Golf is normally a very individual game, a contest between the player and par with only the satisfaction of beating your handicap, winning the weekend bet or occasionally winning the competition to add to the pleasure of being out on the links. However, the inter-club competitions are an opportunity to experience golf in a whole different way. Much like the professionals who attest that there is nothing quite like playing in the Ryder Cup, for club golfers the honour and of course the pressure of representing your club in one of the different inter club competitions is the closest you will get to the equivalent experience .
Neither is it just for the low handicap golfer as there are competitions to suit all handicap levels.
At this stage of the year the team managers for the various competitions have been selected and are building their panels but for those who are not familiar here is a quick reminder of the different competitions.
Barton Cup. Team manager David Meehan. This a foursomes competition the combined handicap of the two players must be 14 or above. Our first match this year will be against the winners of Baltray and Ardee and will be played by April 17th.
Pierce Purcell Team Manager David Connell. This is a foursomes competition. The combined handicap of the two players must be 27 or higher and the lowest individual handicap permitted is 12. The format for this competition is that the initial rounds are played on weekend. The Saturday sees a stroke play round where all fourteen North Leinster clubs put out 5 Pairs. The best four cards from these five will count towards the teams combined score. The four best scores then qualify for the 2nd day with is matchplay semi final and final. Seapoint has a good record of qualifying for the matchplay stages over the years but we have yet to win out the regional round. Seapoint hosted the regional rounds for this three years ago and you can check out the photographs from that day here. This years initial rounds will be held on the weekend of 14th of May in Laytown and Bettystown.
Jimmy Bruen Team manager Johnny McQuillan and Pat Branigan This is also a foursomes competition but the combined handicap of the two players must be 17 or higher and the lowest individual handicap permitted is six. The format here is the same as Pierce Purcell with a qualifying stroke competition and matchplay semi-finals and final on the same weekend. Seapoint last won the regional qualifier in 2007 and this year we are hosting the Regional finals so expectations to qualify for the matchplay section is high.
Provincial Towns Cup – Team manager Pat Cooney. This is a singles matchplay competition with nine players on each team. Matches are played on a home and away basis. The home team having five matches on their course and the away team having four matches on their course. In the final it is nine home and nine away matches. Seapoint famously got to the final of this competition in 2004 when we were beaten in the final by a very strong Wexford team. Even though Seapoint trailed 7-2 from the away leg there was still some hope and optimism for the return home match at Seapoint. Unfortunately the deficit proved too much to over come but it was a tremendous day in the club with a large following out on the links supporting our players.
JB Carr Trophy - Team manager Noel Moore. Seapoint are relatively new participants in the JB Carr trophy. This is the Senior’s competition with team members needing to be over 55 to play in the competition.
Newsam Cup - Team Manager Andy Maguire. The two pendants hanging in the Clubhouse are of course from the Newsam cup so it is our most successful competition. It is foursomes matchplay competition for players of a handicap of 17 and above. The competition is ran by Royal Tara golf club and the final takes place there every year. The followers of this competition have probably witnessed every thing possible on a golf course from a shot perspective. The last victory in this competition was no different with Phillip Kirk holing a 25 foot putt on the 18th green to take the last match to sudden death extra holes after he and Ben McDonnell had taken a somewhat adventurous and meandering route down that final hole. Two holes later Seapoint had claimed victory with two putts from eight feet to seal the match.
Irish Mixed Foursomes Team Managers Jim Nolan and Paula Reynolds. This is one of the two mixed competitions that Seapoint take part in. It is a foursomes matchplay competition for the lower handicap ranges.
Junior Cup Team manager Derek Farrelly. This is an individual matchplay competition for handicaps five and above. It tends to be one of the most competitive of all competitions. Over the years Seapoint have had varied success with some exciting matches particularly when played on some of the local courses. See the competition photographs from the Laytown and Bettytown in 2005 here.
Senior Cup and Barton shield are the competitions for low to scratch handicap players. Seapoint are not in these competitions this year.
So there is a competition for you no matter what your handicap is and there really is nothing like playing for a team as well as the honour and glory of your club. Many team managers are recruiting players and running trials etc. at the moment. All members are invited to try out for any of the teams where there where they have the correct handicap. Handicaps are normally taken as the lowest handicap that you played off in the previous playing year. Joining up sheets are in the Locker room so go a sign up. If you don’t fancy playing then keep an eye out on when the matches are coming up and come and support your team.
Newsam cup winning team from 2004 at Royal Tara before setting out for play.
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