Just before the current crisis engulfed the globe, here in our tiny part of God's Good Earth, we were suffering from the wettest February on record. Golf Monthly's Editor at Large, Bill Elliot wrote a piece, published in Golf Monthly addressing the subject of our under appreciated Greenkeepers. Bill and Golf Monthly have kindly given us permission to post it. 

Following the recommendation by the GUI and ILGU yesterday evening, due to the increasing threat from Covid 19 Dunfanaghy Golf Course will be closed until further notice. We hope everyone will keep well in these difficult days

Bill & Paula McCallion
Captain & Lady Captain

Dear Members
 
No-one can be in any doubt about the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic. This has impacted on every aspect of our lives.
 
At Dunfanaghy Golf Club, we must ensure the safety of our staff and the well-being of our members. We must also be cognisant of the role and reputation our club has within the local community.
 
On behalf of the men’s committee, I would like to inform the membership that, with immediate effect:

1. ALL competition golf is suspended
2. ALL societies have been cancelled
3. Social golf is encouraged but for members only
4. Social golf must be booked on BRS to allow traceability (in case a player is diagnosed as Covid 19 positive)
5. BRS bookings will be spaced at 15 minute intervals
6. ALL players must observe strict social distancing
 
There is every possibility that the Irish Government may issue new guidelines which supersede the above. In light of yesterday's directive by the UK Government, all golf course in NI have closed.
 
I would also advise members that the Festival of Golf, scheduled for 6th & 7th June, has been postponed. We will advise members of a new date in due course.
 
With the loss of green-fee and society income, these will be extremely challenging weeks and months for the golf club from a financial perspective. For those of you who have not yet had an opportunity to pay your annual subscription, I implore you to do so as soon as possible. The club house will be open on Mondays only from 10am to 1pm when subscriptions can be taken over the phone.
 
Protect yourselves, your family and your friends
​
Yours in golf,
​
Bill McCallion
 Club Captain

It is with great regret that Dunfanaghy Golf Club has suspended play for all visitors and societies. The course remains open but for club members only. We apologise for any inconvenience, particularly for those visitors and societies who have been loyal to Dunfanaghy over the years. We hope to see you all again on the links when the threat from Covid 19 has subsided.
Yours in Golf
​Dunfanaghy Golf Club Committee

Gents Club Stroke
Sunday 22nd March 2020

1st   Chris Byrne           63
2nd Tony McGilloway  66
Gross: Luke Kelly         70
3rd James T Sweeney   67

Front Nine: Derek Porter            32
Back Nine:  Anthony Gallagher  32.5

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Gents Open Stableford
Saturday 21st March 2020

1st   James Sweeney (9)             40pts BOT
2nd Joe Terry                             40 pts BOT
Gross Darcy Hogg                     37 pts
3rd Bruce Hogg                         40 pts

Front Nine: Raymond Shields   20 pts BOT
Back Nine:  James T Sweeney    21 pts BOT

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Gents Open Stableford
Wednesday 18th March 2020

1st   James Doherty (14)                       42 pts
2nd Neil McGinley (13)                        38 pts BOT
Gross: Shaun Meehan (5) Murvagh   31 pts
3rd  raymond Shields (19)                   38 pts BOT

Front Nine: Oisin McLaughlin (15) L'Kenny   21 pts BOT
Back Nine:  Ger Dalton (10)                              20 pts

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​Dear members
As the incidence of Covid 19 continues to rise throughout Ireland, the importance of social distancing cannot be overemphasized. The golf course and shop remain open but we have put in place the following measures to reduce the risk of spread particularly amongst our staff and senior members.

1. Seniors’ open competition next Monday has been cancelled.

2. In the shop, for the safety of our staff, access is via the hall door only, only one person to approach the desk at a time and strictly staff only behind the desk.

3. On the course, please don’t handle flag poles, rakes or ball washers. Greenkeeper Paul has introduced shallow cups to allow ball retrieval with minimal contact.


4. Competitions remain on. However, for the safety of those handling score cards, please record all scores from your group on a single score card. When entering scores on the computer, please wipe down the key pad after use.

A surge in the number of cases is inevitable. Please be sensible, stay safe and we will endeavour to keep the course open.

Yours in golf
Bill & Paula
Captain & Lady Captain

Dear Members,

​Our aim at the club is to keep members as well informed as possible so we hope you will take a few moments to read these updates, particularly given that advice and directives from official bodies are changing so frequently. 

The latest:
1. the course: 
we remain open and strongly encourage social / casual golf. Visitors, as always, are very welcome.

2. competitions: 
members' and open competitions will continue until we are directed otherwise. 

3. the shop: 
we are trying our best to keep the shop open which means that some staff may not be particularly familiar with the workings of a golf shop. Please be patient. Our staff  are going above and beyond and we thank them sincerely for that.

4. green-fees:
if no-one is available in the shop and visitors wish to play, please encourage them to leave their green-fee in the honesty box on the wall outside the shop.

5. "touch points”:
we have identified touch points within the clubhouse (counters, door handles, rails etc). We will be stepping up cleaning of these exposed surfaces and we ask for your assistance where practical. We have also identified a professional cleaning company who can provide a “deep clean” at short notice if required.

6.  “park the pin”: 
as previously emphasized, the chances of contracting Covid 19 whilst on the golf course are negligible, nevertheless the 18 pins represent obvious touch points. We would therefore ask you to consider not touching the 18 flag poles.

Thank you for your patience, keep safe and enjoy your golf

Bill & Paula McCallion
Captain and Lady Captain

Gents AIB Bowl - (Golfer of the Year) Stableford
Sponsored by Jim McLaughlin
​Sunday 15th March 2020

1st   Derek Porter (14)          45 pts
2nd Tomy McGilloway (9)   36 pts
Gross: Brendan Kelly (7)      27 pts
3rd  Colm Donaghy (14)        35 pts

Front Nine: Paul O'Brien (16)           21 pts
Back Nine:  Cornie McMullan (14)  18 pts BOT    

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Gents Open Waltz Stableford
Saturday 14th March 2020

1st - 91 pts
Raymond Shields (19)
Tommy Friel (21)
Gerard Dunleavy (21)
Tommy Reidy (25)

2nd - 87 pts
Colin Higgs (9)
Neil McGinley (13)
Paul O'Brien (16)
Willie Wilkin (18)

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Gents Open Stableford
Wednesday 11th March 2020

1st  Charles Roarty Jnr (11)    38 pts

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Fellow golfers,
These are unprecedented times. COVID 19 represents the greatest health, social and financial crisis of a generation. The sporting calendar around the world has been decimated and the Players Championship at Sawgrass has been abandoned after the first round. Who would have thought it?

The GUI and ILGU have led from the front and have given very clear advice to clubs throughout Ireland (see below). Whilst inter-club competitions, including the All-Ireland 4 ball match at Dunfanaghy this week-end, have been postponed, regular club golf continues.

As a sport, golf is unique in that it is enjoyed by players of all ages, in particular our senior citizens. Whilst older people appear to be susceptible to COVID 19, with my medical hat on, I would like to reassure our senior members that the chances of contracting this virus on the golf course are negligible and playing golf is entirely in keeping with the Government's advice on “social distancing”. 

Despite the recent horrendous weather, Dunfanaghy is in tremendous nick and we are open for business as usual this week-end with our regular open competition tomorrow and members’ AIB Bowl on Sunday. So let’s be responsible, look after one another and enjoy our golf.

Bill McCallion
Captain

​To see the full text of message from GUI/ILGU please follow the link below

https://www.golfnet.ie/news/golfnet/4622/statement-on-covid-19-from-gui-and-ilgu