May 9th, 2020 – Return to Golf Phase 1: 18th July 2020

Good morning ladies,

I hope this email finds both you and your families well.

Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel!   As Ireland starts to re-open we golfers are among the lucky ones who are included in the first phase of the gradual easing of restrictions for sporting activities.

Leopardstown Golf Centre have been in touch and confirmed that golf will be returning for societies starting from Monday 18th May.   The governing bodies have issued protocols for both Golf Clubs and Golf Players and I attach a PDF of the full set of those protocols and the road map for each phase of re-opening.

There are a number of different things that need to be adhered to in order for this to happen.

The main thing is to ensure social distancing and, as confirmed by Leopardstown, tee times must have 14 minute intervals and a maximum of three players in each group.

This will impact the number of players that each society will be able to accommodate but that is what the longer intervals are trying to achieve. Less people on the course and around the whole facility.

By my calculation this facilitates a maximum of 42 players, within our usual 3 hour timeframe,  restricted to those members who are living within 5 km distance of Leopardstown Golf Centre.  If you are unsure of your distance you can check it out via http://www.2kmfromhome.com

Leopardstown will revert to me again during the week with an outline of how things will work and have asked that we do not open our timesheets until then.

I am sure you will all appreciate how fragile this situation is and they have assured me that they will prioritise all of the ladies societies as we are a vital part of Leopardstown.

I will revert during the week when I have more information to hand.   In the meantime, have a lovely week-end and enjoy the lovely weather we are having.

Best regards,

Paula Lady Captain

April 10, 2020 – EASTER GREETINGS

Dear Members,

As we head into what is a very unique Easter weekend I hope you are keeping safe and that you find hope and peace during these challenging and uncertain times.  

Under normal circumstances we would have been gearing up to a fun Easter weekend of golf with three prizes in each category, not to mention the Easter Bonnet Competition!

However, the last few weeks have been very strange.   Most of us rush through life, forgetting to enjoy the present because we are weighed down by the past or worried about the future.   We have had to slow down the daily rush, simplify our lives, spark our imaginations and inspire ourselves and those around us by taking each day as it comes, moment by moment.   As Mother Theresa said ‘Be happy in the moment, that’s enough.  Each moment is all we need, not more.’

The Committee and I send our warmest wishes to you and all your loved ones this Easter and look forward to meeting up again soon.

Best wishes,

Paula
Lady Captain

March 14th, 2020: COVID-19 & COMPETITIONS POSTPONED

Dear members,

Please note that as of the 14th 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

March 7th, 2020: Shamrock Special and Woodenbridge Golf Club

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

Leopardstown GC will be closed on the 4th 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 21st March.

Best wishes for now.

Paula
Lady Captain 2020

February 20th, 2020: Captain’s Drive-in

Hello members,

The golfing season got off to a great start on the 4th 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, 29th 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

January 2nd, 2020: Happy New Year 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 18th January and will be played on 10 selected dates throughout the year (best of 8).

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

CAPTAIN’S DRIVE-IN
My drive-in will take place on the 29th 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 4th 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

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

 

Upcoming Events

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.


 

Away Day Woodenbridge

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.

AGM 14th November 2019

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