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Tonights scramble is unique in that golfers may only choose two clubs, any two they wish but the putter is not allowed. On the following friday evening September 10th. a fundraiser for the Jimmy Bruen campaign will be staged with donations commencing at ten euros or whatever the person chooses to donate.

Swinford Golf Club in conjunction with the McCallion family are holding the Robert McCallion Memorial Perpetual Cup on friday and saturday the 8th. and 9th. of October. The competition format is eighteen hole singles stableford for ladies and gents and a timesheet will be in operation. Contact Padraig or Sean at 0879885037 / 0863083678. Booking in advance for this event is essential.

The club classic will now be held on saturday October 16th.

Congratulations to the Connaught Shield squad under the guidence of John Shaehan who were surprising winners over Castlebar on Monday evening last in the western area zone final. Three wins at home, one halved match at eighteen and a terrific battle to sixteen where Castlebar recorded their only success with a brillant birdy from Michael Waldron was the order of the night. We now go on to contest the semi-final verses Boyle Golf Club, themselves the surprise packets of the competition with victories over County Sligo and Carrick on Shannon.

Only eleven golfers under par after round one of the Captain's Prize and many returns in the high numbers means that the second round of Patrick Cunney's Prize day should be a cracker. The Captain has requested that all golfers treat the second round as another competition as extra prizes will be presented for first, second, third, front nine and back nine.

Tandragee from Craigavon in county Armagh are Swinford's opponents in the All Ireland semi final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield. They defeated Cushendall 5 / 0 in friday's Ulster final.

Now that we are Connaught Jimmy Bruen representives in the All Ireland Finals staged in Castlebar from wednesday September 15 to Saturday September 18th. our many browsers might like a little bit of information on Jimmy Bruen. Ireland's amateur golf legend is commemorated by the Jimmy Bruen Shield, inaugurated in 1978 when Stackstown won the first competition. Jimmy of Muskerry Golf Club who inspired the British & Irish Team to their first win in the Walker Cup at St. Andrews in 1938 was only 18-years old at the time and a schoolboy at the Presentation Brothers. He won the British Amateur Championship in 1946 and many other National Championships, before an injury brought a premature end to his illustrious amateur carrier. Jimmy was renowned for his distance off the tee before technology was even dreamt about. A visit to his home club Muskerry, near Blarney will leave the visitor in no doubt about the achievements of this great man.
Clubs are represented by five teams of two, the minimum individual handicap being 6 and the minimum combined 17.History was made in 2007 at the National Finals in Shandon Park when Muskerry Golf Club captured the Jimmy Bruen Shield for the very first time. Each province stages the competition on a four yearly basis. Castlebar was chosen for Connaught by the GUI this year as it was the centenary year of the club. The GUI will take charge of the course for the full week from september 14 to 18 with the first two days being practise days for all teams. Swinford will play their semi final on friday 17th and if successful the final on saturday the 18th. At this moment their opponents are either of two teams as the Ulster final is played tomorrow at Malone golf club in Belfast. Tandragee golf club from Craigavon in County Armagh are pitted against Cushendall golf club from the Glens in county Antrim, an area I myself visit regularly and has as its crest the children of Lir. Good luck to both on the road to Castlebar.

Swinford Golf Club are kings of Connaught after a breathtaking win aginst Athenry in the final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield played in Castlebar yesterday. Many of the speakers at the aftermatch presentation said it was one of the finest matches they had ever witnessed in long careers of golf. Swinford pairings came down the eighteenth in the first two matches one hole ahead but on both occasions had to proceed to the first playoff hole. Sean Kavanagh and Simon Ronayne arrived at the eighteenth one up in the third match and duly won the hole to give Swinford its first point on the board. That great club stalwart Eamon Byrne and his partner Tom Geraghty were too strong on the nineteenth for Athenry and recorded a second win for Swinford. All eyes now switched to Niall McNicholas and Sean Geraghty who were playing the 21st. playoff hole. Two great irons onto the centre of the sixteenth green left the destiny of the JB shield in the hands of the putters. Athenry missed the putt for par and Niall McNicholas duly sank a beauty to send the huge attendance into wild celebrations. Niall O'Neill and David Ronayne halved their match on eighteen and Kevin Feeney and Cathal Quinn were called in when one down playing eighteen. Four matches to one was the final result of one great days golf and commiserations to a very sporting Athenry who lost their third JB Shield final in a row.

