While the majority of club golfers concentrate on the various competitions in their clubs, those in the low handicap bracket aspire to competing in scratch cup events throughout the country and progressing on to qualifying to play in such prestigious competitions at the South of Ireland amateur championship.
One such golfer is Sean Myatt who plays off scratch and who is currently the lowest handicapped member in Ennis. “I joined the club fourteen years ago when I was 11. I played a lot of sports at the time, hurling, soccer and gaelic football but I fell in love with golf”, explained Sean who started playing off a handicap of 36.
Sean’s aim is to play in the South of Ireland championship which takes place annually at Lahinch. “I have played in the North of Ireland championship in Royal Portrush on a few occasions and also in the Irish Close. Ennis has a strong junior section. Dave Pender is in charge of the group. The club has done well in the senior cup in recent years beating teams from Woodstock and Lahinch but we have struggled to get past the Limerick sides”.
Like all golfers, Sean “can’t wait to get back onto the golf course. The lockdown has been difficult as there has been no where to hit golf balls. It will be great to get back playing next week”, he said.
Eoin Magill is currently the lowest handicapped player in East Clare and he is off 1.6 under the new whs system. He has won a number of boys championships in recent seasons. His sister Ciara is the lowest handicapped female in the club at 6.1.
Ed Hickey is the Shannon club’s lowest handicapped member at .3, Jason O’Donnell plays off 1 with Darragh Casey off 1.2.
Woodstock’s lowest ranked player is Tony Cleary who has competed in the South of Ireland championship.
