Nenagh are going the extra mile for Golf Club Classic

Nenagh Golf Club is approaching its centenary later in the decade and this weekends Club Classic in aid of course development, will help the club and course sustain itself well into the future.

Fundraising is part and parcel of all sporting organisations and Nenagh Golf Club is no different, particularly as they have huge maintenance costs to ensure the course, greens and bunkers remain as its best for is one thousand or so playing members, both male and female.

Men’s Captain Sean McLoughlin hosted his Captains Prize last weekend, and he sees sustainability as to the forefront of the continued growth of Nenagh Golf Club into the future.

“As well as purchasing 300k tonnes of sand and the development of new tee-boxes, one of the areas we will be aiming to work on is the installation of new eco-bunkers,” he said.

Eco-bunkers follow reinforced earth wall principles, using multiple layers of Polypropylene and Styrene Butadiene Rubber tiles, pre-impregnated with sand to form a revetment, similar to traditional Scottish Revetting or Sod Walls and is a patented construction method which can be adapted for use on all types of golf bunker, in all climatic zones across the world. And in an era where sustainability is a by-word for most things, Nenagh Golf Club are aiming to play their part.

Marese Dolan-Hutchinson is the 2021 Lady Captain, which has seen a large increase in new female members.

“I would put it down to the success of the new Women in Golf programme,” she said.

“43 women enrolled in this years programme, of which 22 have gone on to become full members of the club.”

Indeed, while the Covid-19 lockdowns of the past eighteen months impacted on all golf clubs which had to close for periods, they were also among the first sports to reopen when restrictions were eased which made them appealing to both men and women to resume playing the game, or take up the sport for the first time. It has led to an increase in members right around the country including Nenagh, particularly among the younger age cohort.

“It has been a challenging period,” admitted Club Treasurer John Sheridan.

“However, it has been great to see the influx of new young members. They bring a lot of colour in how they dress, and the infusion of new blood has been fantastic for the club.”

Another area funds from the Club Classic will be directed towards is the further development of the driving range beside the first fairway.

Affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland (now Golf Ireland) in 1929, Nenagh started out as a 9-hole course designed by Alister McKenzie, who along with Bobby Jones designed the legendary Augusta National. The layout was considered one of the best 9-hole courses in Munster and remained substantially unchanged until 1973, when Eddie Hackett designed Nenagh’s first 18-Hole course.

The purchase of additional land in the 1980’s and 90’s allowed the club to undertake a major re-development and the new 18-hole course was completed in 2001. Members and visitors alike have praised the work of course architect Patrick Merrigan and the course’s tree-lined fairways, undulating terrain and varied greens provide an exciting challenge to golfers of all levels.

Over 150 acres of superbly maintained parkland provide the backdrop to a golf course of the very highest quality. Manicured sand-based greens offer perfect putting surfaces and the free-draining soil of the Beechwood hills provides firm and fast fairways which remain playable all year round.

As well as the Club Classic competition itself this weekend, the club are creating a festival atmosphere with Taylormade on site on Saturday from 11am to 4pm with their Demo & Fitting Unit, while Club Professional Eanna Jones through the pro-shop provide custom built clubs to suit every individual.

Eanna Jones is one of the main sponsors of the Club Classic on Saturday and Sunday, which also includes Slattery's Garage Puckane (main Peugeot and Subaru dealers), Breo Jewellers and Nineteen Bar & Bistro.

Entries are still being taken with a team of four costing €200 (meal included) with tee-box sponsorships also available. Teams can consist of men, ladies or mixed.

The first prize will be four drivers; second prize will be four golf watches and third will be four golf bags. There will be a prize for an all-ladies team. There will be numerous other prizes such as green fees for clubs around the country while a raffle will also take place over that weekend.

You may book your team through the club BRS system or phone 067-31476 (option 2).