Royal reward as Headfort named golf club of the year

HEADFORT, boasting a magnificent new second course, was last night named the AIB All-Ireland Golf Club of the Year.

The award, and a development grant of €6,000, was presented to the Kells, Co Meath club last night with awards also going to Elm Park, Holywood and Cork Golf Clubs.

The AIB Golf Club of the Year award scheme is a joint venture between AIB, the ILGU and the GUI.

The scheme was set up in 2002 to focus on the non-playing aspects of golf clubs.

The awards have focused on four key elements of club life, namely junior club, the environment, clubhouse presentation and communications. The judging panels for the awards consist of representatives of the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golfing Union.

In making the award to Headfort, judges declared: “The award goes to a club that could well have won awards in all four categories. It is a club that goes from strength to strength, with almost 1,500 members from juniors through to full members; a club set in an environment second to none but nevertheless an environment which they manage superbly; a club that is always welcoming of visitors; a club that redefines the meaning of good communications whether it is with members, the local community or other clubs.”

A further 16 provincial awards were also presented at the function.

AIB Golf Club of the Year: Headfort.

All Ireland Category Awards - Junior Golf: Holywood; Environment: Elm Park; Clubhouse Presentation: Cork; Communications: Elm Park.

Provincial Category Winners:

Connacht: Junior Golf: Enniscrone; Environment: Enniscrone; Clubhouse Presentation: Strandhill; Communications: Claremorris.

Leinster: Junior Golf: Tullamore; Environment: Elm Park; Clubhouse Presentation: Sutton; Communications: Elm Park.

Munster: Junior Golf: Bantry Bay; Environment: Cork; Clubhouse Presentation: Cork; Communications: Harbour Point.

Ulster: Junior Golf: Holywood; Environment: Clones; Clubhouse Presentation: Dumurry; Communications: Dunmurry.