Fermoy Golf Club was a busy spot all summer, and that has continued through the Autumn as the club embarked on an impressive course improvement programme.
This included an intensive sanding programme in addition to some work on tee boxes and the irrigation system.
Fermoy manager Denis Twomey has been overseeing the progress and he gave some details of the current work and the next phases.
“We completed the installation of a new irrigation system on all 18 holes plus practice area in 2024,” said Twomey.
“We also upgraded six tee boxes and have connected irrigation to the new tee boxes. The plan is to start connecting irrigation to all tee boxes on a phased basis over the next three years.”
When this is added to the sanding programme, you can see that Fermoy is building towards providing members and guests with top class playing facilities throughout the year.
Funding for the course improvement programme was thanks in part to the new club lotto that was launched earlier this year.
With a growing local population, and it’s proximity to Glanmire and Cork city, the clubs is a busy sport for members and guests.
Earlier this year Fermoy launched a new members programme which was fully subscribed soon after launch and Twomey expects that while the clubs is now open for new members in 2025, there will be just a limited number of places available.
As well as a strong membership, Fermoy has also become a local favourite for classics, societies and open days, and they still have some availability for next year according to Twomey.
“We are open for some classics and societies in 2025, luckily we have number of regulars which return annually including Glen Rovers, Sars, Kilworth, and Fermoy.
“In September we were delighted to host the inaugural Colman O’Flynn Perpetual Cup – held by local company and our neighbours South Coast Logistics (SCL) and in memory of the founder of SCL.
“This was a charity event in aid of Marymount Hospice & Liam’s Lifts. It was a superb day and we look forward to hosting the event again in 2025 when it will be played in June 2025.”
Fermoy was again a venue for the Golf Ireland interclub events and hosted an area final series in August.
The club can trace it’s history back to the 1880’s, like other garrison towns it was among the first clubs to be formed in Cork. The current site in the shadow of Corrin Hill has been home to the club for over 50 years.
The John Harris design is a par 70 split into two nines.
Harris was involved in hundreds of course projects including Shannon and the Castle Course in Lahinch.
Now the course in Fermoy is known for it’s great condition and tricky greens. The back nine has many elevation changes which demands the golfers attention as they make their way back towards the clubhouse.
Off the course, the renovated clubhouse is a busy place, and with a new caterer in place, its proving to be a hit with members and locals.
“We have a new catering company in place called Albatross with bar & food menus available seven days a week and it’s open to visitors and members, and details available on Facebook and club web site.”
Elsewhere, Sara Byrne’s incredible season is continuing with one final stop left before the year finishes.
The Curtis Cup star was in action last week in final qualifying for the LPGA Tour in Alabama.
Byrne has secured a tour card for the second tier Epsom Tour by qualifying through the two preliminary stage, and the Douglas golfer made a bright start with rounds of 73 and 70 to sit inside the 72 hole cut line.
Unfortunately for Byrne a third round 79 pushed her down the leaderboard in Saturday’s third round, and a level par fourth round on Sunday wasn’t good enough to get her inside the top 64 for Monday’s final round.
With just 25 cards on offer, Byrne was always going to be fighting the odds as a Q School rookie, but she had already earned her place on the Epsom Tour for 2025.
Byrne is back in action next week at the LET qualifying, she travels to Marrakech with the hope of coming home with an LET Card for 2025.
