are my wife Mary and family. Also, all the members of the Committee and staff who put in such hard work in what was a demanding year on several levels. I hope that you the members realise the volume of work that is carried out on your behalf so that you can enjoy well run competitions on a great course, followed by excellent hospitality and social occasions in a fine clubhouse. In particular, I want to say how happy I was to see us get our Cadet Programme up

Contents 2

Juniors/Intermediates

Big year ahead

3

Christy inaugurated

10

Captain’s Dinner

4

Social diary and report

11

Competition winners

6

A tribute to Larry (right) 12

Page 2

Sean McKeon, Captain.

Produced by Think Media

Message from the Captain

Cover photograph courtesy of the Kearney family.

and running – it will stand the Club in great stead in coming years.

Finally, I want to thank all of you for your great kindness and courtesy to me.

It has been exceptional. I congratulate David Kennedy on his nomination as Captain for our 125th anniversary year of 2010 and ask only that you will extend the same support to David as you did to me.

8

Royal Dublin Mail Anniversary

Big year ahead The Anniversary 125 (A125) Sub-Committee, under the chairmanship of past Captain, Brendan Fitzgerald, submitted its findings to the Committee and its proposals to celebrate the 125th anniversary of our Club have been adopted. The main programme highlights are set out below.

The golfing programme

The social programme

(i) Raising of the A125 Flag January 1, 2010. This will take place following the Captain’s drive-in.

This has been developed to co-ordinate with the golf programme and is mainly concerned with the A125 weekend celebrations.

The highlight is the Gala dinner (black tie) for up to 400 persons on Saturday August 28. Drinks reception upstairs, with entertainment. Gala Dinner in restaurant and adjoining marquee, with outside caterers. Entertainment by Paddy Cole and his band.

(ii) Founder’s Day Competition Our Club was founded by Sir John Lumsden on May 5, 1885 and this will be commemorated by a Founder’s Day Competition on Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Prizes will be presented at a Founder’s Day function that night. It is also envisaged that the Lumsden Putter competition should be held on Founder’s Day and that the prize might be a hickory shafted, very traditional type putter, suitably engraved. (iii) Monthly Medals and Medal Final The monthly medals in all classes will be based on one of the oldest medal types known to the Club and will be embossed with a special A125 logo. A Medal Finals Competition will be re-introduced for this special year, with prizes based on the A125 logo theme. (iv) A125 Club Champions It has been decided that there should be: an A125 Club Singles Champion; A125 Club Foursomes Champions; and A125 Club Fourball Champions. (v) Weekend of A125 Celebrations This is fixed for the last weekend in August in order to avoid a very crowded May and June period as well as the holiday season. The highlight of the weekend will be the Saturday Competition, with invited guests, followed by a Gala Dinner on Saturday evening.

The Gala Dinner will be based at the Club and, in order to provide the opportunity for a wide cross-section of members to attend, it recommends that a marquee be used, which would allow a total of 400 guests (split 150 in dining room and 250 in marquee) to attend.

The A125 Weekend of Golf will consist of: ■ Thursday, August 26 – Fun Day – Team Event: 9 holes afternoon.

■ Friday, August 27 – Team Event: Members and invited guests (spouses, partners and relatives). Shotgun start at 2pm. Morning shotgun start at 9am, if required.

■ Saturday, August 28 – A125 Competition: Fourball stableford, members and officially invited guests from other clubs. Tee open all day until 3pm.

■ Sunday, August 29 – Junior and Mixed Day: Junior Competition, 14 holes, tee time 9.30 – 11.30. Mixed Competition, 14 holes, 3pm tee-off.

Shotgun start. (vi) Lowering of A125 Flag 31st December 2010, followed by New Year’s Eve dinner.

Self funding celebration The celebrations will be self-financing as it was considered that no extra financial burden could be placed on the Club in the current climate. We are grateful to sponsors who have agreed to provide support for the weekend of celebrations. More details will be announced at a later date.

A special logo or crest will be used to reflect the A125 year. A simple change to the current logo is recommended and is shown at the top of this report.

Clothing Leonard Owens has agreed to stock A125 clothing, which would be specific to the anniversary year, at no extra cost to the Club.

These items will be on sale for Christmas 2009, and will be unveiled by the Captain on the night of the Leonard Owens Hamper Competition.

