Blacklion GC Newsletter 1 - April 2018

Blacklion Golf Club

Newsletter 1 April 2018

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K E E P I N G O U R M E M B E R S U P TO DAT E C A P TA I N S ’ WO R D S - N E W C O M M I T T E E - S E E S O M E T H I N G S AY S O M E T H I N G N E W D E V E L O P M E N T S - R E S U LT S - F I X T U R E S - S P O N S O R S




Est. 1962

Blacklion Golf Club Newsletter #1

ONCE MORE, NEVEN MAGUIRE, IS HOSTING HIS INVITATIONAL AT BLACKLION GOLF CLUB ON THE WEEKEND OF THE 5TH OF MAY. WE EXPECT ALL MEMBERS TO PLAY SO A BIG TURNOUT. THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BLACKLION GOLF SEASON AND THE COURSE WILL BE PREPARED ACCORDINGLY.

COME FOR THE GOLF - STAY FOR THE FOOD Ivan Morris’ is an acclaimed writer of multiple books about the game of golf. His ‘The Ghost of Doonbeg’ is a treat to read. One of Ireland’s diehard golfers intent on preserving the amateur game in Ireland, Ivan describes Blacklion Golf Club in his book as being among Ireland’s best 9 hole golf courses. We are definitely proud to be described in that way.

Designed back in 1962 by one of Ireland’s great course architects Eddie Hackett and although with modest means, Blacklion Golf Club has stood the test of time and now has a thriving membership and a course that is playable all year round. We rate ourselves to be amongst one of the most friendly clubs in the area.

Noel & Vera … Captain and Lady Captain.

April - Captains’ Words.

On behalf of Mel, Vera and myself I welcome you to Blacklion Golf Club and our first monthly newsletter. We want to take this opportunity to wish you a healthy, enjoyable and successful 2018.

To our members, sponsors and visitors we thank you for your continuing support without which this small wonderful club would not survive. We ask that our members appreciate the support of the sponsors which are identified in our members booklet and in our newsletters and reciprocate this be giving them our support.

In the year ahead we do not intend to carry out any major capital works and our main focus will be on maintaining and improving the condition and visual aesthetics of the course (fairways, bunkers, rough, greens, woodlands and environmental areas) so that Blacklion Golf Course can be shown in it’s best light. We will shortly hollow tine greens and compacted areas as well as carry out drainage work on the 3rd, 8th and ninth holes to improve soakage. Weather permitting we will also reduce the hedgerow facing you across from the club house adjacent to the 17th Tee box and remove old debris lying behind it.

Blacklion has always had the reputation of being a friendly and homely club and we would wish to see more members and visitors using the clubhouse facilities. During the year we intend to run a number of small events that will bring our member together and hopefully entice new ones in.

Past Captain, Joe McHugh along with club volunteers put in a lot of effort in 2017 to develop the juvenile section of our club and we hope to build on this in 2018. To stimulate and maintain their interest we will introduce a Juniors Cup competition in conjunction with Captain's Day and this will become an annual featured on our competitions calendar.

We expect to raise over 80% of our expected expenditure for the year through membership fees, competition fees and sponsorship but we will also need to identify and action some fund raising schemes to meet the shortfall. please help us by supporting and advising on these fund raising ventures.

Through this newsletter we hope to keep you informed of activities, upcoming events, team results, course bookings, etc. and welcome any suggestions that you have that will help to improve the quality and efficiency of our Blacklion Golf Club. We do need to set out a longer term plan for the club and welcome your input. To this end we ask that you provide us with email and contact details so that we can improve communications.

Again, wishing you a happy golf Year Noel Melanaphy Club Captain 2018

See Something …

Say Something!

In order to focus our energies and limited resources effectively, the Committee need to develop longer plans for the next 5 to 10 years for the course, clubhouse and social environment and to achieve this we request the input of members. In order to develop this plan, we would like to engage with members and request the input of all of you to inform us about possible improvements. We have attached a document that you can fill in and return. The document will allow you to give your input on things you see around the facilities and within the club. We will gather these points, allocate costs to them and prioritise the most urgent ones. This exercise will allow us to budget accordingly and plan ahead.

To support this we will develop new sponsorship and membership initiatives and again welcome any suggestions you may have on how we achieve this. Our goal remains and is to provide members, guests, visitors and sponsors a n engaging and modern golf and club environment.

The Committee.

