The Champions Weekend this year at Portmarnock Golf Club on 23rd and 24th October 2010 was quite unusual in that we grouped together all of the 2009 Champions with the 2010 Champions. Traditionally the Champions Weekend has been held in late October. There is always some difficulties getting a suitable date firstly for myself due to my own playing schedule and also for the participants all of whom play pretty much full time golf from 1st of June to mid/end September. I am constantly amazed at the phenomenal number of tournaments that are available for the younger players and it is a credit to the GUI and the ILGU that there is so much opportunity for the young boys and girls in Ireland to play competitive golf.
In 2009 following some indifferent weather from time to time in our late October slot in previous years we decided to change the date and go for early season. The plan was to host the 2009 Champions Weekend on the Weekend of 24th & 25th of April 2010. The idea was that hopefully we would get better weather and secondly the assistance I might be able to give the participants might help them throughout the playing season. In any event our plans came to nothing because of the Ash Cloud disruptions. I was marooned in Bermuda which I can assure you was not all bad but it was very frustrating not being able to fly back to Europe and I was very disappointed when at the last moment we had to cancel the April dates.
As a result we ended up with 27 participants which made things difficult from the perspective of trying to get to know all of the participants and spend quality time with each one of them individually. Notwithstanding this we had a wonderful weekend and while the weather was not fantastic it certainly was playable although I have to say that doing a short game clinic on Saturday evening as the rain and sleet showers moved in was less than pleasant. Still we got through it all and the conditions for golf were reasonably good. It was quite windy both days with winds of 25/30 mph making Portmarnock a true links test.
I think I should mention here the fantastic support I have received from Portmarnock Golf Club over the years and this year was no exception. The fact that the no. 1 course in the country and a course rated in the top 25 in the world could accommodate us and grant us playing facilities for 28 players during a busy members weekend speaks volumes for the spirit, ethos and enthusiasm that is Portmarnock Golf Club and the fantastic respect and support they have for the development of the game and for the future of the game in Ireland. I am deeply indebted to Portmarnock and without meaning to single out too many people (because I will forget somebody) I would like to pay special thanks and tribute to the 2010 Captain John O’Brien, the Honorary Secretary Barry Doyle, the Secretary Manager John Quigley, the Head Professional Joey Purcell, the Catering and Bar Manager Brian Patterson and of course the Caddy Masters Brendan, Tony and Philip. As I say the support and enthusiasm we received was fantastic. I might also mention that the members of Portmarnock Golf Club have always been and once again this year were unbelievable supportive of the Foundation and once again I would like to thank them all most sincerely.
This year I was again blown away by the standard of junior golf in Ireland. Every year I am more and more impressed as I see the quality of the participants which seems to get better and better each year. It seems to me that the technique of our younger players is getting better, their approach to the game is more professional and their attention to fitness, diet, course management, etc. is improving all the time. Once again commendations to the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golfing Union for their various programs and their attention to detail.
On Saturday the 23rd of October there was a sharp wind blowing across the Links. I arrived to watch a number of participants play the back 9 and I was not alone when I was seriously impressed when Dermot McElroy returned a score of 67 gross. To put it in perspective there was a medal on in Portmarnock that day and Dermot even off his handicap of plus 2 would have won the net in the member’s event that day had he been playing. It was a phenomenal score and is worthy of mention. There was also a fine 71 from Jack Hume. On the girls side there were 78’s from Paula Grant, Sinead Sexton and Tara Gribben.
As mentioned above I did a short game clinic after play. We mixed this up into 2 groups and although it was cold and late in the evening we had quite a bit of fun. I showed the young guns a range of different shots including the double handed or baseball grip pitch and run shot shown to me by Tiger Woods and also showed them how the chipping methods utilised by the top players have changed so much in the past few years with an early release and utilisation of loft being favoured now as opposed to the more old fashioned or traditional method of hands in front of the ball at impact and closing down the face. While that more traditional method is still used from time to time the top Pro’s are finding they are getting much more control on the ball and much more club face on the ball with this new method. For the top Pro’s spin control is one of the most important things particularly during the short shots and it is important when we want the ball to spin and check that it does and when we want it to release and roll that we know what to do.
