Johannes Steenvoorden shot 48pts for the second successive weekend with one major difference. This time he took the overall prize by one point rather miss out by the minimum margin as he had the previous week and it was Patrick Clarke who has to settle for the runner-up spot after carding an impressive 47pts.
Steenvoorden, who was playing off 29, laid the foundation for his victory on the front nine which he covered in an amazing 28pts. Having started with a double bogey six for two points at the first he then reeled off three three-point pars, three three-point bogeys and two four-point pars at the fourth and eighth.
He came home in 20pts thanks to a three-point par at 13 and two three-point bogeys at 12 and 18. He scored two points at the remaining holes apart from the 10th where a double bogey seven yielded one point.
Playing off 20, Clarke opened with 22pts which included three-point returns on each of the first four holes followed by successive two-points returns on the next three holes, a one point at the eighth and a three-point par at the nine.
That was followed by a 17-point haul over the first five holes down the back nine which included four-point returns at the 10th and 13th. Eight more points followed over the final four holes, including a three-point par at the 16th, as Clarke came home in 25pts for 47pts which turned out to be one point short of overall victory.
Kenneth Cairns (11) took Division 1 with 44pts while Ben Walsh (17) needed countback before seeing off Aidan Rice (20) after both finished on 42pts. In Division Three Peter McGuinness (22) was the winner with 44pts while the best gross score of the competition belonged to Boys Captain Odhran MacShane who had four birdies while shooting 38pts.  
Saturday, 29 March and Sunday, 30 March - Singles Stableford – Overall: Johannes Steenvoorden (29) 48pts. Patrick Clarke (20) 47pts. Division 1: Kenneth Cairns (11) 44pts, Niall Henry (6) 42pts. Division 2: Ben Walsh (17) 42/21pts, Aidan Rice (20) 42/20pts. Division 3: Peter McGuinness (22) 44pts, Dessie Corbett (32) 43pts. Gross Recognition: Odhran MacShane (2) 38pts.

Caolan Rafferty put in a spirited defence of the Laytown and Bettystown Scratch Cup today.
He eventually finished tied 13th on five over, six shots behind the winner Darragh Flynn who beat TJ Ford in a play-off.
Rafferty was tied fifth, two shots off the lead, at the halfway point of the 36 hole tournament after shooting a one under par 70.
Conditions were tougher in the afternoon and Rafferty could manage two birdies as he carded a six over par 77.
The scores can be viewed here.

Eugene Hanratty (27) made it two out of two as he won his second consecutive Wednesday Open with a score of 48pts, beating Eamonn McEneaney (15) by three points. He had three four-point pars, four three-point pars and four three-point bogeys as he went out in 24pts and back in 24pts.
Wednesday, 26 March - Open Singles Stableford sponsored by McKenna Man – Eugene Hanratty (27) 48pts, Eamon McEneaney (15) 45pts.

There is still availability for lunch and dinner bookings in the restaurant this Mothers Day, Sunday 30 March. Reminder that the restaurant is open to members and non-members alike so please spread the word! Booking is essential.

Separately, entries are flying in for our Masters Buster in the Bar so don't miss out. Entries are €20.

Finally, as mentioned previously in our post on 17 March, DGC will be hosting an Evening with Eleanor Shanley and Mike Hanrahan on 4 April 2025. Tickets are available from the Office. For more details on this event, please see our post on 17 March 2025. 

​Paul Martin won the Singles Stableford competition played over the weekend of March 22 and 23 but it’s unlikely he thought he would only win by one point after he carded a fantastic score of 49pts.
But the minimum margin was all that separated him from the in-form Johannes Steenvoorden when the dust had settled and the leading pair were out of sight of the rest of the field.
Playing off 32, Martin produced a round that included two incredible bursts of scoring. The first came around the turn as he produced four consecutive four-point pars from the eighth to the 11ths. Then, as he neared home, he reeled off four consecutive three point bogeys from the 15th to the 18th for a 12pts return that took him to 49pts having gone out in 22pts and come home in 27pts.
Steenvoorden, whose playing handicap was 29, has been playing well of late and apart from blanking the par five sixth, which Martin also failed to score on, he hardly put a foot wrong with a round that saw him go out in 25pts and back in 23pts for a score of 48pts. His card featured four-point pars at the seventh and ninth, three-point pars at the second, 13th and 14th, and three-point bogeys at the first, third, fourth, eighth, 11th, 15th and 18th.
The next best score was 43pts which was recorded by three players, two of them playing in Division Two where Tony O’Connell (16) pipped Andrew Cumiskey (17) on countback by 23pts to 22pts.
Bill McCarthy (30) won Division 3 with his 43pts but he only had one point to spare from Adrian Kenny (22) while in Division 1 Paolo Cordiano (12) shot 42pts to beat Stephen Lynch (9) by one point.
Caolan Rafferty warmed up for his defence of the Laytown & Bettystown Scratch Cup by shooting 43pts for the best gross score of the weekend. 
Saturday, 22 March and Sunday, 23 March - Singles Stableford – Overall: Paul Martin (32) 49pts, Johannes Steenvoorden (29) 48pts. Division 1: Paolo Cordiano (12) 42pts, Stephen Lynch (9) 41pts. Division 2: Tony O'Connell (16) 43/23pts, Andrew Cumiskey (17) 43/22pts. Division 3: Bill McCarthy (30) 43pts, Adrian Kenny (22) 42pts. Gross Recognition: Caolan Rafferty 43pts.

​Entries for this year's Gents Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes Match Play Competitions are now being taken. To enter please write the names of the two players on an envelope, enclose the entry fee of €10 and post in the box provided in the bar. The closing date for entries is Monday, 21 April.