Call for support Our nominee for Captain in 2010, David Kennedy, has called on all members to support the Club in our special anniversary year. “The programme of celebrations has been deemed by the Committee to be proportionate for a 125th Anniversary, to be cost-effective, to extend to and embrace the widest cross-section of members, to achieve a good balance between golf and social activities and, most of all, to give our members the opportunity to enjoy our 125th birthday in a manner and style befitting our great Club. I ask all members to support the Club during the year and to enjoy the celebrations fully.”

Page 3

Royal Dublin Mail

Captain’s Dinner 2009 November 14, 2009 was a big night for the Club and a great night for this year’s Captain, Sean McKeon, as he welcomed members and guests from home and abroad to his Captain’s Dinner.

Owen O’Connor caught the moments.

Top left: last year’s Captain, David McConnell, entertains the Captain of St Anne’s G.C., Pat Furness (left) and the Captain of Royal Blackheath G.C., Hugh W. Douglas.

Top right: the Captain pauses for a picture with his sons, Brian and John, and son-in-law, Julian Ritchie, before entering the Dining Room.

Far left: our 2006 Captain, Martin Kennedy, with the Captain of Royal Portrush G.C., Dr. Alan Ritchie.

Left: awaiting the arrival of the Captain: good friends Ray McGovern and Garvan Evans.

Above: Toasting the guests: Liam Bergin always had a way with words…and golf balls.

Right: past Captain, Liam Meaney with pals Roy Bradley and Michael Downey.

Page 4

Royal Dublin Mail

Below: the Captain of Portmarnock, Brendan Cashell, and members enjoy the speeches.

Below: Trustee, past President, and past Captain of Royal Dublin, Frank McDevitt with the Captain of Sutton G.C., Billy Quinn.

Below: the President of the Golfing Union of Ireland, P.J. Collins, replies on behalf of the guests.

Above left: Pearse McKiernan and Malcolm Campbell share a word.

Above right: Peter Finnegan and Dick Priestman enjoy a moment.

Right: ready for their close up: Des Quigley and Dick Mitchell.

Page 5

Royal Dublin Mail

Winners claim the spoils with great skill There were many outstanding performances over the links in recent months, only some of which can be recounted here.

The golf season came to a momentous climax in mid-October when the final competitions of the year took place.

These followed a highly successful Finals Day in late September when the majority of club matchplay competitions were decided.

Paul O’Halloran is Champion Golfer of the Year Pride of place in the club rightly goes to the Golfer of the Year. Played over 15 tournaments, the best eight scores (measured against the CSS of the day) of each member count. Despite the fact that the leaders compete over a par of 576 (eight rounds of 72), margins are very tight and there is no hiding place for any golfer. In the final five weeks or so, there was a good battle emerging for the title.

Mick Chambers was the front runner, but Darragh O’Malley and Paul O’Halloran had some high scores to potentially discard. On the final day (President’s Prize and very windy) it took a score of 33 points from Paul to clinch the title by a shot from Darragh.

Commenting Paul said: “Although I have won the GOY on two previous occasions, this one is very special as I now have the hat-trick and join Alan Higgins in that previously exclusive club. The silver salvers marking the achievements are proudly displayed in my home. I also want to say that Darragh was a true sporting gentleman and congratulated me, despite his personal disappointment, on the first possible occasion after the result. It was exactly in the spirit of our club.” Interestingly, Paul’s eight counting scores ranged in the narrow band from 32 points to the 37 points with which he claimed runners-up spot in the Captain’s Prize.

Page 6

Darragh O’Malley is Healy Cup winner

Tom Higgins claims President’s Prize

If Darragh was disappointed, as he had a right to be, he too claimed one of the Club’s coveted majors when he played superbly on Finals Day to beat Barry Dillon in the final of the singles matchplay championship, the Healy Cup. Darragh can reflect on a superb season that included a spectacular net 66 in the June Medal which beat the competition scratch of the day by a whopping 11 shots. Darragh’s contribution to the club this year included an excellent win in his Barton Cup match (sadly we did not win the tie) and a management role with the Metropolitan Cup team.

If there was a prize for the most popular winner of the year, it would surely have gone to the man who claimed the other major club championship this year, the President’s Prize. Tom Higgins shares with our President Leo Booth a current challenge to his health, but he showed no signs of that when he swept to victory with a fabulous 40 points. He saw off a brace of committee members to claim his win: Eamonn McHugh was runner-up with 38 points; and, Paddy Ryan was third with 37 points.

The Captain congratulates Paul O’Halloran on his achievement of being 2009 Golfer of the Year.