After the chipping session we moved inside for a warm drink and some photos. I also took the opportunity to hand out some kit and equipment to all of the participants. My thanks here to my long time sponsor Taylor Made for their great support. Seeing 27 Taylor Made bags lined up with various clubs, balls and other equipment on top of them made a very interesting photograph. After a shower and change we were all back to Portmarnock Golf Club for the dinner which I have to say was excellent. As usual I sat with the boys and girls and left the adults to their own devices. I always enjoy this dinner every year. It is very interesting to hear the question that are on the mind of and that interest the participants. Some of the queries are very technical and very detailed and as many if not most of the participants have ambitions to become a professional golfer there is generally great interest in the life of a professional golfer, what it is like on tour, practice regimes, travel, fitness, how to deal with time off and dozens of other topics. It is always an interesting dinner and after the initial shyness wears off we always have a very engaging conversation. This year was no different.
Sunday morning we were back on the range at 9am and I did a long game clinic and then spent some time with each one of the participants looking at their set up, their swings, their alignment, their equipment etc. and making some observations where I felt it appropriate. I certainly do not ever use this weekend as a time to suggest major swing changes or anything of that nature. These kids can all play and are all really good golfer thus it is more small things about what they might work on during the winter, how an equipment change might help them, i.e. a different type of shaft, or a different loft on a driver or wedge and some tips in relation to focus, alignment, course management, short game variables and generally getting around the golf course in the least number of shots with the least amount of stress.
We headed to the first tee at around 10.30 and I played a couple of holes with each group. Unfortunately as we had such a large group of players I only managed to play 2 holes with each group. I was again impressed by so many of the participants and while a couple of holes with each group is not a lot it does give me an opportunity to watch them swing and watch them play under a little bit of pressure and see how they handle themselves in relation to course management and around the greens. Again we had some excellent scores with Jack Hume shooting 72 for a 143 total to win the 2010 under 18’s event, while Rowan Lester returned a 72 to add to his 73 on day 1 for a 145 total to win the 2010 boys under 15 event. William Russell scored a 77 for a total of 151 to win the 2009 boys under 15’s, Dermot McElroy shot a 74 for a total of 141 to win the 2009 boys under 18’s and on the girls side Paula Grant shot a 76 for a total of 154 to win the 2010 girls, while Tara Gribben shot a fantastic 74 gross for a total of 152 to win the 2009 girls. Tara is the daughter of my old friend Paddy Gribben. I know I am getting old when I am playing golf with top class young golfers who are sons and daughters of people I played with and still play with.
We also had a group of very young children some as young as 8 and 9 years of age in the Junior Golf Ireland program which is sponsored and endorsed by my Foundation. They had a chipping and putting tournament around the putting and chipping green and I was happy to be involved with them and present the prizes and get some photographs taken with the young kids some of whom hopefully will be the stars of the future.
All in all it was a very successful weekend. My thanks to Dom Murphy of the GUI and Irene Poynton of the ILGU for their wonderful support throughout the weekend. Thanks also to Yvonne from ISM my Management Company who came over especially for the weekend and to one of the Trustees of my Foundation Dougie Heather who runs the Champions Weekend for me every year and also to his assistant Susan. 27 young golfers need a lot of logistical organisation. My thanks also to Pat Flood who coordinated transportation and made sure everyone arrived on time.
The plan is to keep to the October date for 2011. Not sure as yet when it will be as I need to verify my schedule and decide what I need to play in. I am never sure in advance of what my end of year schedule will look like particularly as additional points for the Order of Merit or Race to Dubai may be necessary and very often I might try and squeeze in an extra tournament.
A final thanks to all of the participants. I hope you all enjoyed the weekend as much as I did and I do hope that the Champions Weekend for 2011 will be even better again.
Yours in golf.
Darren Clarke
Darren Clarke
