The Christmas Competitions got off to a fine start with nice dry weather, cold at times but once on the course it was very pleasant playing, There were some interesting combinations that on paper wuld be expected to bring home the bacon and in this case the hamper but it was not to be. Good discussion around previous years with memories of names who have since passed being resurrected with tales of years gone by. Margaret Bowen was drawn with PJ and reminded him that it was her putt on the 16th Green that won them a voucher last year but he refreshed her memory saying that they bagged two. Dan Shine was in good form on Sunday morning and did his level best to get Billy Fitton and Pat Moore off their perch. Frank Riordan tried hard with Val O’Leary but missed out on Sunday afternoon to Mick Healy who was lucky to draw Val on his return from the summer spent in the Canaries and took second nett with 39.5 Nett. Mick O’Leary was playing well over the weekend but it was the draw with John Dineen on the Monday Morning that won him second gross scoring six under, It was the Ancient Mariners Noel Mac and Gentleman John whoa after putting in the supreme effort on Sunday morning took the overall nett with a superb 38.5. John Dineen and Pat Moore burned up the front nine on Saturday afternoon with six birdies on the front nine and two on the back and eventually finishing with eight under to give them the overall gross. Noel Mac was seen on the course at the crack of dawn on the Sunday morning putting in the practice, in an interview afterwards he said that he didn’t bother putting the clock back on Saturday night as it gave him the incentive to get out and practice early while Gentleman John had an early night so he was fine and fresh on the Sunday morning. Alan Kelly and Bart Millard were drawn together on Monday morning but unfortunately the chemistry wasn’t there. Betty White was finalising her year by planning a new putting unit for the clubhouse and has roped in Gentleman John to help with the design and development. Catherine O’Keeffe took Ted Canty’s Pitching Wedge on Saturday in error and couldn’t make a hand of it on Sunday, Ted arrived on Monday with Catherine’s Wedge but unfortunately it didn’t perform to her satisfaction. Eileen and Sheila weren’t at the races as Sheila still had her head in holiday mode while Mary O’Donovan was heard shouting for Jeepers on a number of occasions. Tim Linehan was seen on Monday evening in a hoodie and was compared to one of the Young Offenders but his putting was on fire which kept him on the straight and narrow however the bogey on the fourth scuppered the chances of second gross with Pat Moore. Pat Conway put her weekend down to the flu that she picked up after getting the anti-flu injection but said she would make it up next weekend.
