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CLANDEBOYE NEWS - Captains Letter

Message from the Captains

Hello again, fellow members!

General

It is hard to believe that we are already approaching Autumn, such has been the time-

swirl created by the pandemic. Nonetheless, the post-lockdown buzz around the Club

has been tremendous, with the Mens Captain’s Day being a highlight. The scoring was

exceptional, reflecting courses in excellent condition, a fine playing day, and some great

skills! Here’s hoping things go as well for Ladies Captain’s Day in September.

The weather continues to be hit and miss, with a few problems for our Open Week, and

Lady Presidents Day. Again, let’s hope it holds up well for a dry and pleasant September.

Pearl Anniversaries

Two significant anniversaries have just occurred for well-known Terrys. Terry Crawford is

celebrating 30 years of terrific service with the Club, while Terry Magee has provided

sterling service to the GUI for the same period of time, much to the benefit of amateur

golf in Ulster. These achievements are covered in more detail below.

In Memoriam

Sadly, two esteemed and popular members have passed away recently. Harry Tedford

was a Past Captain, while Brendan Hehir was best known for his prominent role in the

restoration of the stone walls around the Club’s fairways. They will indeed be missed.

Again, there is more detail later in the e-zine.

Golf & Social

Unfortuantley, we have no teams left in the GUI Interclub Championships. Thanks, how-

ever to those who put themselves forward and to those who played their best, some-

times in pretty miserable conditions. There’s always next year, when hopefully the ladies

can join the action.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS - Captains Letter

Message from the Captains

More generally competitions are being well supported and the bar and catering are bus-

tling and thriving, aided by the Government’s “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme. You’ll see

below that our caterers are running a great offer into September.

The size of our lounge and dining area provides scope for ample social distancing, and

the high ceilings and throughput of air further supports a safer environment. Our new

awnings also provide sun/shower protection as well as being a smart addition to the

face of the Club. Please continue to use the Club’s facilities, especially against the diffi-

cult financial situation which the pandemic has created.

Conclusion

Finally, given the apparent slippage in the general public’s adherence to Covid safety

procedures, we would ask all members to be conscious to maintain our Club protocols,

especially in and around the Clubhouse and the Pro’s shop. The invisible and insidious

killer is still very much with us. For now, let’s get out there and enjoy the warm weather

for as long as it lasts!

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Captain’s Day

Saturday the 15th August saw Brian Nixon’s Captain’s Day.

We were fortunate to have fantastic sunny weather all day and a fantastic

day was enjoyed by all with some remarkable golf being played.

The winners on the day were:-

Dufferin

Overall Winner—Simon Mercer

Runner Up—Jordan McKeown

Division 1— Alan Higgins

Division 2—David Patterson

Division 3—Paul Williams

Ava

Overall Winner—Martin McMullan

Runner Up—G.Mayne

Division 1—M.McDaid

Division 2—Mark Miskelly

Division 3—Darren Kerr

Ava 5/6 Day

Overall Winner—Rodney Todd

Runner Up—Neal Murray

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS - Captains Day

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Captains Day

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Captains Day

A big thanks to Geoff, Terry and all the staff for their hard work in prepar-

ing the course and clubhouse and making it such a successful event.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Captains Day

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Captains Day

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Captains Day

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Captains Day

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS - Crohn’s & Colitis UK

Over 90 golfers in lovely weather took part raising funds for the Northern Ireland branch of Crohn’s and Colitis UK to help people deal with bowel disease. The event

raised £1200 with Harry O’Hara winning it with a gross score of 75.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS - Lady Presidents Day

Congratulations to Kelsey Coey, winner of the

Lady President’s prize.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS - Lady Presidents Day...

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Scratch Cup Results

Our Club Captain Brian Nixon pictured with the overall

winner, David Alderdice, overall winner and runner up-

Colm Murphy.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Rory Blue Tee Series

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Co. Down Seniors

……...

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Rory Series

Next Rory Blue Tee event is Friday 4th September and booking is now open.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Patrick Small

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—World Handicap

World Handicap Update

Ongoing work is being carried out on the introduction of this system by our Match and Handicap Team.

Further updates will be provided as more information be-comes available on the:

Club Website

Social Media

Club Notice Boards

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Brendan Hehir

In Memoriam – Brendan Hehir

Brendan was 76 years old when he died on 15 August. He was born in

County Waterford and worked for some 35 years in Dublin, mainly for

RTE. In 1986 he joined UTV and settled in Bangor. Not long after that

he became a member of Clandeboye, soon being invited to join the

Tuesday and Thursday (T’n’T) Club. He accepted the Captaincy of that

illustrious band for 2016/17.

