Titanic100 Cobh Golf Classic won by local team!

On Friday/Saturday, 20/21st April Cobh Golf Club held its widely promoted Titanic100 Golf Classic. Over 70 teams from all over Munster competed for the attractive prize pool which included Green Fees for the Old Head of Kinsale, many other great courses  and vouchers for dinners and overnight stays in many renowned Golf Resorts.

It was a cold, blustery weekend with some severe rain- and hail showers, but most of the time the golfers were spoiled by beautiful sunshine. All teams showed great spirit and resolve – no one gave up. No wonder, as the White Star flag over the Clubhouse reminded of the much more severe battle of the Titanic passengers 100 years ago…

The tournament was heavily contested. The “home advantage” may have played a small role in deciding the final winners, but no one could take away from the first-class golf of local members Charles O’Sullivan, Paul Mullane, and Stephen Halpin (left to right in the team photo). Their intention was clear from the moment they teed off, as three powerful drives sailed way down towards Cork Harbour! Congratulations to this great victory!

After the end of the golf competition on Saturday evening, a Gala Dinner was held in the Commodore Hotel. Great efforts had been made by the Commodore Hotel to decorate the Jack Doyle Room fittingly with White Star menu cards, red flagged napkins and other reminders of the Titanic events. It was a beautiful sight. A glass of Champagne was raised before the meal, in commemoration of the lost Titanic passengers.

After a beautiful dinner, John McHenry, the Cork-born professional golfer who spent 12 years on the European Tour from 1987 to 2000, presented the prizes to the winning teams. John won three Challenge Tour titles during his career. He also holds three Irish youth titles and four amateur European titles, and was both, Irish Close Champion and South of Ireland winner in 1986. John has long ties to Cobh GC, as he opened the Club’s first course in Ballywilliam 25 years ago in an exhibition match with Christy O Connor Sr. and John Mellerick.

The evening and the Titanic100 Golf Classic weekend were brought to a sparkling finish by the “Big Band”, whose brilliant sound and great singing by Sinead Cronin and Jim Quinlan did not take long to encourage a great crowd to the dance floor. In the end, even the teams that did not win any prize, went home “winners”, as the whole weekend was a rather enjoyable “commemorative adventure”.