Niall Lavin shoots record, wins Cup and plays with Bernhard Langer If winning the Phoenix Trophy wasn’t enough for long-time low handicap player Niall Lavin, then claiming the new record for the medal

Royal Dublin Mail

The singles matchplay champion, Darragh O’Malley, receives the Healy Cup from the Captain, watched by Tournament Convenor, Mick Dinneen.

(white tees) course should satisfy his ambition. His gross 66 off a handicap of 2 gave him a fantastic 44 points.

Some sympathy has to be reserved, though, for Mark Murnane. Coming off a string of decent performances, Mark shot a gross 71 off his handicap of 5 for 42 points. Still great play even if he didn’t claim the Phoenix Trophy.

Niall Lavin wasn’t quite finished with silverware for his weekend though. The day after his course record was Finals Day and playing in the final of the Ashbourne Cup, Niall defeated the ever-competitive Brendan O’Malley.

Given that Niall also managed to qualify for and play in the Seniors British Open at Wentworth this year, and that he got to play a practice round there with his all-time golfing hero, Bernhard Langer, it’s safe to say that 2009 has been very special for Niall.

Niall Lavin receives the Ashbourne Cup the day after shooting a course record to claim the Phoenix Trophy.

on the board, lending further weight to the importance of the cups and recognition to the achievements of those who had won through to that stage.

A dinner and presentation to all the participants was presided over by the Captain who rightly praised the Tournament Committee for their initiative and their hard work.

Peter’s double tops Peter Early had an excellent year in the cups. He won the Buff’s Prize with Michael Chambers and the Bull Cup with Paul O’Grady. Speaking at the

presentation of prizes he mentioned how special it was to win the Buff’s this year as it was always known as Larry’s (Gunning) Prize.

Finals Day The re-introduction of a Finals Day to the club in September gave a great sense of occasion to those members who had succeeded in reaching a cup final. The final matches, the players, and the times were all posted

Peter Early speaking after receiving both the Buff’s Prize and the Bull Cup.

Page 7

Royal Dublin Mail

Winners all Conor Glavey took the big prize at the conclusion of a terrific year for juniors and intermediates at Royal Dublin.

Conor Glavey took the Captain’s Prize for the second time in three years.

The juniors and intermediates were blessed with that rarity in 2009, a beautiful day, for their Captain’s Prize in September. It was the climax of a fantastic year’s golf. As usual, the Club has a variety of younger members in various stages of progression in their golf.

It was notable though that Niall Kearney took time out from his packed schedule to participate and registered a win in the Mulholland Trophy. Our home winner of the Lumsden Cup, David O’Beirne, also collected further silverware this year with his win in the President’s Prize to juniors and intermediates.

Two of the younger junior members also collected coveted prizes: Conor Lavin took the Jauncey Trophy for the Golfer of the Year, while the ever-smiling Rob Keogh received the Condon Trophy for the Most Improved Junior. And, for the record, the first-running of the McDevitt Trophy was won by Andrew Cloonan who was ably partnered by Mark Murnane, taking victory in the final over Sean Ryan and Niall Terry.

Our former international player, Neil O’Briain, came home from America and was playing well towards the end of the season, while there was excellent news when Jack Hutchinson was brought into the GUI’s Leinster U15 development squad.

Page 8

Future in good hands The ‘big one’ though is the Captain’s Prize and it was Conor Glavey who topped off his strong season by holding off the challenge of Paul Fitzgerald and Neil O’Briain to win his second Captain’s Prize to Juniors and Intermediates in three years.

Conor is very popular with his fellow members and travelled out to America, along with Barry Fennelly, to support their good pal and former classmate, Niall Kearney at the Walker Cup. Speaking after receiving the Booth Trophy which is awarded to the winner, he said how much seeing Niall play so well had inspired him.

He also very graciously remembered Larry

Gunning and Tommy Rothwell and the work they had done over the years in the Club. In his remarks the Captain said that he had been watching the juniors and intermediates at close hand all year and that, as a result, he knows the future of the Club is in good hands. He paid tribute to the great behaviour, terrific attitude and skilled play of the juniors and intermediates.

Sean concluded by saying that enormous credit is due to Peter Duff and his very able committee, including John Bergin, John Lally, Peter Early, Rea Ryan and Ger Ennis for their hard work throughout the year.

Royal Dublin Mail

Cadets take first steps The new Cadet Programme took place this summer.