Concluding a few days off on leave today my peaceful thoughts were shattered when news drifted through that our great footballing and golfing friend and legend Jim Woodlock had passed to his eternal rest. Jim was one of the youngest players to play for Swinford GAA club in an East Junior championship final in 1977 at the tender age of 15 and earned the nickname Hercules from no less a writer than Mick O'Connell in his Western People report. He won an under 14 Leinster championship medal with Dublin and progressed to the Mayo minor and under 21 teams. He enjoyed his many golf outings with us all until his health worsened in latter years. A true sportsman to the end Air dheis De go raibh a anam Dialis.

John Kelly will return to his native Castlebar on August 7/8 to lead his Jimmy Bruen team verses Athenry in the Connaught Provincial Final. Last night our players proved more than a match for Strandhill winning all three matches at home and being called in in one away match when looking like winning. Athenry also won by 3.5 to 1.5 verses Portumna.

The Cheshire Home Golf Classic goes ahead on this saturday and the team sheet for this most worthy of classics has tee times available.

All our supporters will be out in force tonight as we take on a fancied Strandhill team in the Connaught semi final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield. Three matches in Brabazon Park and two on the links will decide the issue of who plays the next round in Castlebar golf course.

Our Junior golfers did us proud in Carrick-on-Shannon on saturday returning the second best score from the Mayo clubs in our zone, Westport, Carrick-on-Shannon, Enniscrone and Co. Sligo qualified for the match play with Enniscrone just pipping us by one shot.

A double up for Simon Ronayne in the President's Prize presented by Bob Elders as he retained the first major of the year yesterday. Simon just pipped Sean Geraghty on the countback both returning 68. Gerry Ronayne won the Gross prize by one shot from Simon with Darren Fadden third. In the Ladies section Aine McDonnell blistered the course with a 66. Jeanette Hayes was second with Brenda Coyne third.

The Jack O'Sullivan team begins its defence of the Connaught title they won last year with a lovely trip to Achill, a club that that has performed promisingly so far this year in other competitions.

President Bob Elders will be presenting his prize this week and only fully registered members will be receiving an invitation. In preparation for the event hundred yard markers, hazard markers and GUI areas are all being upgraded.

Sadly Swinford Golf Club will not be availing of the chance to play in the Connaught final of the Pierce Purcell in Castlebar as we were defeated by three matches to two on saturday evening.

Claremorris golf club arrived in Brabazon Park last evening with a strong squad and high hopes of reaching the All Ireland play-offs of the Jimmy Bruen Trophy but their hopes evaporated promptly after Ger Noone and J Higgins won a very exciting match at sixteen news filtered through that Kevin Feeney had broke the local hearts in Claremorris by sinking a terrific putt on eighteen for to win the second match away, Swinford having already won the first match a la Kavanagh and Simon Ronayne. Swinford now go on to meet Strandhill on June 28th.

Ger O'Keffe showed a return to old form on sunday when running away with the Lambe Cup. Equalling par on the first nine he returned 83 shots with a lavish deduction of twenty two shots.

Our Seniors were well and truly trounced last evening by Belmullett while our Mixed team fared little better as they went under to a promising Mulranny team.

We had a rather nervous win over Belmullet last evening winning three home matches eventually after the final one went all the way to the eighteenth green in the zone semi final of the Jimmy Bruen. Tomorrow evening our Mixed Foursomes team have three matches away in Mulranney while on saturday at 4.30pm the Pierce Purcell team will have two away matches in Claremorris. Best wishes to both teams.

Brabazon Park has never looked better than yesterday in brillant sunshine and certainly the in form golfers all came to the top of the pile with the Golfer of the Year competition developing into one of the most keenly contested since its commencement. Our inter club teams are preparing well for Jimmy Bruen tonight verses Belmullet and Claremorris on saturday in the Pierce Purcell Shield.

Thirty six points was the golden number in the Ormsby Cup Qualifier yesterday with no fewer than eight players getting in on this score. Sean O'Hara was a clear winner, losing two shots on forty four points and first to tee off at 6 am.