Brendan was an affable, erudite man who was a very welcome addi-

tion to any group. He used his soft brogue to make logical points in a

discussive and persuasive manner, and his contributions were always

positive and well researched. He had interesting and valid viewpoints

on a wide variety of topics, including the full spectrum of that subject!

Sport, politics, history and recent oddities were analysed and enjoyed.

Golf was a fiercely competitive matter, but in the friendliest of spirits.

Not just a thinker, though, he was also a “doer”. Brendan co-founded

the Landscaping Group which focussed mainly on the improvement of

floral aesthetics of the Clubhouse area. His next and favourite project,

which is ongoing, was that of restoring the historic walls bordering the

Club’s fairways. He was a major driving force on the Wall Gang, that

group of volunteers who have already changed the visual impact of

many holes especially on the Ava. No-one in the Gang will forget his

recent upbeat orders e-mailed from hospital when, despite being

gravely ill, he’d write humorous but uncompromising directions as to

how to proceed in his absence.

His funeral cortege came to the Club to enable his fellow members to

pay their respects. It was a moving experience. The family said that

they were touched and honoured by the gesture.

Not only does Brendan leave many with fond memories, but he be-queaths the Club a living lasting memorial in the form of those walls, which he was so much a part of restoring. Many thanks, Brendan.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Harry Tedford

IN MEMORIAM – HARRY TEDFORD

Harry Tedford, who died recently, was a popular member who

gave great service to the Club, with stints on Council, being

Secretary to the Council in 1983/84, and a proud and active

Captain in 1998.

It was during his period of Captaincy that the Club moved to

widening membership to enable ladies to become full mem-

bers, a forward-thinking movement at that time.

As well as being a keen golfer, he was very much part of the

Clandeboye fabric of that era, being a frequent attender at cas-

ual and formal social events. Harry also enjoyed interclub

matches which in those times were more strongly supported by

members, numbers-wise.

He was also a long-time member of the Leprechauns, which he

also captained. In his latter years, failing health greatly restrict-

ed his ability to play, but ever the traditionalist, he would often

join his co-Leprechauns for their last few holes and for the cra-

ic in the bar. Indeed, even when things were worst, health-

wise, he would arrive to fulfil the society duty and tradition of

buying the group a drink. He was also loth to miss the group’s

“away tours”

Harry was a keen and knowledgeable conversationalist, with a broad range of experience and insight. He will be missed by his particular friends in the Leprechauns, his (social) poker playing squad, and the membership in general.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Terry Crawford

TERRY CRAWFORD – 30 YEARS OUR COURSE MANAGER

Terry Crawford has just reached the 30 year milestone as Course Manager. We

are indeed a fortunate Club to have retained his services for that period.

Terry started his career at Newtownstewart GC, becoming Head Greenkeeper at

the age of 21, the youngest in Ireland. In 1986 he moved on to Armagh GC, be-

fore coming to Clandeboye in 1990 as Course Manager.

During his Newtownstewart days, Terry was the first trainee in NI to be sent on

formal green keeping courses at Elmwood College, near St Andrews. It was here

that he bumped into a greenkeeping and St Andrew’s legend, Walter Woods. Dif-

fident as ever, our Terry asked the great man if there was money to be made in

the business. “Not much” was the Sages reply, “but there is much satisfaction”.

Over the years Terry has had the satisfaction, tempered by a great deal of hard

work and shrewd management, of working the courses through many changes

and troubled times.

Probably the most significant course change over the years would be the TV-

driven demand for ever shorter, more manicured surfaces, requiring a much high-

er level of technical and professional skill, as well as an expertise of the mainte-

nance and management of more complex fine-cutting machinery and general

equipment levels. For example, in 1990, who would have thought of “ironing”

greens, to make them run at quicker speeds?! All this pursuit of super-short grass

puts an unnatural stress on the plant itself, and it is the Course Manager’s re-

sponsibility to ensure the optimum surfaces, especially on the greens, throughout

the year.

At Clandeboye, the biggest change driven by Terry would probably be the affor-

estation of the Dufferin, which, when first created, had large tracts of featureless

rough and thus ill-defined holes. We now have discrete and separate holes with

clear driving lines boundaried by dangerous tree coverage. He worked with archi-

tects on updating bunkering, and on the relaying of the 8th and 14

th greens on the

Dufferin.