The Junior Committee made an inspired choice when they appointed Neil O’Brien and Gary Keogh to set up and run the first ever Cadet Programme in Royal Dublin. This programme has two aims: to introduce sons of members in the 8–12 age bracket to golf in a fun way; and, to develop these boys’s skills so that they are prepared properly for golf when they attain junior membership. Neil and Gary had no template with which to work. They devised an excellent structure allowing the boys to be taken in reasonably small groups through a half hour of instruction by our assistant professionals, Philip McLaughlin and Paddy Devine, and a half hour of fun games and drills on the practice putting green. A series of these nights over the summer culminated in the boys getting their first taste of the course in a four hole scramble competition, followed by a burger and chips meal in the Moran Room. It was a great success with the boys, though slightly shy at first, getting to know each other and developing their skills at the same time.

While there is a premium put on giving all boys the basics of the game, it was immediately apparent that there are boys who have the potential to be vey talented at golf. Hopefully, the Cadet Programme will encourage all boys to develop a love for the game.

Top: on the first tee on Captain’s Day with the Captain were, from left: Shane Gaffney; Andy Ryan; Rea Ryan; Jonathan Lally; Peter Duff; and John Lally.

Middle above: Golfer of the Year Conor Lavin receives his prize.

Above: Rob Keogh was the Most Improved Junior of the Year.

Far left: the Captain presents Peter Cloonan with his prize for winning the Gunning Trophy, watched by Junior Sub-Committee member, John Bergin.

Left: the winning team in the Eamon O Coine Memorial Trophy receive the Trophy made up of Martin Cook’s medals, from left: Daniel Bergin; Sean McCullagh; and Shane Finnegan.

At the presentation after the conclusion of the first ever Royal Dublin Cadet Programme.

Top: the Captain with from left, back row: Grellan Murray; Gary Keogh; Conor Shaw; and Neil O’Brien. Front: Cadet Programme participants: Lorenzo O’Brien; Stephen Keogh; and, Liam Shaw.

Middle: the Captain with from left, back row: Conor Dalgleish, Liam Booth, and Peter Early.

Front: Cadet Programme participants: Luke Dalgleish; Jody Booth; and, David Early.

Bottom: proud grandfather: the Captain with from left, back row: Paul Murray; and Brian McKeon.

Cadet Programme participants: James O’Connor; Niall Murray; and, Pearce McKeon.

Page 9

Royal Dublin Mail

Christy’s great accolade Our own Christy O’Connor (Senior, ‘Himself’) received international recognition from his peers in November with his inauguration into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Here’s a few reminders of his glory days.

The door to Christy’s locker at the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Christy in his prime.

At the inauguration event in Florida were (from left) Dermot Sherlock; Christy Jnr; Christy Senior’s daughter Marguerite; and the Captain.

Christy signs for a 65 at The Open in Royal Lytham & St Anne’s.

The master at home in Clontarf.

Busy greens programme John McGreevy reports on a full schedule of works on the links for winter.

The links staff have a comprehensive programme of work to complete over the winter.

Some of that work is: ■ repair and reshape some bunkers and their surrounds; ■ reducing the height of gorse; ■ enlarged planting of gorse; ■ making paths to enable both the cutting of the gorse and the finding of golf balls;

Page 10

■ cutting the rough and collecting the grass; ■ scarifying these areas to reduce the unwanted grass species; ■ seeding weaker areas on pathways and patching worn areas with new sodding; ■ building a new winter tee on the 12th; ■ raising the blue tee on the 5th; ■ reshaping and levelling the lower tee on the 14th; ■ pipe the drain on the 15th between the

two bridges and form a new pathway; ■ install a new path to the right side of the 6th green; and, ■ tidy and cut the lower branches of trees that hinder play.

This winter programme work will include normal winter maintenance and various works that prepare the course for the following spring. As usual, mats will be in use in January and February.

Royal Dublin Mail

New look for our friendly staff Many of you will have noticed the new classic black and white uniform introduced by Jim Hoare on the occasion of the Captain’s dinner. It features a discreet club logo embossed on the cuff of the new crisp white shirts and on the pocket of the new bistro apron. It’s a nice change from the former all black attire.

The cuff and apron logos on the new staff uniform.

Ecumenical service

Hog tau

Deceased members were remembered at the ecumenical service which returned this year, although in a new venue – the Sacred Heart Residence on Sybil Hill.

Ronan Collins Night After a delicious meal, members and guests danced to the sound of The Ronan Collins Big Band on Saturday November 21. Over 140 people partied well into the early hours. Deci Nolan’s idea to move the function from the dining room to upstairs proved a great success with diners who got to see the club in different light.

Seventeen teams took part in a pre-South Africa rugby international golf day on Friday November 27, which was followed by a very popular spit roast, which is known as hog tau.

