Bart Millard was recently named Club Captain of Lakewood, the third time he has been so honoured. It’s the latest milestone in an illustrious Pitch and Putt career that dates all the way back to the early 1970s.
Millard was Highfield Junior Grade club champion in 1972, the same year that he won the Club Mixed Fourball alongside another Pitch and Putt legend, Chris O’Shaughnessy.
As he raced through the handicap grades, Bart captured the prestigious Highfield Hope Cup off five in 1972 before partnering Bob Manley (Rocklodge) to victory in the Fourball at Highfield Open in 1973.
Bart was a Cork County league runner-up (to Carrigaline) with Highfield in 1974 in a side that also included John Crowley, Tom Crowley, John Foley, Mick Forrest, Jim Irwin, Paddy King, Mattie McDonnell and Eddie Moran.
A major career breakthrough arrived in 1974. Having qualified for the National Matchplay championship finals at Shandon (Dublin), Bart stormed into the semi-finals after outlasting Ned Lonergan (Tipperary Hills) at the 39th in a thrilling first round encounter. Gerry Dunne (Erin’s Isle) and fellow Corkman John O’Leary (Carrigaline) fell victim to Bart in the second round and quarter-finals respectively. Unfortunately, Bart ran into Tommy Hall (Irish Ropes) in the last four as the Newbridge player enjoyed his greatest-ever weekend on a Pitch and Putt course. Tommy eliminated Bart by 6&5 before beating Ierne’s Jack Perry on the 36th green in the National Matchplay final.
After the Highfield course on the Model Farm Road folded in the mid-1970s, Bart switched to Rocklodge where he enjoyed much success in the Cork County Leagues.
Bart linked with fellow Highfield transferees Mick Forrest and John Crowley in Rocklodge’s 1977 winning side. Rocklodge, who finished clear of second-placed Carrigaline, also fielded T.J. O’Riordan, Joe Buckley, John O’Leary, Robert O’Leary and Michael Crowley.
Bart had the honour of captaining Rocklodge to the 1978 Cork County League title and the most recent Rocklodge team to win the Cork County Gents Senior League. John Crowley, T.J. O’Riordan, Michael Crowley, Robert O’Leary, Brendan Manley, Joe Buckley and Kieran Costello also played on a Rocklodge outfit that finished ahead of runners-up St. Anne’s in a straight league format.
A qualifier for the 1975 and 1976 National Strokeplay championship finals, Millard served as Press Officer of Cork County Board in 1975. It was a golden era for administration in Cork with the likes of Joe O’Donovan (Douglas), Kieran Costello (Highfield), Paddy Conniffe (Fermoy), Eddie McDonnell (Douglas), Tim O’Driscoll (Collins), Michael Twohig (Douglas) and Mick Forrest (Highfield) also involved.
Rocklodge Club Strokeplay champion in 1979 and Club Matchplay champion in 1981, Bart also served on Rocklodge Club Committee in capacities such as Vice Chairman and Chairman, taking the Chair for 1981, when Rocklodge hosted the National Matchplay championship.
Blessed with a solid all-round game and an even temperament, Millard was the consummate Matchplay performer. He made it all the way to the 1980 Cork County Matchplay final at Rocklodge before losing to an inspired Liam O’Brien (Douglas).
However, he made no mistake two years later, when Bart bagged the 1982 Cork County Matchplay championship at St. Anne’s, beating Dave Hourihan (E.S.B.) in the final. Earlier that year, Millard was Best Gross winner in the prestigious Cork Classic tournament, a feat he replicated in the following season’s Lota Bowl tourney at Lakewood.
Millard qualified for the National Strokeplay in 1983 (and finished tied eighth on 99 at Lucan) having switched clubs from Rocklodge to Lakewood for that season.
Bart has been a hugely successful player (and a much sought-after playing partner for pairs and team events) at Lakewood ever since.
Lakewood Gents Captain’s (Dave Linehan) Prize winner in millennium year, Bart was crowned Club Matchplay kingpin in 1988, 1989 and 1995 while he has claimed the Club Strokeplay championship on four occasions – in 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1995.
A knowledgeable constant on Lakewood Club Committees since the mid-1980s, Bart was previously Lakewood Club Captain in 1996 and 2002 (a year that Lakewood hosted the Munster School’s finals).
A regular in the winners’ enclosure at Opens across the circuit, Bart reached the 1989 Munster Matchplay semi-finals at Lakewood in which he went down to eventual champion Pascal Sheehan (E.S.B.).
Bart is also an excellent quizzer and helped Lakewood to victory in the 1987 annual Cork County Inter-Club Quiz. He and Lakewood colleagues Teresa Cotter, John P. Kelly and John F. Murphy beat Douglas (Padraig O’Shea, Norma O’Brien, Pat Collins and Paddy Buckley) in the final.
Wishing Bart and the Lakewood club a successful 2021 season.
John Manning 2021