The weather during the summer months has been absolutely ideal for golf at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club and the fairways have never been busier. Over the last 12 months the club has welcomed a large number of new members and they’re making the most of their membership by getting out to play as often as possible. There’s a very positive atmosphere around the club once more following the course closure some months ago due to Covid-19.
Over the last few weeks a number of the men’s and ladies teams have unfortunately bowed out of provincial competitions at the semi-final stages but we’ve also been celebrating a number of outstanding individual successes.
Champion golfer, Carol Wickham has had an incredible summer. Not alone did Carol win the Women’s Senior Irish Close at the start of the summer in Westport, she then went on to make it a unique double by beating a very strong field to claim the Women’s Senior Open Championship. Carol’s great form was rewarded when she was picked for the Senior Home International team which competed in Woodhall Spa, UK, in recent weeks.
There was success for David Lyons in the Intermediate Scratch Cup while the Minor Scratch Cup which was played on the same day, was won by Seamus McMahon. Both competitions were kindly sponsored by “The Cottages”, Laytown. The club also had a very successful Open Week and we are very grateful to all of our wonderful sponsors for their generous support.
One of the outstanding achievements of the summer was Annraoi Collins’ round of 63 Gross in mid-August. Annraoi’s score-card included no less than seven birdies and an eagle and was good enough to equal the course record at Laytown & Bettystown. Another young golfer making a name for himself is 12 year old, Jack McKenna who finished 3rd in the Ulster Boys U-16 Open Championship.
Sarah Murray – Junior Captain Reuban Carolan Maher – Junior Captain
On August 6th, the junior committee organised the annual Junior Golf Majors Day with the club Captains, Presidents and Professional putting up great prizes for the winning boys and girls in each category. We were delighted that our Junior Captains Sarah Murray and Reuban Carolan Maher were actively involved in making the day a great success.
Over the course of the last month both the Captain’s Prize and the President’s Prize to the Ladies were played. The overall winner of Mr John Walsh’s President’s Prize was Joan Curran while Mr Gerry Wickham’s Captain’s Prizes went to Caoife McGinn (Div 1), Aileen Rooney (Div 2) and Ann Wickham (Div 3).
We’re very proud indeed of the work that our club does to support wonderful charities in our local community. Over the last few weeks, €1,330 was raised and donated to the Tredagh Lodge, Drogheda, Building Fund. This is Lady President Mrs Pat Delany’s chosen charity for 2021. To raise even more money for the building fund at Tredagh Lodge, a Golf Classic has been organised for September 17th and some tee times are still available.
€1,330 was raised and donated to the Tredagh Lodge, Drogheda, Building Fund Hospice Presentation – €20,000 to East Meath & Drogheda Hospice
Lady President Ms Ann Bellew’s chosen charity for 2021 is Down Syndrome Louth/Meath and she presented a cheque for €1,000 to this group which was the money raised by the lady golfers at L&B. All the funds raised will go directly towards supporting the education of children in our area.
The Hospice Golf Classic is reported on page 36.
Finally, even though everyone at our club is sad to see our very popular Professional, Scott Kirkpatrick, leave to take up a new position at County Louth Golf Club, we’re delighted that Kevin Smith has come on board to run the catering and bar. Every success to Kevin in this new venture.