Financial report

Catering survey

Members have already received their Annual Report which contains the full details of the accounts for the Club. Despite the very difficult economic climate, the Club has recorded a surplus of €87,000. This compares with a loss last year of €54,000 and a target surplus for this year of €25,000. Members may also be reassured by the fact that there was a reduction of €860,00 in Club’s loan balance. All details are in the Annual Report and the Honorary Treasurer, Kieran Howard, will be making his usual report to the Annual General Meeting.

There are plans for a survey of members to update the Committee and staff on members’ needs. Please make sure to complete it fully when it comes you way.

Social calendar

Santa comes to RDGC

Events in the Royal Dublin calendar for the rest of the year : December 3

:

Larry Gunning Ladies Party

December 5

:

Presentation of Prizes and Dinner

December 8

:

Nevin Maguire Cookery Demo

December 12

:

Candlelit Dinner

December 13

:

Santa Claus comes to Royal Dublin and magician Joe Daly

December 19

:

Fran O’Brien night

Sunday 13th sees the great man himself coming to Royal Dublin. There will be a magician on the day to amaze and delight all. Parents should contact Jim Hoare or Deci Nolan before Friday December 11th for full arrangements.

Page 11

Royal Dublin Mail

Larry Gunning 1918-2009 He ranks amongst the greatest of our members and we lost him this summer.

Owen O’Connor’s touching black and white portrait with Larry wearing, proudly, his 1967 Captain’s jacket.

I bumped into Larry in early September while I was chucking a few cases of wine into the back of the car for the annual fishing trip to Bangor Erris. We chatted away about all manner of things, me finishing up saying that I was unlikely to catch any salmon during the week’s fishing.

“Bit like your golf,” he said with a grin, “not many birdies.” And as he sauntered off, he turned to face me and, with a complete look of rascality said, “actually – not may pars.” I was still chuckling when I got to the lodge four hours later.

Fast-forward to Larry’s funeral held just two weeks later at the Church of the Assumption, Howth, where his family and his many friends gathered to say goodbye to a truly legendary figure both in and beyond the environs of our club.

The funeral announcement had referred to Royal Dublin as his “true home”, and on his coffin was the cover of his recently published life story “A life less ordinary”, adorned by Owen O’Connor’s touching black and white portrait.

It’s a remarkable and powerful photograph of a man in his 90s; dignified, alert, fully in command of his space and wearing, sublimely, the physical effects of his great age. And wearing, proudly, his Captain’s jacket with the year of his captaincy, 1967, a further reminder of his incredibly long association with the club that began in 1935.

Larry was remarkably protective about his 74 year membership of the club and the fact that it stands as a record for the longest membership in the club’s history – even though his brother, Kerry, is nipping at his heels having notched up 68 years on the members’ board.

Larry liked being a leader, both statistically, on the course and in his professional life.

Page 12

For all of his ‘clubbability’ – and he was a terrific club man – there was really strong competitive streak in his character which, coupled with an eye for detail and a desire for excellence, saw him achieve great success on a wide variety of fronts.

He wasn’t shy about making demands either. In 1976, he was approached to manage one of the club teams and Larry’s forthright response was that he would manage all 13 teams on condition that he could pick the members himself. This was unheard of but was reluctantly agreed on a year’s trial. In his first year, the club won five trophies and Larry continued in the position of teams’ manager for 20 years.

In his professional life his towering achievement – along with Kerry – was the creation of the Irish Monstrance of Fatima, widely regarded as one of the great pieces in a collection that also includes the Portuguese Crown of Gold, containing the bullet that wounded Pope John Paul II. It stands 42 inches high and is a masterpiece of church art, encrusted with 150 diamonds, sapphires, pearls and other

precious jewels which took nine months of intensely-detailed craft work by the employees of Gunning and Son to complete. At home, he and his wife Mary enjoyed 62 years of a happy marriage, blessed with good humour, son Laurence, daughters Adrienne and Anne and a vast array of grandchildren and relations all of whom joined in a celebration of his life, along with his many friends from Royal Dublin on Saturday, September 19.

And one of Larry’s great legacies continues at the club on Thursday December 3, when the wives of deceased members gather to celebrate in the annual institution known as the Ladies’ Night at Royal Dublin.

This year’s event – the 30th since its inception by Larry at the instigation of Mary – will be made all the more poignant without him, but all the more relevant in his absence. We shall warmly recall his enthusiasm, wit, generosity and enormous contribution to his club – the one he called “home”.

Stephen Ryan

Larry drives in for his Captaincy watched by plenty of familiar faces.