New Taxi Service for Dublin

Cecil Ewing Connaught Final

We play the first leg of the final tomorrow against Carrick On Shannon. First pairing goes out at 1.30pm, with the first leg been played in Athenry. 2nd leg to be played in Carrick on the 22nd.

I'm out in the last pairing. Keeping the fingers cross we can bring a decent advantage up to Carrick with us next week.

Come on Athenry!!!

Time for Stan to Go

While I have always been a fan of Steve Staunton, both as a Liverpool and Ireland player, I couldn't believe it when he emerged the successor to Brian Kerr as Ireland manager. He appeared to me to be the cheapest the FAI could get that they thought the fans would accept. I know people will point to the run of unbeaten games that Ireland have gone on during the last 10 games or so as proof that we have made progress under Staunton. Some other people may ask that if not Staunton, who? But it is, plain and simply, time for Staunton to go.

While he was a good player he is not even an ok manager. It's hard to criticise him too much. Who wouldn't, if asked, not want to manage their country? The fault lies with the FAI. Delaney and Co. should also get the bullet. Look at the way the English FA run their association. They have a proper set up. Not people looking after their own skin. Delaney should have gone after the whole Saipan incident. Paid a fortune for the Genesis report and then practically ignored it. Typical.

We've fallen to about 36th in the world rankings and after the draw last Saturday coupled with tonight's defeat I'd say we're going to slide even further back. I think we have a decent enough squad - not great but good enough.

We need to get someone in who has experience - the more the better. And the sooner the better too!!!

I gave in!!!

I watched Steve Jobs' keynote presentation from last week over the weekend. The ipod touch looks so class I couldn't resist. I bought myself one of the 16gb versions today. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well the wifi works in the hot spots around town. The widescreen display really makes browsing the album artwork look class.

I was going to hold out for the iphone but with Ireland not likely to be included in the first european countries it's launched in I splashed out. They're shipping for near the end of September so should have it some stage during the first week in October.

Can't wait!!

Miss Teen South Carolina

This thing is doing the rounds on the net now. The video of Miss Teen South Carolina making an ass of herself.
Ben and Eric from benanderic.com have done a version of the Plain White T's Delilah. Absolutely brilliant.

Liverpool FC to Launch TV Channel

Liverpool are to launch their own tv station on the 20th Sept. All of Liverpool's matches will be shown on the channel (not live coverage, though I might add). What will be shown liver will be all the reserve team matches as well as some of the youth team games.

Along with the game coverage there will be interviews with the current squad of players and management. They will also feature some of the former Anfield greats.

All in all I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be included with the Setanta Sports channels. Got it in for the PGA Tour this year so I'm all set.

Bring on the 20th!!!

Dilemma

Apple have launched a new iPod called the iPod Touch. Very similar to the iPhone.
I have decided that I'm definitely getting the iPhone, whenever it makes an appearence on the Irish market.
My problem is that the new iPod Touch looks the business. Don't know if I can resist.....

New Direction

I've decided to take the blog in a different direction, well, many directions.
I'm going to post about whatever I want, from golf to football, from whatever is happening on the world that takes my fancy to whatever is pissing me off.

Stay tuned.

Captain's Prize. Day 2

Well I'm not going to go into as much detail as I did for last week's round as I don't have the time to write that much and it wasn't as good a score as last week's either. At saying that though, it wasn't that bad. I was out at 9.30 on Sunday morning. Weather was good and the course was again looking great. I started by drilling my drive right down the middle of the 1st fairway. I went on to par the 1st and the 2nd.

A pulled shot on the 3rd put me in the trees. And although I found the edge of the green with my second shot I ended up 3 putting for a double. It was the first of three par-3s that I would double bogie. Although I had alot of bogies and some pars I finished up shooting a net 73. That included a quadruple bogie on the par 4 11th. I wouldn't mind but I hit a good drive and came up just short of the green with my second shot. Ball ended up in a bunker, which took 2 to get out of. Ball ran off the back of the green. I then chipped about 14ft passed the hole and then proceeded to 3 putt. Not my finest moment.

The 73 combined with the first round score of 66, giving me a combined 139 was well good enough to get me in to the last 9-hole playoff. I was 4 shots back at the start of the 9 holes. I shot a net 1 over for the nine holes which meant I finished with a level par 175.

An that score was good enough for 4th place. Not to bad if I say so myself. Well happy with that. If I don't sound that excited about it, it's probably because I should have come 2nd. But that's another story........