Eddie Hackett, our course designer Eddie Hackett (1910–1996) was an Irish golf course architect. Eddie Hackett was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1910. As a boy he suffered from tuberculosis, the effects of which left him without the strength or stamina to play active sports. He began playing golf with his father, and as a teenager got a job at his hometown Royal Dublin Golf Club. By the 1930s he had worked his way up as a golf professional, making clubs and competing in tournaments. In 1939 became the head golf professional at Portmarnock Golf Club.

Eddie Hackett designed Blacklion Golf Club in 1962 and we should celebrate his involvement.

2018 Club officers President: Mel Mc Loughlin Captain: Noel Melanaphy Lady Captain: Vera Waters Lady Vice Captain: Geraldine McGrory Vice-Captain: Mick McHugh Hon. Secretary: Aidan Melanaphy Hon. Treasurer: Kevin McElhatton Past Captain: Joe Mc Hugh Hon. Competition Secretary: Peter Cumisky Handicap Secretary: Kevin McPartland Membership Secretary: Sean Flanagan Green Fees Manager: Frank Martin Handicap Committee: Kevin Mc Partland, Peter Cumisky & Noel Melanaphy Course Committee: Francis O’Reilly Finance Committee: Kevin McElhatton, Darren Boyle, Noel Melanaphy & Michael McHugh

Marketing: Darren Boyle & Jo Maes Sponsorship: Noel Melanaphy, Joe McHugh, Mel McLaughlin, Ciaran Maguire, Frank Martin, Darren Boyle House & Liaison Committee: Patsy McCorry, Michael McHugh & Ciaran Maguire Juniors Convenors: Joe McHugh & Liam Magee

Upcoming Ladies Fixtures Mar 19/31/1: Putting Divas Apr 5/7/8: Leitrim Cup - SSF Apr 12/14: Medal 1 - Stroke Apr 15: Ladies Open Day Apr 19/21/22: Novelty 3 Club SF Apr 26/28/29: Shannon Cup

Course Corner …

Topdressing Greens . Why? •

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Improved Smoothness – Voids exist within the turf canopy between turfgrass leaves and stems, causing inconsistent ball roll. Sand topdressing helps fill these voids to provide smoother and truer putts.

Thatch Dilution – The layer of organic debris, stems, crowns and roots in the upper root-zone – i.e., thatch – can become concentrated and encourage mower scalping and localised dry spots. Thatch should be diluted with sand through practices like verticutting and sand topdressing to maintain good turf quality.

Improved Turf Recovery – Occasional turf thinning can occur on putting greens. Sand helps cushion leaf tips and crowns and reduces algae.

Increased Firmness – Turf produces organic matter in the upper root-zone

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that creates soft, spongy playing conditions. Regular sand topdressing, along with core aeration, improves surface firmness and resiliency.

Improved Root-zone – Sand drains well and resists soil compaction. The accumulation of sand from multiple topdressings over many years can improve soil physical properties.

The amount of sand applied depends on the time of year and growth rate of the turfgrass.

Current Greenkeeper’s Challenges: The state of our green-keeping machinery is getting perilous given the age and workload. There are challenges into maintaining the machines but thanks to the tireless work of Francis and Gaby, we are finding short cuts in order to do so. It could however result that not all machines will be fully operational at all times.

With best regards, Francis O’Reilly.

Upcoming Men’s Fixtures

Mar 21/24/25: Monthly Medal Mar 28/30/31/1/2: Single Stf #1 Apr 4/7/8: Single Stf #2 Apr 9: Start of Glenfarne Cup Apr 13/15: Captain’s WE away Apr 15: Ladies Open Day Apr 18/21/22: Single Stf #3 Apr 21: Belcoo GAA Classic Apr 25/28/29: Monthly Medal

Picture: Summer Solstice Shoot-Out 2017

‘Rule’ … or ‘Decision’?

Question: Is the ball in the picture deemed to be holed out or not ?

Rule: Although the rule says the ball is not holed out as it is not below the level of the green.

The twig is a ‘loose impediment’ and removing the twig will make the ball move so one should then replace the ball as near to the original place as possible so ‘not holed out’.

Decision: On the putting green, if the player’s removal of a loose impediment causes the ball to move, the ball is replaced without penalty.

As replacement of the ball would be impossible in this case, in equity (Rule 1-4), the ball is considered to be holed with the previous stroke.

Blacklion Golf Club

Newsletter #1

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