Eighteen hole competitive golf returned over the last weekend of March and Conor Conroy got the 2026 season off to a winning start by taking the Fairways Hotel Singles Stableford competition on countback from Ciaran Corbett.
Playing off 17 Conroy shot 42pts but needed a better back nine to edge out Corbett (21) after he had matched that score.
Next best was Christopher McGeady (21) whose 40pts, and a better back nine, earned him top honours in Division 3 from Kieran Lally (28).
Niall McCaul who has been in good form over the Winter was the Division 1 winner. Playing off 11 he shot 39pts with his back nine score relegating Paul Cheshire (10) to second spot in the category.
Another in-form player, Kenneth Cairns (15) shot 40pts on his way to taking Division 2 by one point from David Kelly (14).  
Saturday March28 and Sunday March 29 – Fairways Hotel 18 Holes Singles Stableford – Overall:  Conor Conroy (17) 42pts (Back Nine Countback), Ciaran Corbett  (21) 42pts. Division 1: Niall McCaul (11) 39pts (Back Nine Countback), Paul Cheshire (10) 39pts (Last Three Countback). Division 2: Kenneth Cairns (15) 40pts, David Kelly (14) 39pts (Last Nine Holes). Division 3: Christopher McGeady (21) 40pts (Last Nine Countback), Kieran Lally (28) 40pts.

Eddie McArdle (16) with 36pts shot the best score in the Gateway Hotel 14 Hole Singles Stableford played over the weekend of March 21 and 22. That earned him the Division 4 honours on countback from Alan Wilson (20) who also shot 36pts.
Tony O’Connell (13) was the third player on 36pts as he claimed first prize in Division 3 having finished one point ahead of Aidan Rice (13).
Division 2 was won by Kenneth Cairns (11) with 34pts which was one better than Paul O’Callaghan (10) while in Division 1 Mark Cumiskey (7) shot 35pts to edge out Maurice Soraghan (7) by one.
The competitive golfing season gets underway this weekend with the qualifiers for the Harry Walsh Cup. The top 16, with a Handicap Index of 17 of higher, in this weekend’s singles stableford competition will qualify for the matchplay draw.  
Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 – Gateway Hotel 14 Hole Singles Stableford – Division 1: Mark Cumiskey (7) 35pts, Maurice Soraghan (7) 34pts. Division 2: Kenneth Cairns (11) 34pts, Paul O'Callaghan (10) 33pts. Division 3: Tony O'Connell (13) 36pts, Aidan Rice (13) 35pts. Division 4:  Eddie McArdle (16) 36pts, Alan Wilson (20) 36pts.

Congratulations to Caolan Rafferty on winning the Laytown & Bettystown Scratch Cup for the fifth time yesterday.
He shot rounds of 64 and 66 for a six shot win over Warrenpoint’s Stephen Coulter.
​Ben Cahill in seventh place after rounds of 70 and 69 and will take a lot of confidence into the upcoming season after an excellent performance in a top class field.

St Patrick's Day saw the traditional presentation of shamrock to the Captain, Lady Captain, President and Lady President by the Boys and Girls Captains.  The presentations took place in between the morning 14 hole team competition and the afternoon seven hole mixed foursomes competition which were sponsored by Fairways Supervalu.
The winners of the team competition were the quartet of Dara Herr (11), Shaun Ward (2), Ben O’Connor (13) and Conor Byrne (13) who shot an excellent score of 77pts to win by one point from the second placed team of Aidan Rice (12), Eamonn McEneaney (9), Aaron Hoey (9), and Andrew Norden (16).
The mixed foursomes event was played as two seven hole competitions with Deborah and Ultan Herr winning on the front side from Rita Kelly and Anthony Tuite after shooting a nett score of 23.6. The back seven was won by Mags and Mickey Coburn whose nett score of 21.8 edged out Ide and Michael McDermott.
​Tuesday, March 17 – St Patrick’s Day Competitions sponsored by Fairways SuperValu - 14 Hole Four Person Team – Winners: Dara Herr (11), Shaun Ward (2), Ben O'Connor (13) and Conor Byrne (13) 77pts. Runners Up: Aidan Rice (12), Eamonn McEneaney (9), Aaron Hoey (9) and Andrew Norden (16) 76pts. Seven Hole Foursomes - Front 7: Deborah Herr & Ultan Herr 23.6, Rita Kelly & Anthony Tuite 23.8. Back 7: Mags Coburn & Mickey Coburn 21.8, Ide McDermott & Michael McDermott 22.6.