Presidents coming up in a few weeks so looking forward to that one. Until then though I'm going to revel in my glory...........

Quick Apology

I just wanted to say sorry for the long winded post on my last update. I'm not sure how many people read this blog, if any at all. Mostly I write it for myself but if you do read it then hope I didn't bore you too much!!!

I found out today that I'm out on Sunday morning at 9.30. I'm playing in Newcastle Golf Club in an Am-Am on Saturday morning so hopefully it warms me up for Sunday and doesn't use up too much of my luck. Fingers crossed.

Later.....

Captains Prize 2007 Day 1

The Captains prize format this year is over 45 holes. Round one consists of 18 holes with the top 64 players qualifying for another 18 holes a week later. The top 27 then proceed to play a final 9 holes that afternoon with the winner coming from that.

The first round was played on Saturday and Sunday last. I had put my name down for 2 - 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Any of the names in that hourly slot were drawn out into groups of three. I got drawn with a guy I didn't know and Philly, one of my friends I regularly play with. Both of got out on the Thursday previous for a bit of practice and we both said we'd have a quite night on the Friday.

Our tee time was set for 2.56. Off we went. My first drive was not too bad but it put me in a spot where I couldn't go for the green. I had to knock it out about 60 metres. I was left with about 120m in. I hit a decent 8 iron right at the pin, but with the pin placed right behind the bunker I came up just short. With the sand very heavy I didn't get it out at the first attempt. A 2 putt followed. A 7 at the first. I thought it was going to be one of those days. On to the 2nd...

My drive on the 2nd was worse than the first. Into heavy rough, and behind trees. I took my pitching wedge and let fly. I got it out over the trees and onto the rough on the left of the fairway about 90m from the green. All in all, a good shot if not a bit lucky. With the wedge in my hand again I got it to 10 feet. I read the putt well and in it fell. Par. 3 over through 2. A bit happier headin to the 3rd.

I hit a good rescue club off the tee to about 25ft. Another 2 putt nets another par. I felt the confidence brewing.

With hardly a wisp of air blowing I decide on a 3 wood but I don't connect well and I pull it slightly to the left. I had a decent line into the green and went at it with an 8-iron. I hit the green but it runs off onto the first cut. I was left with a 25ft putt with about a 4 foot break - left to right. In it rolls. 1 under for 3 holes - 2 over through my first 4 holes. Not too bad at all.

A bogie on the fifth , bogie on the 6th and a bogie on the long par 4 7th followed. 5 over through 7.

With a decent drive on the par 5 8th I was in good nick for my 2nd. I was hoping to leave it about 90m short of green. I cut across the ball with my 3-wood and knock it in under trees. I had a bit of room under there to knock it out. I was in the rough about 60m out. A bad wedge shot saw me with a difficult putt. A rush of blood on the putt saw me knock it about 12 ft passed the hole. Another 2 putts saw me leave with a 7. 7 over through 8.

A decent drive on the 9th gave me a good chance of reaching the green in 2. A slightly pushed 5-iron left me just off the right edge of the green. I chipped to 12ft and 2 putted for a bogie. 8 over through the first 9 holes. Going good.

The 2nd 9 got going with a cut drive and more trees. I managed to find the fairway another 100m up. A 5-iron found the rough in the right hand side of the green. A chip and 2 putts result in a bogie. Going good.

My drive on the 11th ended up on the right hand side of the fairway. I was left with about a 5 or 6-iron in. I deceided on the 6-iron and let fly. It was hit well but a little off line. It ball rested on the left hand side of the green, down on the first tier. The pin was about 30 feet away with a nasty hill to climb. I sized up the putt, decided on my line and hit it. To my absolute delight it rolls in - another birdie. Back to 8 over.

The re-designed tee boxes of the 12th waited. I hit a rescue club off the tee. The ball stopped on the rough just at the back of the green. I tried a little chip shot but the ball caught the first cut and didn't release. A 2-putt followed which put me at 9 over through 12.

I hit a great drive off the tee on 13. A slight draw which suited the right to left dog-leg layout of the 13th hole. I was about 160m out so I attacked the ball with my 7-iron. Too much. The abll ran through the green and finished pirched up on the bank. I now faced a very tricky shot. I would have to hit down on the abll to get it up onto the green - too hard and it would end up in the bunker on the far side - too easy and it wouldn't make it out the rough. I managed to hit it somewhere in between. The ball came to a stop about 30ft passed the hole, but at least it was still on the green. I was thinking I could manage a 2-putt no problem. I picked another good line and hit it well. Par. Absolutly over the moon.

