The biggest event of the year at any golf club is Captains Day, its the competition every golfer wants to win and with over 100 entries recorded the competition was very keen.
We were very fortunate with the weather, the threat of a shower or two was always a possibility yet for the most part it stayed dry although the wind did swirl and gust a little which occasionally caused a problem, better that than getting wet though.
There were some good scores posted, but for some reason approximately 40% of the scores were between 20 and 29 points! I think we expect too much of ourselves on such a big occasion and the pressure… whether you think you feel it or not gets in the way of playing the golf that you know you are capable of, but maybe I`m talking about myself here or am I ringing a few bells with anyone?
The Results
Top Dog on the day with 43 points Robert Treanor, thats a great result from Robert but to anyone that knows him this has been a long time coming, he is always competitive and its no surprise to me with the game he has that Robert would pick up a win or two through the season and what an event to win. Just brilliant… Robert Treanor winner of Captains Day!
Believe it or not there was another 43 points scored but beat on the countback, Jonathan Hewitt playing off 5 h.cap shot 2 under and must have thought he had won… I mean 2 under thats a tremendous score, I dont know if that is his best ever round but it has to be close. Very well done Jonathan, you are very unlucky but 2nd is still good and you have another low score under your belt, you will have to set your sights on the course record it cant be far away if you keep playing the way you are now.
In 3rd place and another very steady performer Jackson Ruddock with 41 points, you are not far away from being a single figure handicapper, keep it going mate!
Jamie Mulholland was the only other person to be in the forties, his 40 points gets him 4th place, well done Jamie. Fifth place goes to Adam Galbraith with 39 points, well done Adam. I know your game can be a bit up or down at times (like most of us) but there is a good golfer inside you just screaming to get out, you need to let him out more often, I reckon a back massage before you go to golf would do your back and your game the world of good (Im not offering).
Three of the prize winners today, Adam Galbraith, Jackson Ruddock and our winner Robert Treanor usually play in the same fourball each week, well done fellas… I dont know what you have been doing in that fourball but your preparation has been very effective, perhaps you will tell me your secrets?
The best Gross score goes to Adam Kerr with an excellent 75, a great score Adam!
The best juvenile score goes to Adam Proctor with a very good 39 points, runner up was Fionntan Nixon with 35 points. Well done fellas!
Captains Day Reception at the Grouse
After the great success of a well organised day of golf, with the traditional burger and liquid refreshment at the 11th green 12th tee box cross over (many thanks to Ronnie Allen and the girls from the Grouse) we now turn our attention to the evening meal, prize giving, the all important speeches and the banter of the days proceedings.
Well first of all it has to be said that the day went well, the course was in great condition, the work done by Captain James O’Hagan, committee members and others on the run-in to captains day and on the day made the event run like clockwork, to my knowledge there were no hiccups or blunders that can occur at these bigger more involved events, so all went well.
The evening at the Famous Grouse went very well, James O`Hagan was very mindful that people can lose interest quite quickly once the speeches begin and under orders from his wife Vera and more particularly his three boys Andrew, Christopher and David, he done his best to restrict his speech to as short a time as possible making sure he thanked all those who needed thanked. A more down to earth and straight forward man you could not wish to meet, he always does his best for the club and anyone who needs it. You cannot ask anymore of someone and has done the club proud, his successor Vice-Captain Graham Buckley will learn plenty from James…the future looks good!
Amoungst the dignitaries was our lady Lord Mayor Sharon Haughey who also made a short speech thanking and praising Loughgall Golf Club and Country Park.
Our club President was on hand to add a little of his own wisdom to the occasion but once again the speeches were kept relatively short. Prizes were given out to those successful few who produced the goods on the day, both Graham Buckley and Kevin McCoy assisted with the presentation. A short but touching speech from our winner Robert Treanor finished of the prize giving.
As always the food was at its very best, the Famous Grouse likes to excel when it comes to our Captains Day and we were not disappointed. There seemed quite a lot of banter during the evening and plenty of good humour, some made the most of the occasion and threw themselves into the party atmosphere, the rest of us found this very entertaining. I would say there were a few sore heads the next day, but they enjoyed themselves and thats what its all about, otherwise it would be a bit boring and who would want to go…. unless you won a prize?
A big thank you to all that took part in the competition and all those who may not have been mentioned but helped the day go off well. Well done our prize winners and congratulations Captain James O`Hagan on your special day, I hope you enjoyed yourself.
The next Saturday competition is on the 4th August, its the Fred Daly Memorial Qualifier and its strokeplay. Enjoy your Golf!