Ministers Catherine Martin and Thomas Byrne this week announced a record €173 million in grants for 35 projects across the country under the LSSIF plan.
Golf Ireland’s grant is listed as being for the “Development of High Performance facilities for female and male national squads.”
But the work will have to be carried out swiftly under a new “use it or lose it” clause.
If there has been no drawdown of any part of a grant “within 2-3 years (timelines may vary from project to project), or before a new LSSIF round is announced, the grant offer will be deemed withdrawn”.
Golf Ireland’s High Performance Director, Neil Manchip, said they are keen to improve their Co Kildare facilities as part of the governing body’s strategic plan. “We need to improve our indoor offering,” he told Irish Golfer.
“We have a great choice of grass bays, but sometimes winter conditions might leave them out of action. “On any given day there should be access to perfect golf balls and grass tees. And players often bring their own technology, we have had a feasibility study done and as part of our strategic plan we want to upgrade our facilities.”
New General Manager at Royal Portrush, Danny Campbell.
Royal Portrush appoints new General Manager from St Andrews
The 153rd Open is close at hand but the portakabins that will serve as the R&A’s temporary offices for next summer’s major championship are not the only new arrivals at Royal Portrush.
Following the appointment of General Manager John Lawler to a similar role at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon, the Co Antrim club will welcome his replacement on 2 December when Danny Campbell takes up his duties.
Mr Campbell, who was Commercial Director of the St. Andrews Links Trust from 1999 to 2023, arrives at Portrush from a US golf clothing company. He is currently Chairman of St. Leonards School, a co-educational day and boarding school in St. Andrews, which also runs a golfing academy for young people.
A keen four-handicapper, he amassed more than 20 years of experience as a Senior Executive at St. Andrews where he was responsible for delivering the St. Andrews experience to over 3,000 local club members, and the thousands of visitors who play there every year.
In a circular to members, Royal Portrush pointed out that Mr Campbell has had “continual dealings with The R&A where he negotiated four Open Championship host venue agreements, as well as the Senior Open, the Walker Cup and three Women’s Open Championships.”
Alps Tour hopeful Liam Nolan. Photo: Niall O’Shea
11 Irish head for Alps Tour Q-School
Former Walker Cup players John Murphy and Liam Nolan are among the 11 Irish players entered for this month’s Alps Tour Qualifying School.
Players from 37 nations will bid for playing rights over the next two weeks with former DP World Tour card holder Murphy from Kinsale and Galway man Nolan joining Marc Boucher, Hugh Foley and Michael Young, who are also exempt, at next week’s 54-hole Final Stage.
Six Irish players must first come through the 36-hole First Stage, which starts at three Italian venues this Thursday. Andrew Browne and Karl Goodwin tee it up at Golf Club Le Fonti, 30km from Bologna, while Paul Eivers and Liam Power join Lee Westwood’s son Sam at Golf del Ducat La Rocca, 10 minutes from Parma.
Tom Dowdall and Brandon St John will play their First Stage qualifier at Conero Golf Club on the Adriatic coast aiming to make it the 156-man field for the Final Stage, which is scheduled for Golf Nazionale Terre dei Consoli, an hour from Rome, from 13-15 November.
Remarkably, there are 138 amateurs and 37 teenagers in the various fields.
Outgoing Golf Ireland team captains gather at Carton House including John Power (Chair, Golf Ireland High Performance National Committee), Mark Kennelly (Golf Ireland CEO), Brian Hutchinson (Donaghadee), Martin Hynes (Athenry), Gerri Houlihan (Headfort), Naoimh Quigg (City of Derry), Helen Jones (Royal Portrush), Valerie Hassett (Lahinch), Damien Coyne (Tuam), Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast), Gareth McNeilly (Massereene), Brenda Craig (Roganstown), Matt Donohue (Portumna), Liam Troy (Thurles), Neil Manchip (Golf Ireland High Performance Director & National Coach), Niall Mac Sweeney (Athenry). Not in attendance: Paul Kelly, (Co. Armagh), Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook), John McKinstry (Cairndhu), Kate Gallagher (Castle) and Peter English (Limerick).
Captains and selectors say farewell at Golf Ireland HQ
Golf Ireland will soon welcome a new panel of team captains and selectors but last week they said goodbye to 13 outgoing personnel at Golf Ireland HQ in Maynooth.
CEO Mark Kennelly paid tribute to these volunteers for their contribution over the past four years.
“Golf Ireland has been extremely fortunate to have volunteers in the positions of team captain, manager and selector over the past few years to not only produce excellent results at team and individual level but also to look after their players to the best of their ability, and especially at the Junior level to uphold the highest standards of safeguarding to ensure a safe environment for all players,” Kennelly said “Golf Ireland is very grateful for the contribution over the years of these individuals and whilst some will be moving forward to new positions, we hope that they will each look back on their time representing Ireland with fond memories.”
Over the past four years, Irish amateur golf has picked up ten European Individual medals, four Home International wins, nine European team medals, 15 International individual wins and two Quadrangular wins.
Golf Ireland announced on 2 October that it is seeking applications for the roles of Irish Men’s Team Captain, Irish Women’s Team Captain, Irish Senior Men’s Team Captain and Irish Senior Women’s Team Captain.
The Irish Men’s or Women’s Team Captains will be appointed for a term of three years until the conclusion of the 2027 World Amateur Team Championships with the Senior Men’s and Women’s Team Captains appointed for three years until the conclusion of the 2027 Senior Home Internationals.
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