I cut my drive on the 14th. The ball ended up on the 15th fairway. I had a line in but with the pin on the right side of the green I had to get over alot of trees protecting that edge of the green. I hit in a 5-iron and caught it well enough - but not well enough to clear the trees. The ball came down in the trees. I had a shot through the trees and managed to get it on for 3. My par putt was decent. It had a look in but never dropped. To be honest a bogie on this hole was a good result. 10 over through 14.

The 15th tee box is well back in the trees so a drive too much to the left or right is in trouble. My drive was down the middle of the opening. The 15th hole bends to the left as you move down it. My ball was on the right hand side rough. In the first cut so I had a decent lie. I hit my rescue club to the back of the green. A decent birdie chance coming up. I gave it a good shot but it just rolled behind the hole. A tap in par. I'll take that any day on the 15th.

As I arrived on the 16th tee box I must admit I was feeling confident and maybe a little cocky. Down to earth I came. I pulled my drive into the overgrown heather running up the left of the 16th fairway. I was in trouble. This could be a card wrecker. I hit a provisional but something was off as I skied that one. As me and my two playing partners searched for the ball I couldn't help but think to myself that it was typical. 10 over through 15 holes. Too good to be true. But then just as I was beginning to give up all hope Philly finds it. Not in too bad a shape. I was hoping to knock it out onto the 15th fairway but with the way the ball was lying in the heather I could only come at it in one direction. I took my 7-iron, decided on my direction and with all my power. I let rip. I kept my head down on this one. When I lifted it up I could see it flying onto the fairway. Someone definitely had my back. Although I ended up taking a 6 on the hole I was very happy to be walking to the 17th tee at 12 over.

The par 3 17th has always been a tricky hole for me. I either stitch it or knock it into the trees on the right. And wouldn't you know it, I had to find the trees. I had a small gap to knock it onto the green and managed to get it on. Another 2 putt and I was heading to the final hole at 13 over.

The tee box on the 18th is further back in the forrest than the 15th. A slightly pushed drive puts me in the bunker on the right. With a 7-iron in my hand I thin it and knock the ball to the front of the green. I chipped it to about 15 ft and narrowly missed the par putt. A bogie gives me a finished score of 84, 14 over and with my handicap of 18 results in a net 66.

Unbelievable. We were met coming off the 18th green by the Captain. Philly tells him my score and to our delight he tells us that it's the leading score. After the rest of Saturday's play and all of Sunday no one could beat my 66. I win the first round and qualify for the next round of the Captain's prize. Best feeling I've had playing golf. Winning the comp last year doesn't come close. I'm really looking forward to next weekend now. I'll have to try and work on my pitching and chipping but if the rest of my game more or less holds then I should be ok. I'm not saying I'll win it. I'd be happy as long as I give it a decent go.

The score also gets me cut to 16.8 which has me paying off 17 now.

Class or what.......

Clubs

Here are a couple of pics of my clubs.
I've the Callaway FT-i driver. My 3-wood, 21 deg and 18 deg rescue clubs are Ping Raptures. My irons are Ping G5's and my putter is a Ping G2 Craz-E. I also 2 Ping tour wedges, a 60 deg and 52 deg.

Up and Down

Hey all!!

I know I said I'd put up a post about my round which got me cut to 18 but I think I've left it too long as I don't remember much.
It was a very windy day, it didn't look like a score much less than par would win. I was happy with my score and happy to get cut.

Alot of my recent good form is down to me giving myself a second shot. I bought the new Callaway FT-i driver, the square one, (I'll stick up a pic or two later) and my driving accuracy has really improved. I'm now hitting fairways, well most of the time anyway. Having a 2nd shot is half the battle. It's not good if you have to knock the ball out sideways 5 or 6 times a round.

I got out for another comp last weekend but I wish I didn't bother. Started off pretty decent. I was 5 over after 8 but it had started raining by about the time we got to the 3rd hole. When we reached the 9th tee box we were well wet. Rain gear is great but when your glove and grips are wet and you're umbrella is going up and down like it's going out of fashion it's not easy to keep a round going, especially when you've only managed to get out 2 times in 6 weeks - I should say that the reason I wasn't out playing for so long is that my wife was pregnant. Our son was born on the 14th May. A future major winner?!!
So from the 9th on things were ranging from decent to absolute rubbish to good. I finished with a score of 29 points. no where near good enough to be even near featuring.

Hoping to get out this weekend. We'll have to see how the new boss is.