St Patrick’s Day saw the traditional presentation of shamrock to the Captains and Presidents by the Junior Girls Captain.
The day began with the Four Person Team competition, sponsored by Fairways Supervalu, which was decided by countback after the top two teams finished on 73pts. The winning team of David Murden, Laurence O’Hanlon, Brian Crombie and Dessie Corbett shot 47pts down the back nine to pip the quartet of Ciaran McAteer, Ray Pepper, Alan Uzell and Colm Garvey by two points.
The afternoon saw a Mixed Scotch Foursomes competition, which was also sponsored by Fairways Supervalu, taking place with competitions on the Front and Back Nines. The Front Nine was won by Finola Oakes & John Oakes (20) who shot a nett 26 to beat Sinead O’Callaghan & Fergus O’Callaghan (10) by three points. Caroline Dunne & Kieran Dunne (10.5) won the Back Nine with a score of 28.5 which was three better than Margaret McCourt & Colm McCourt (18.75).
Monday, March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day Four Person Team Competition sponsored by Fairways Supervalu - Winners: David Murden, Laurence O’Hanlon, Brian Crombie, Dessie Corbett 73/47pts. Runners Up: Ciaran McAteer, Ray Pepper, Alan Uzell, Colm Garvey 73/45pts.
Monday, March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day Mixed Scotch Foursomes Competition sponsored by Fairways Supervalu – Front Nine: Finola Oakes & John Oakes (20) 26, Sinead O’Callaghan & Fergus O’Callaghan (10) 29. Back Nine: Caoline Dunne & Kieran Dunne (10.5) 28.5, Margaret McCourt & Colm McCourt (18.75) 31.25.

DGC will be hosting an Evening with Eleanor Shanley and Mike Hanrahan on Friday 4 April 2025 at 8pm.

Eleanor and Mike are two of the most loved singers in folk music history. Eleanor has toured the world to high acclaim with De Dannan and the late Ronnie Drew. She has recorded with a variety of artists including The Dubliners and U2 while Mike is a renowned songwriter, guitarist and singer with the hugely popular Stockton's Wing. 

Tickets (€25) are available from the office.

A special pre-concert menu will be available from 5pm to 6.45pm. 

After the huge turnout for our recent table quiz, it would be great to see members support this event and make use of our fantastic clubhouse!

Brendan Keane and Andrew Shekleton shot the best scores in the Singles Stableford competition played on the Saturday and Sunday of the St Patrick’s Weekend.
Playing in Division 2, both shot 43pts with Keane securing top spot on countback by virtue of a better back nine score which was greatly helped by a birdie on the 18th.
Playing off 12, Keane went out in 20pts and came home in 23pts with a round that included four point birdies at the eighth and 18th and a three birdie at the 14th. He also had three-point pars at the third, fourth, 10th and 12th and two-point pars at the fifth, 13th and 17th.
Shekleton, who played off 15, shot 23pts over the front nine and 20pts down the back nine and had cause to rue a blank on the par four second after a triple bogey seven. He recovered well from that setback with four point birdies at the fourth and fifth and a three point birdie on the 13th. He had seven pars of which five were three pointers which came at the first, eighth, ninth, 10th and 16th while also notching two point pars at the sixth and 14th.
Division Four was also decided on countback after Peter McCaughey (23) and Laurence Hanratty (27) tied on 42pts. Hanratty’s 17pts down the back nine was no match for McCaughey’s blistering 24pts which was achieved over eight holes as he had a quadruple bogey eight on the last for a blank. His back nine score included five three point pars as well as a four point at the long par four 16th.
In Division One Kenneth Cairns (11) shot 42pts to edge out Dennis Cunningham (10) by two points while in Division 3 veteran Brian Ward (21) shot 42pts to beat Alex Naylor (17) for first place in that category.
Saturday, 15 March and Sunday, 16 March – Singles Stableford – Division 1: Kenneth Cairns 9.7 / 12 (11) 42pts, Dennis Cunningham (10) 40pts. Division 2: Brendan Keane (12) 43/23pts, Andrew Shekleton (15) 43/20pts. Division 3: Brian Ward (21) 42pts, Alex Naylor (17) 41pts. Division 4: Peter McCaughey (23) 42/24, Laurence Hanratty (27) 42/17pts.

Andrew Shekleton and Johnannes Steenvoorden shot the best scores of the weekend on their way to winning the Division 2 and Division 4 categories  in the 14 Hole Singles Stableford competition played on March 8 and 9.
Playing off 12, Shekleton shot 36pts with a round that included four-point birdies at the par five sixth and par four 11th and three-point pars at the seventh, eighth, 10th, 13th, 17th and 18th.  That was enough to take Division 2 by one point from Paschal Keenan (12).
Steenvoorden, playing off 23, had a four point par at the ninth in his 36pt round. He also had three-point pars at the fifth, sixth and 13th as he edged out Jordan Keating by one point.
Division 1 was won by veteran Jim Dwyer (8)whose round of 35pts included a four-point biride at the 10th and three-point birdies at the sixth and 14th. He also had three-point pars at the seventh, ninth and 12th as he finished one point ahead of Des McKeown (5).
Countback was needed to separate Padraig Fallon (13) and Stephen Murphy (13) in Division 3. Fallon eventually prevailed on the second round of countback. His round included a four-point birdie at the par five sixth, and three-point pars at the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, 11thand 13th and a two-point par at the 14th.
Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9 – 14 Hole Singles Stableford – Division 1: Jim Dwyer (8) 35pts. Desmond McKeown (5) 34pts. Division 2: Andrew Shekleton (12) 36pts, Paschal Keenan (12) 35pts. Division 3: Padraig Fallon (13) 35/22/14. Stephen Murphy (13) 35/22/13. Division 4: Johannes Steenvoorden (23) 36pts, Jordan Keating (17) 35pts.