Ben O’Connor, returned the best score in Fairways Hotel 14 Hole Singles Stableford played over the weekend of March 14 and 15.
His 37pts off 15 was enough to win Division 3 but only by a shot from Ned Lawrence (14) whose 36pts was the third best score posted over the weekend.
Second best went to Richard Smyth (12) who also shot 37pts as he took Division 2 by two points from Peter Cunningham (12).
The 36pts posted by Aidan Gaughan (16) was the fourth best score of the weekend and good enough to win Division 4 by one point from Kieran Lally (22) while Connor McCaughey (4) shot 33pts to edge out Niall McCaul (9) and win Division 1.  
Saturday. March 14 and Sunday, March 15 - Fairways Hotel 14 Hole Singles Stableford - Division 1: Connor McCaughey (4) 33pts, Niall McCaul (9) 32 pts. Division 2: Richard Smyth (12) 37pts, Peter Cunningham (12) 35pts. Division 3: Ben O'Connor (15) 37pts, Edward Lawrence (14) 36pts. Division 4: Aidan Gaughran (16) 36pts, Kieran Lally (22) 35pts.

Ciaran Keenan (21) shot the best score in the Gateway Hotel Singles Stableford played over the weekend of March 7 and 8.
Keenan’s score of 42pts was three better than Ben O’Connor (16) with Tommy Lennon (26), Patrick Reilly (15) and Richard Smyth (13) a shot further back on 38pts.
Keenan was a comfortable winner of Division 4 from Lennon while O’Connor took Division 3 ahead of Reilly.
Smyth’s 38pts earned him top honours in Division 2 with Kenneth Cairns (12) finishing second after a round of 37pts.
In Division 1 Niall McCaul (9) came out on top after shooting 37pts with Austin Shaw (8) a shot behind on 36pts.
Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 - Gateway Hotel Singles Stableford – Division1: Niall McCaul (9) 37pts, Austin Shaw (8) 36pts. Division 2: Richard Smyth (13) 38pts, Kenneth Cairns (12) 37pts. Division 3: Ben O'Connor (16) 39pts, Patrick G Reilly (15) 38pts. Division 4: Ciaran Keenan (21) 42pts, Tommy Lennon (26) 38pts.

There was a large crowd in attendance at the first tee on Sunday, March 1, as the 2026 Captains Leone Baillie and Michael O’Sullivan struck the traditional drives that formally mark the start of the golfing season. They were joined by incoming Girls Captain Grace Cosgrove.  
The Captains’ Drive In was preceded by a morning team competition and an afternoon scotch mixed foursomes with full time-sheets for all competitions.
The team competition was won by the quartet of Laurence O’Hanlon (7), Edward Lawrence (10), Ben O’Connor (10) and John McKeever (7) who shot an excellent 76pts for the 15 holes played. The runners-up were the team of Eamonn McEneaney (7), Gerry Campbell (12), Eamonn Kelly (10) and Gerry Mulligan (5) who finished with 74pts.
The Scotch Mixed Foursomes competition was played over seven holes down the front and back nines and saw excellent scoring in windy but dry conditions.
The Front Nine competition was won by Sinead O’Callaghan & Johan Steenvorden who had a nett score of 22 playing off a combined handicap of 11. That was two better than Kay O’Sullivan & Mark Baillie who returned 24 nett off 14.
The Back Nine saw Laura Kilboy and Lewis Smith emerge as winners after shooting 22 nett off eight with Mickey and Mags Coburn finishing second after shooting 22.8 nett off 6.2.  
Sunday, March 1 – Captains’ Drive-In – 15 Hole Team Event – Winners: Laurence O’Hanlon (7), Edward Lawrence (10), Ben O’Connor (10) and John McKeever (7) 76pts. Runners-Up: Eamonn McEneaney (7), Gerry Campbell (12, Eamonn Kelly (10) and Gerry Mulligan (5) 74pts.
Sunday, March 1 – Captains’ Drive-In – Seven Hole Scoth Mixed Foursomes – Front Nine: Sinead O’Callaghan & Joan Steenvorden (11) 22nett; Kay O’Sullivan & Mark Baillie (14) 24nett. Back Nine: Laura Kilboy & Lewis Smith (8) 22nett; Mags Coburn & Mickey Coburn (6.2) 22.8 nett.