Nenagh to host Seniors Close Championships
By Anna Powell
Nenagh Golf Club will be a hive of activity next week as it hosts the prestigious Irish Close Championships from Monday 11th to Friday 15th August.
The Senior Close Championships which are organised by Golf Ireland, will see 150 players, 90 men and 60 women, competing for national glory.
“There will be five in total of the 150 taking part from Nenagh Golf Club, one man and four ladies,” said John Sheridan, Nenagh Golf Club Men’s Captain, who is helping to organise the event along with Lady Captain Janet Hanly.
“It’s a great honour for the club to host a competition of this nature,” John said.
“Being a national competition, it’s open to every golf club in the country. It’s the golfer themselves that enters themselves in the competition through Golf Ireland,” he explained.
The competition will have one category for woman which will be seniors, and two for men which will be Seniors and Veterans. There will also be two different age divisions competing in these categories, 50’s and over and over 60s.
“The first day is the practice day,” John said of the schedule.
“So, people who are not familiar with Nenagh have the option of coming and playing here in advance, which is happening at the moment, to become familiar with the course, the layout of the green etc.
“There’s two days of what we call stroke play, which is the standard form of golf. In the case of the men, the top 45 will go through to the first day of the knockout competition, which is the Thursday and then the same then with the ladies.
“And then its Matchplay, you are down against an opponent and whoever wins that match goes through to a quarter final in the evening.
“Then on Friday, there is a semi-final in the morning and a final in the afternoon. The presentation then will be at around 6.00pm in the golf club”.
President of Golf Ireland, Michael Evans, will be attending the Senior Close Championships who will host a dinner in his honour on Friday afternoon following which he will perform the presentations.
Nenagh Golf Course was chosen to host this competition roughly a year ago due to the standard of its facilities said the Nenagh’s Men’s captain.
“The course itself is in top shape,” Sheridan said.
“We have a driving range for people to practice on, which is key at that level.
“We also have the restaurant and catering facilities,
“The area can also accommodate people coming from around the country and there are good choices in terms of restaurants. It’s a boost not just for the club but also for the region.”