We thought we had a bad summer last year but I think this year will probably go down as one of the worst on record.

Golfers though are a resilient lot and the wet gear has been very much in evidence.

The town of Newcastle West, just across the Shannon from the golf club, experienced their worst ever flooding and it looked as if the Captain’s outing would have to be cancelled.

We made a phone call to the club to be informed by a cheerful receptionist that the golf was going ahead but the course would be closed until 10am to give the ground staff a chance to mop up the wet areas.

Noel Morgan and the ground staff are to be congratulated on their work as the course was in excellent condition when we teed off at 10.30am.

I have an injured knee and I didn’t think I had a chance of getting a golf buggy but they gave me one. “Keep it on the fairways,” said Noel, “and if I see you driving in the rough I will kill you.”

In past years, golfers were told to keep buggies off the fairways in wet weather but the courses today have a vast amount of sand under the green turf and it has firmed up the fairways in the golf courses around Ireland.

Golf buggies are becoming more popular in this country and they have prolonged the golfing life of many seniors.

They have four brand new electric ones in Kilkee Golf Club which are constantly in demand.

The Limerick contingent in the Munster Press Joe Nash, Colm Kinsella, Mal Keaveney, Tony Purcell and the fellow in the buggy I’m afraid took a leaf out of our hurlers’ book and didn’t figure at prize giving time.

In mitigation though the top Limerick press golfers Charlie Mulqueen, Eugene Phelan, Jimmy Woulfe and Kieran Clancy were unable to play due to work commitments.

Arthur Quinlan, the doyen of the society, was also unable to attend.

Kerry man Jackie MacGearailt of TG4 won the Captain’s prize with an excellent score of 41 points.

The Munster Press will have their next out at Mallow Golf Club this Thursday.   

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