Tournaments

Tee Times Golf Tournaments – All golf tournaments and golf solidarity events.

Chez Carlos Golf Society – Laguna Sat 22nd June 2013

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16 players took part in the Society’s day at Laguna Golf Course on a gloriously warm day with a testing breeze.

The course was in fine condition.  The tees and fairways were immaculate, but the greens were really quite superb, being very fast and true.  Those who had played Laguna before will know that it is a very pleasant but difficult course and those that had not found out!

The scores with only three exceptions were in the 20’s, proving that Laguna will test even the best of players.

The winner this week was Peter Densham who informed us that he could not recall the last time he had won anything and so it was a complete surprise to him.  Peter scored a very creditable 33 points.

Second place went to Sinead Murray with 31 points – another excellent score in the circumstances.  Jack Sperey finished 3rd based on his back 9 holes, from Carlos Ferreira and Peter Bell.

Jack also won his bottle of wine for actually getting on the putting surface at the delightful 17th hole, where many players found it easier to land the ball in the lake!  The course is not called Laguna for no reason!

Once again Felipe provided snacks and refreshments at Chez Carlos Restaurant where some players and their partners also had an excellent meal afterwards.

Quinta do Lago Series – Laranjal Sunday 9th June 2013

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Set in a valley of orange groves behind the Quinta do Lago resort, this beautiful golf course was the setting for this week’s Chez Carlos Golf Society outing.  Those who had played the course previously were loud in its praise before we started and those who had not were similarly impressed afterwards.

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The course meanders through parkland with sufficient trees to cause problems for the stray shot, but sparse enough to allow a recovery.  Similarly there is just enough well placed water to make several holes memorable for their design and testing to play.  The greens were fast and true with subtle borrows to make them a test for even the best of putters.  The rest of us just had to accept what happened!  The course was immaculately presented and the staff were friendly, courteous and efficient.  This is a lovely golf course.

Scoring on the whole was excellent with 9 players scoring in the 30’s.  The winner though was David Exley with 38 points, 19 on each 9.  Second place went to Peter Bell with 37 points, who benefitted from his new “official” handicap of 20.  In 3rd place was Nuno Louro with 36, including 22 on the outward 9 where he holed putts from vast distances much to his delight!  Unfortunately the back 9 proved more difficult.IMG_20130609_092533

There were two nearest the pin prizes this week and selecting from the 5 par 3’s was difficult as none is shorter than 155 meters.  Hole 3 was perhaps the most straightforward and Bob Guard won the bottle of wine with a fine shot to within 3 meters.  The testing 11 at 170 metres proved more difficult with Neil Rogerson pipping Ron McLachlan by a few centimeters, but still some way from the flag.

Carlos had two special prizes which were drawn from all the cards, the first a 1 hour physiotherapy massage was won by David Exley, and the second – a free entry to the next match in the series at Quinta North – was won by Peter Bell.  First and second again!

Afterwards we were treated to a superb lunch and wine back at Chez Carlos restaurant.  Thanks go to Felipe and all his staff for their food and their service.  Thanks too to Carlos for organizing such a great day at a truly remarkable value .

Killarney report by Simon Turner

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Killarney Report by Simon Turner

 

Killarney, Ireland 2nd-6th May 2013

Carlos Ferreira presenting the winner’s trophy to Brian Lenihan

A trip by The Chez Carlos Golf Society to the Emerald Isle to sample some of its legendary courses and Guinness was long overdue.  It was stalwart member Fraser Graham who pulled together a superb itinerary making the historic town of Killarney as base. Accommodation was at the well-appointed 5*Fairview Hotel whose location was ideal to sample the many hostelries and restaurants that proliferate this pretty town.

Unfortunately it was the weekend of ‘Race of the Lakes’ and the town was subjected to a display of boy racers with their ‘toys’ that cruised the streets at night. Regardless, the hotel was very welcoming, comfortable and sent us away with a hearty breakfast each morning.

Tee times at both the two courses at Ballybunion had been secured by Fraser with his local knowledge and contacts.  No small mean feat as one of the days play was a Saturday. It was to be the turn of the Cashen Course for our first day of golf in Ireland. It is set amongst even taller, more alarming, sand dunes than the Old Course and its feel is slightly harder, despite being 300yds shorter in length, possibly due to the fairways being much tighter. Probably to the purist there are too many blind holes but it is hugely entertaining and should the wind and rain pick up as it did the last hour of play then wish your scorecard goodbye.

We must consider ourselves fortunate as playing conditions improved overnight to make a game on the Old Course a truly memorable one. The golf course begins gently but by the seventh hole, it is clear why it is ranked as one of the best in the world. Golfers at Ballybunion should be prepared for a formidable test of their shot-making, placement, and trajectory control skills. The layout brings the golfer back to the Atlantic on three separate occasions and each time with a challenging tee shot waiting to be punished if it strays. The Old Course was in supreme condition and the greens much quicker than the day before. This is simply a must play golf course and well worth the cross country journey to find it.

Our final day took us to Adare Manor Golf Resort home of the 2007 & 2008 Irish Open.  After two days of links golf it was a welcome break to play a championship parkland course in calm conditions. However, this is no stroll in the park golf course with a monster 7453yds off the back tees.  Our 6590yds was long enough compounded by a large inland lake and the river Maigue which meanders through the course.  It was a later tee off today so we elected to dine at the Clubhouse followed by our prize presentation on the terrace.

It is testimony to the degree of difficult that out of the 14 players over the three days that 30pts was reached or exceeded just five times.  Special mention must go to Brian Lenihan (aka Barney off h/c: 5) who played some exceptional golf especially after winning on each day and being cut two shots on each occasion! – a demonstration on how to play links golf.

Our competition was based on the two best aggregate stableford scores from the three rounds.  Brian Lenihan combined 64pts was a great score especially as he played off an ever reducing single figure handicap.

It was a great trip and our thanks go to Fraser for pulling the accommodation, golf and players together to play on his home turf.  Some of the members headed north of the border as guests of Jim & Deidre Kearney to sample some of the wonderful courses there as well.  Submissions are being received for the next official Chez Carlos Golf Society tour. So far we have the links of Southport in the north-west, Cardiff and North Yorkshire under consideration.  Watch out for an update on our website and Facebook page.

Thanks again for all those that participated and helped in this special event. It was a weekend to remember.

Results:
Friday 3rd May – Bally bunion Cashen Course
1st: Brian Lenihan (h/c 5): 31pts
2nd: Jason Adams (h/c 21): 30pts

Saturday 4th May – Ballybunion Old Course
1st: Brian Lenihan (h/c 3): 30pts
2nd: Gerry McInerney (h/c 12): 29pts

Sunday 5th May – Adare Manor Golf Resort
1st: Jim Kearney (h/c 17): 34pts
2nd: Brian Lenihan (h/c 1): 33pts

Chez Carlos Golf Society Tour Trophy
Overall Winner: Brian Lenihan: 64pts

Simon Turner