Diarmuid McCarthy and Jean Mackey, Captains of Blessington Lakes Golf Club 2010
The 2010 season started on 7th March with the Captain’s Drive-in. This was our first major competition of the year. A record turnout of nineteen teams of four players entered the competition, a eighteen-hole Scramble. The morning began in the traditional way with the two captains, Jean Mackey and Diarmuid McCarthy, hitting a symbolic drive from the first tee. They were watched by the large gallery, many of whom were hoping to see at least one of them duff their shot. Happily, however, both drives sailed long and true down the middle of the fairway. I was reminded of this occasion of a few years ago. As we assembled beside the tee, a new member asked me what was happening. I explained that the two captains would tee-off to signify the start of their year in office. “Then what happens?” he asked. We all help them to look for their ball, I replied, at which the Men’s Captain coughed delicately just behind my right shoulder. I played particularly badly that day!
Diarmuid gets the 2010 season off to a start
The competition, off one tenth of combined handicaps, began with a shotgun start only half an hour after the scheduled time of 10.30 pm. The short delay was due to the meticulous massaging of the supposedly “random” draw for teams. Judging by the cheers from around the course, several teams birdied their first hole, and similar sounds of triumph were repeated at frequent intervals throughout the afternoon. In all, 61 birdies were carded! There were a few bogies, and one unfortunate triple bogie (team shall remain nameless!). This must surely be a record performance for the course, and hopefully a good omen for the 2010 season. The majority of the bogies were carded at the second hole, par-4, stroke-index 1, into a strong head wind.
The winners were Philip Wardick, Peter McGillen, Jamie Tutty and Niall Jones, with a nett score of 59.1 (66 gross, six birdies, no bogies – A very commendable performance from the firm favourites. Siobhan Ward, Luke Messitt, Pat Dempsey and Pat Reid were second with 60.1 nett (69 gross, three birdies, no bogies) and Marie Clarke, Conor Fallon, Dennis Hennessy and Dan Connell were third. They carded 60.2 nett (67 gross).
The two captains, Jean and Diarmuid thanked their playing partners and guests Mark and Ernest after returning a respectable gross score of 1 under 71. Visiting captains from South County and Tulfarris were also thanked and on behalf of them Captain Mark Doyle of South County had very kind words for the club, its members and the course.
At the prize-giving, both Captains commented on the outstanding condition of the course, particularly the greens. They looked forward to their year in office, playing golf amid spectacular scenery on an excellent course, among their many friends at Blessington Lakes GC.