The Pierce Purcell team completed a terrific interclub week for the club when disposing of the challenge of Ballinrobe. Declan Munnelly and Pat Marren were the heroes with a fine away victory. Claremorris will be our next opponents on sat May 29th.

Although under pressure to field a full squad the Jimmy Bruen team recorded a fine victory in the first round match last night. Played in very cold conditions three home wins was enough to secure access to round two. Castlebar were heavily defeated by Claremorris in their match and thus despite having the All Ireland finals of the competition on their patch their playing interest is over.

We offer our deepest sympathies to Mr Eamonn Byrne on the death of his mother Maudie. May she rest in peace! Amen.

The summer began in style last sunday in Brabazon park with very blustery conditions indeed and it was no surprise that the low handicappers did very well. Gerry Ronayne won the Dick Crowley Cup with a grand total of 74 shots off a four handicap and young Niall McNicholas winning the gross with 76 off 6.

The laurels in the 18 hole stableford went to Tipperaryman Chris Garret yesterday with a fine return of 41 points. Munster did not have it all their own way as he was closely followed home by our hard working Comp. Sec. Clareman Padraig Garrahy on 39 points.

Due to the big matches this weekend and the upcoming bank holiday weekend the Dick Crowley Cup strokeplay competition will now be played for on sunday may 02.

Our Captain and Hon. Secretary has produced a beautiful new card of the course and a copy can be viewed in the club office or previewed by clicking here. The club is very grateful to the four sponsors namely M&S Carpets, O'Connells Pharmacy, Mooney's Londis and Philip Irwin in the Sheepwalk Bar.

Peter Moore opened his winners account in fabulous style yesterday displaying the sort of form which won him the Captain's Prize last year. Now playing off thirteen it must only be a matter of time until he reaches single figure status. A big field out yesterday but many negative comments regarding the second tee box, the twelveth tee box and some very forward tee positions.

Scrambles for beginners and and all members are up and running again and you should present yourself at the club on friday evenings @ 6.30pm.

Good news for all golfers is the return of summer rules on Sunday next with the prospect of early "cuts" in the contest for the "First Cut 10". The greens are in super condition and with the second having been restored to "Out of Bounds" on its forest side boundary and the centre and westside tees in play scoring should be brisk. Congrats to Christopher Ronayne who won last sundays contest with 42 points and finished second on the previous sunday.

The Club Classic has been postponed to early September as preparations are not finalised to the golf club's satisfaction. Lets hope the good weather prevails. The course committee are seriously considering the installation of internal OB between the second and third fairways as the summer season begins on the grounds og H & S.

The Golf Club and Swinford GAA club are amalgimating to run the Club Classic. This will be the first Classic of the year and it is hoped that both committees will make every effort to make it a resounding success. The format will be eighteen holes stableford with two scores to count on all holes except eighteen where all four returns are chalked. One hundred euros per team entered (play or not); one hundred euros to sponsor a tee and one hundred euros to put your team or company name on a tee box. The event begins on Friday April 30th. and runs all day on May Day. May we be blessed with good weather!

The Captains are organising a presentation and celebration night for "Augusta Night" friday April 9th.

Congratulations to all the winners and partisipants in the Spring League.......all the returns

Both Captains for the coming year kicked off the season in fine style with their drivein on St Patricks Day. The course was in superb condition despite the frost and was greatly enjoyed by all.

No declared result yet of the Spring league but rumours abound that Tony and David held on easily, 39 points being the best return of the day.

Patrick Cunney is the new Captain of the Mens Club at Swinford Golf Club and also Chairman of the Management Committee for 2010. In his Captains address Patrick indicated that he was extremely proud to be the first Killasser man to hold the reins in Brabazon Park; a newly sponsored Card for the course was being designed, new refuse bins were being provided and one hundred metre markers were being laid down on all fairways where required. The Captain announced the introduction of a new cup competition in memory of the late Robert McCallion. This cup has been sponsored by Eamonn Byrne and Cathal Quinn.The first friday of each month would be designated as a social evening for the members with music, prize presentations, quizes, poker nights and late discos.