I hope you are all keeping well and that those of you who have been back playing golf in Phase 1 have enjoyed the long awaited experience!

I am maintaining a log of members who have/will have played over the 3 weeks in Phase 1 and, out of the full complement of 122 members, the following are the stats:

32 members played 3 times
25 members played 2 times
16 members played 1 times

A total of 73 members have been back playing, leaving 49 members yet to play.

It was brought to my attention by a number of people in recent days that there were 3 groups out playing on Saturday last with only 2 players.   With timeslots at a premium I was very disappointed to hear this.   Can I remind everyone that if for any reason you have to cancel your booking after the booking system is closed on Friday evening, the usual golfing etiquette applies.   You must let your two playing partners know by phoning or texting them and you must also phone Leopardstown and ask them to remove your name from the time sheet.   They will then be able to re-allocate your slot to someone on the waiting list.

There are some welcome changes coming in Phase 2.   The ILGU/GUI are allowing 4 balls every 14 minutes from the 8th June.   This means that we will have an extra 18 players with capacity for 72 players each Saturday from the 13th June.   In pre Covid-19 times we had 93 slots available to us with general take-up in the 65 to 70 number bracket.

When the timesheet opens this coming Thursday, for those of you who have not logged in recently, the screen has a new look which I believe was amended by the BRS.   I was not aware of it last week so I could not give you the ‘heads up’ in advance.

You may find that your user id and password does not automatically come up like it did before, when you try logging in.   I suggest that you try to login well before 7 p.m. on Thursday next and if you need a reminder of what your password is you can email/text me.

Phase 2 sees the ‘eligibility to play’ distance extend from 5 km to 20 km.  This is a welcome step and opens it up to the 49 additional members who have not yet played.    I am keeping the priority list going for the duration of Phase 2.    For clarity, this means that anyone who has not played to date can email/text me and I will allocate a slot on the time-sheet for you.  Could I ask you to do this by 12 noon on Thursday, 4th June for play on the 13th June.   You can only be on the priority list once.

Leopardstown have re-iterated their request that you go straight from your car to the 1st tee.   You do not have to register your arrival at reception.  Please do not tee off before your allotted time so as to ensure that the 14 minute gap is maintained between groups.

Club competitions can commence from the 8th June but the Committee and I have decided to hold off until Phase 3.   While it is up to each society to determine when they will recommence competitions Leopardstown are not encouraging it.   They have advised that quite a number of golf clubs across the country are planning to hold off on competitive golf until Phase 3 of the roadmap, which is 29th June.   Score cards seem to be the biggest issue in relation to this and the Committee and I will need to be comfortable with how the card exchange/marking process is conducted.

Phase 2 allows for members to bring guests to their golf club to play.   Leopardstown have advised that as the demand for golf is huge amongst the ladies societies they have decided not to allow guests in the first week, from 8th to 14th June.  They will provide a further update on this.  This relates to bookings made directly with Leopardstown for play between between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day, after ladies societies play is finished.

McGuirkes Golf will re-open their store on the 8th June.   There is no date yet for re-opening the Café.   The driving range is open with every second bay in use.  You can pre-book or just turn up.

That is as much information as I have for now.   I am looking forward to playing on the 13th June and to seeing everyone again.   As always, please feel free to email/text/phone me if you have any issues or need clarity on any aspect of Phase 2.

Take care for now.

Best regards,

Paula
Lady Captain 2020

Dear members,

Please note that as of the 14^th March 2020 our golf competitions have been suspended.  This decision was not an easy one to take but the safety and welfare of both members and Committee members is a priority.    A number of considerations were taken into account before arriving at this decision.  As we are all aware, in the current environment it is vital that we do everything to ensure that the spread of the virus is minimised.   When a competition takes place Committee members are subjected to the handling of 60+ score cards which have already been handled by numerous people.   The Society laptop is inter-changed between Committee members on a weekly basis where the screen/keyboard is again handled by various Committee members.   In the circumstances, I believe that there is no option but to cancel competitions until further notice. While Leopardstown remains open you are more than welcome to play a friendly game of golf.   I will keep the timesheet operating so that you can book your tee-times each week.   If anything changes and Leopardstown closes I will keep you posted.

For now, please be careful and keep yourselves safe.

Best wishes.

Paula
Lady Captain 2020

Dear Members,

I would like to express my sincere thanks to you all for your support, kindness and generosity on Saturday last, for my Captain’s Drive-in.   It was most unfortunate that the run of bad weather continued and sadly we had to forgo the golf competition.   Nevertheless, we didn’t let the weather dampen our spirits and were able to enjoy the beautiful lunch in the Green Room without looking wind swept!!

Next Saturday, 14^th March we will have our Shamrock Special competition where there will be three prizes in each category.

Leopardstown GC will be closed on the 4^th April due to racing.   We have arranged a return trip to Woodenbridge Golf Club on that day and hope the weather will be kinder to us than it was last Autumn!   We will have a bite to eat afterwards in the clubhouse before prize giving.   The notice will go up on the Notice Board on the 21^st March.

Best wishes for now.

Paula
Lady Captain 2020

Hello members,

The golfing season got off to a great start on the 4^th January with a clear blue sky and plenty of sunshine.   I am sure that this contributed to the wonderful golf that was played on the day resulting in 4 birdies, one each for Karina McGrane, Ann O’Connell, Kay Kennedy and Maria Brandon.   The following week was the total opposite with gale force winds forcing Leopardstown to close the course! There were three more birdies during January and they were achieved by Maureen Kelly, Dolores Brennan and Patricia Murphy.

