Captains' Drive-In at Greenore Golf Club

louth | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday March 11, 2008 13:46 by Sean Crudden - impero sean.crudden at iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth. 087 9739945

The Elements Were Helpful

The captains' drive-in took place in Greenore Golf Club on Sunday 9 March 2008 at 1.20 p.m. The day was bright and breezy. Everyone seemed in good humor. Coffee and biscuits were served outside at the clubhouse before the drive-in and Seán O'Hanlon was on hand at the first tee with champagne immediately before the drive-in happened. The captains for 2008 are Ann Davey and Michael Shields - both keen and energetic golfers. Ann is from NI while Michael is from the republic.

Golfers gather at the first tee in Greenore GC to watch the captains drive into office for the year 2008

Greenore Golf Club has gone on to greater heights in recent years with improvements to the course, a new clubhouse and the appointment of a resident professional, Robert Giles. However the club is not entirely the product of the celtic tiger. It was founded in 1896 by a Scottish railway company and came into public ownership (i.e. it was bought by the members) in the 1950's. Like parts of Holland, parts of the golf course are under sea level and the tide is kept at bay by the old railway embankment which runs along the southern shore of Carlingford Lough. The rivers on the course back up into ponds when the tide is in and these ponds drain out through valved pipes into the Lough when the tide is out. One of the O'Hare brothers who hailed from Greenore Village was the first Irish man to win a significant professional tournament in America (sometime in the 1920's). In more recent times Noel McGrane - a native of Greeenore - won the West of Ireland title and John McGinn when he was a member of Greenore GC won the Irish Close a few years ago. Playing golf in Greenore - especially if the weather is good - is like being in another world. The scenery is breathtaking and one has a definite feeling of enjoyment and being on holidays.

Sean O'Hanlon pours champagne before captains', Ann Davey and Michael Shields, drive-in in Greenore Golf Club