In terms of man management, 9 of Terry’s trainee staff over the years have later

gone on to become course managers themselves. A fine and lasting testament to

his techniques and ability to transmit experience and know-how.

In specific terms his and the courses’ finest hour probably came in 2002, when

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Terry Crawford

TERRY CRAWFORD – 30 YEARS OUR COURSE MANAGER

Darren Clarke hosted a very strong Challenge Tour event. In relatively mild con-

ditions the Dufferin proved to be a fine test, but there was high praise from the

visiting professionals and tour officials not only for the condition of the course, but

also for the general professionalism and approach of Terry and his team. Numer-

ous GUI events have also brought strong plaudits and appreciation to him and

the Club.

Returning to the day-to day world, amongst most members, and all of his fellow

professionals, Terry is renowned for his ability to produce consistent surfaces

over the whole year. This is a key contribution to making Clandeboye special.

Even in a wee country with an abundance of very fine golf courses there cannot

be many where invariably the greens are smooth and fast running in the depths

of Winter.

Terry’s anniversary, and contribution to the Club were recognised partially on

Captain’s Day when he was presented, on behalf of the John Connor family, with

a painting of the 9th at the Ava. He will also be receiving some new equipment, in

the form of golf clubs, as a mark of the Club’s appreciation and respect.

Terry is, and has been, a truly excellent Course Manager, with all round abilities

to manage staff, Greens Convenors, Council members and all comers, engaging

his own special technique and style. Of course, he has had a few Google-

qualified greens experts to instruct him at times, but he works well with these too!

Few members will be aware of the exceptional background work that he does,

such as keeping the courses open following inclement weather, when simultane-

ous multiple machinery problems arise, and in the face of other freak happen-

ings. At all times, Terry is the “Go To” man.

Congratulations to him, and we look forward to many more years of his steward-

ship!

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Terry Magee

Terry Magee – 30 Years Service with the GUI

Another milestone to be marked is that of Past Captain and Past President Terry Magee.

This year Terry celebrates 30 years of voluntary work with GUI.

Mostly this involved administrating and managing interclub and inter-provincial events,

which often included rules adjudication, a particularly tricky area. Terry was also in-

volved in forming policy and in strategic planning for the future of golf in Ulster. In more

recent years, with golf suffering a decline in participation, this became additionally im-

portant. All amateur provincial golfers, not just those at Clandeboye, have to thank Terry

for the long hours and effort he has put in so that we have a solid but flexible framework

to support the well-being of the Greatest Game.

Currently, Terry is an Ulster Branch Match and Handicap delegate to the G.U.I.in Dublin

and is heavily involved with the Course and Slope Rating teams in preparation for the in-

troduction of the new World Handicapping System in November. An uphill task, with a

high slope grading, one suspects!

Of course, it would have been inapt for Terry to show any partiality to CGC in his work,

but it is nonetheless an honour for the Club to have him serving for such a long time.

Doubtless Terry’s presence has also reflected well on the Club’s standing in Provincial

and All-Ireland golf circles.

Congratulations, Terry!

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Notices

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Notices

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Juniors

Junior Captains Day coming up on 6th September. Looking forward to seeing all our junior members there!

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Juniors

Congratulations to Clandeboye’s Conor Coey who won the Flogas Ireland

@irishjunioropentour U18 Tour Championship nett

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Jonathan Caldwell

Jonny Caldwell has been playing in the ‘British Swing ‘

Series of the European Tour over the past few weeks.

He has played in 6 events, making the cut in 4 of these with a high position of 8th in the British Masters.

Well done from all your fellow members.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—PING FITTING DAY

PING ARE COMING TO TOWN! Ping fitting day - Thursday 1st October.

Drivers , fairway woods, irons , hybrids, wedges.

Mens / Ladies /Juniors....all available for fittings.

Give Arnie a call to book your fitting session 02891 271767 opt 3.

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CLANDEBOYE NEWS—Bistro Update

BEGINNING THURSDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER TO COINCIDE WITH OUR NEW MENU LAUNCH, WE WILL BE OFFERING 30% OFF OUR BISTRO MENU

UP TO THE VALUE OF £10 PER PERSON EVERY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY FROM THEN ON THROUGH THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

AS YOUS ALL KNOW OUR DATES IN AUGUST FILLED UP QUICKLY SO BE SURE TO BOOK AHEAD TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.