Congratulations go to Therese Cahill who was January Player of the Month in category C.

Over the past number of weeks we have welcomed 12 new members to the Society and said goodbye to 5.   The 5 who have left are Helen Dundon, Mary Hoare, Jackie Sharpe, Niamh Nash, and Eimear Kingston.

My Captain’s Drive-in is taking place on Saturday, 29^th February 2020 with a siren start at 12.30 p.m. Please assemble at 11.45 a.m. to collect your cards. The format for the day is a Greensome Team Event. The Notice is displayed on the Strollers’ notice board in the Locker room.   Please sign up to play as soon as you can as the numbers are limited to 72.   You will have the opportunity to meet most of the new members either on the course or, post-golf, in the Green Room.

Remember to bring your water with you to keep hydrated!

The rules for a Greensome Team Event are as follows:

Player A & B tee-off on every hole and the best drive is chosen. If Player A’s drive is chosen, Player B takes the second shot.   Alternate shots are then taken until the ball is holed. Complimentary aperitif’s, lunch and prize-giving will follow golf in the Green Room.   If you have any special dietary requirements, please let me or one of the Committee members know in advance and catering will provide a suitable alternative.

If inclement weather conditions prevent play, the lunch will go ahead at 1.30 p.m. and there will be a draw for prizes.

I wish you all the very best of luck and look forward to presenting the winners prizes!

Saturday Strollers’ Golf Jumper
Some of the new members have been admiring our Society’s golf jumper.   If you would like to purchase one you can do so from Liam at Express Embroidery on 1800 925 722.

Paula
Lady Captain 2020

I would like to wish all our members a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and may 2020 be your best year of golf yet!   We have a very exciting Programme of golf events lined up affording a great opportunity to put our competitive natures to the test, or perhaps to just enjoy the sociability of the game.   Either way, I hope you will enjoy your year with the Saturday Strollers and that you partake in as many of the golf events as you possibly can.   We look forward to meeting our Pavilion members at the various social functions due to be held throughout the year.   Please see below details of some of the events taking place in the early part of the year.

GOLFER OF THE YEAR
This competition commences on the 18^th January and will be played on 10 selected dates throughout the year (best of 8).

SPRING LAMB COMPETITION
This competition commences on the 25^th January and will be played on 5 selected dates up to the 21^st March (best of 4).

CAPTAIN’S DRIVE-IN
My drive-in will take place on the 29^th February and will be a team event with a siren-start at 12.15 pm.   Fingers crossed that the weather will be kind to us! It will be a lovely opportunity to meet and play with our new members. I will put the time-sheet up on the notice board in the locker room well in advance of the date.

AWAY DAY
The Committee will organize an Away Day on the 4^th April when Leopardstown Golf Centre will be closed due to racing.   Details of the venue will be made available in due course.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
We continue with our Player of the Month competition which will see the player with the highest number of points awarded the title.   January’s winner will come from Category C, February’s from Category B and March’s from Category A.

This is just a selection of events for you to start off the year with.   Please keep an eye on the web-site for details of all the events taking place during the year and I wish you the very best of luck in all of the competitions taking place.

Paula
Lady Captain 2020

Thank you to everyone for all you support and generosity to me during the year. I really enjoyed it all and look forward to taking it easy next year!!

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year.

Joyce xx

 

The AGM will  be held on Thursday 14th November 2019 at 19.30 in the Green Room. Tea and sandwiches will be served.

Turkey Competition: as there was no golf on 9th November the remaining dates to be included in the competition are: 16th and 23rd November 2019.

Mulled wine and Mince Pies: there will be a Greensomes team event on 30th November 2019 with a siren start at 12.30. Notice for this event will  be in the locker room after the AGM. Cards can be collected at 12.00.  Afterwards we will adjourn to the Green room for prize giving,  Mulled wine and Mince pies.

Rules are as follows:

Player A and B will tee off on every hole and the better drive is chosen. Then alternative shots are taken until the ball is holed.

Christmas Party: the Christmas Party will be held in Foxrock Golf club on Saturday 7th December.  Full details to follow.

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An away day was held on 19th October with 20 members participating in Woodenbridge.  Unfortunately the weather was not kind to us but our brave members battle the elements and finished the course.  We adjourned to a lovely meal in the clubhouse and we said that definitely we would have to return to this course when the weather was kinder to us. The winners were Category A: Claire O’Callaghan, Patricia Murphy and Aideen O’Leary and Category B:Theresa Gaffney, Anne O’Hanlon and Mary Quinn.

Reminding all our members that the annual  AGM will be held on Thursday 14th November at 19.30 in the Green Room in Leopardstown Golf Club.

The list is up in the locker room, to put your name down if you will  be attending. You can also contact me at 087 916 3404 if you are not in a position to do so.

Looking forward to seeing as many members as possible.

Regards,

Joyce

 

The AGM will take place on

Thursday, 14th November 2019

at 19.30

in the Green Room

in Leopardstown  Golf Centre.

Any motions  to be raised at the AGM, must be received in writing, addressed to the secretary, Margaret Woods, no later than 14 days prior to the AGM, that is 31st October 2019.