The Cut

Just a quick update to let ye know that I'm now playing off 18. After a decent round in the comp last Sunday I got cut .6 which has me playing off 18 now.

I'll stick another post up later about Sunday's round later.

Till then....

We're Back!!!!

Well, now that the long evenings are back we can get out and play some golf. I had intended on updating the blog during the winter months but between one thing and another I didn't.

This is just a quick update to say we're up and running again.

We'll get a right update sorted tomorrow.

Sleep tight.

Bloody Weather

With the evenings now dark by 4.45 there has been very little golf. Even when we got out last week end at lunch time it was nearly dark by the time we finished.

I've been trying to get a bit of practice in when I can. Putting down the hall, swinging a club out in the back garden. Trying to get into the driving range during the week but with work, the house and other stuff that pops up i haven't had a chance.

The house is taking up most of my Saturdays. I don't really mind it too much though. To be honest I actually quite enjoy it. Kind of makes you want to go round the place grunting like Tim " The Toolman" Taylor.



The house is coming on grand. This picture was taken about 2 weeks ago. The slating has started and the plastering outside is all done. We've even started the painting. But all this work on the house, while enoyable as it is, does not do much for my golf game.

I'm hoping t oget out next Sunday for the Competition. I'll let ye know how I get on....

Very Little Golf

Well, it’s been very quite on the golfing front the last few weeks. With the house and the weather along with the evenings getting shorter and shorter there hasn’t been a whole pile of time to get many holes in.

What I have done is practice my chipping and pitching. I’ve been trying to improve my short game. I started this year playing off 21 so to have reduced my handicapp down to 18.7 and to have won a competition as well as progress a couple of rounds in the matchplay. The practicing I have been getting in has definitely benefitted me.

So the plan for the winter is to get a few of the winter comps played as well as keep the progress made so when next Spring comes along I’ll be better again.

Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup has finallt arrived. I didn't manage to get my hands on any match day tickets but I did get one for the Wednesday, a practice day.

I'm really looking forward to heading up. Cameras are allowed on the practice days so I'll post a few pictures during the week.

Come on Europe!!!!

Summer Coming To An End..........Sigh

I must admit I have not been playing as much golf as I wish. We started to build a house at the beginning of the summer and it's taking up alot of my time.


I can't remember the last competition I played in. I was supposed to play the last 2 Sundays but between staying out till after 6 one Sunday morning and the comp been cancelled the following all I've managed have been 3 halfish rounds, 9 holes, 11 holes and 10 holes, with the later this evening. We played 10 holes, of which I parred 6, bogied 2 and doubled the other 2.

Everything seemed to come together well. I lipped out the 2 bogies, as well as having 2 really decent birdie chances.

Playing in a 3 ball rumble on Sunday next. Looking foward it to it already.......

Two Days - Two Competitions

As it was a Bank Holiday here last weekend there was a competition on both Sunday and Monday last. Sunday's was a strokeplay while Monday's was stableford.

I was out early on the Sunday morning with two of the lads, Ronan and Brian. I had been up town for a few quite pints the night before and was feeling a little bit tired to say the least. It acutally turned out to be a good round. I opened with a par and followed it up with three bogies and a couple of pars. I was keeping myself really in the competition with pars and bogies. I even had a birdie. A couple of double bogies kept me from running away with it. As I had 19 shots wasn’t hurting.

I was about 10 over for 9 holes. I went on to bogie 10 and 11 and par the 12th. After a bad drive and a not so good 2nd shot on the par 4 13th I was still off the green after my third shot. I then proceeded to chip it in, to my obvious delight. I was now 12 over for 13 holes.

As I drove off on the 14th I was feeling rather happy. It was then that I got a call from Donal. He owns a share in a sailing boat. In the pub the night before we had discussed the possability of going sailing on Sunday afternoon. He rang to say everything was sorted and to head straight to the mooring after my round. Just before he hung up he asked “How ya getting on?”. I then had to say that I was going well. As soon as I utttered the words I already felt my luck changing. I went on to duff my second shot and only managed to knock it to the front of the green with my third shot. I chipped it in close and took a bogie, which wasn’t too bad.

It was then that Ronan and Brian said if I could manage to play the next four holes in 3 over I’d probably win the comp.

Needless to say, I took an 8 on each of the following 2 holes. Both are par 4s. Game over. What’s worse is that I parred the next 2 holes.

I’ll think twice before opening my mouth again.

As for the Monday comp - Same Bat Channel.