Joe Hynes
It is with sadness that I open the Autumn Captain's Log with the news of the death of our 1987 Captain, Joe Hynes.
Joe was born in Armagh City and from an early age he showed a precocious talent for sketching and painting and he was mainly self-taught.
Joe worked as a graphic artist until 1977, when he began working as a full-time painter.
His loosely impressionist watercolour paintings often depicted street scenes throughout Ireland, focusing on the interaction between people and their surroundings and included a number set around both Armagh City and the course at County Armagh Golf Club.
Joe’s artwork was much sought after and his work appeared on stamps, calendars and greeting cards across the world. His most notable commission was for the Templeton Prize which was awarded annually for more than 30 years by the late Prince Philip.
Members will have admired the pictures on invitation cards to Captain’s days over the past number of years without perhaps being aware that these are reproductions from paintings which Joe had done and for which use he had given his permission.
He married his partner and soulmate Beverley on July 9,1960. She was an active and popular member of the Sequoias Society. Beverley sadly passed away in July 2022.
Both Joe and Beverley enjoyed playing golf in Armagh, travelling from their long-time home in Ulsterville Park, Portadown, ignoring the closer options of the Carrickblacker (Portadown GC) and Tandragee courses.
Joe explained,
“My father was the head gardener at the Archbishop’s Palace in Armagh, so when I was growing up, we lived in the Gate House.”
“At that time, golf was the preserve of the well-to-do professional people, rather than the likes of us. But I always said that if ever I came to play golf, it would be at County Armagh. That’s how Beverley and I came to be members all those years ago.”
My lasting memory of Joe will be of both himself and Beverley visiting the golf club in the afternoons to catch up with old friends and Joe, as always looking very dapper in those colourful and stylish cravat ties.
On behalf of the Club I would like to extend our sympathies to his surviving brothers Cecil, Frank and the wider family circle.
Winter League Team Competition
Many members have bemoaned the fact that weather conditions prevented the playing of a number of the mixed greensome competitions on a Friday night, thwarting Club plans to have inclusive competitions for both Lady and Men. Now we have the chance to put that right with the introduction of a Winter League series.
The Competition will run over 9 holes (holes 1-7, 17 & 18) and will be open to both our Men and Lady Members.
The League is scheduled to run for 10 weeks from Saturday 4 November - Friday 5 January.
Each Competition Week will run from the Saturday to the following Friday.
Each player can play as often as they like in the Competition Week however the Pro Shop must be advised before they play!
Players will be drawn into teams of 4/6 (depending on numbers) with a mix, where possible, of handicap and genders – You don’t necessarily have to play with members of your team, although you are free to do so. The two best individual player scores will count as the team’s score in that week. Winter handicaps will apply as appropriate.
Each individual player can only contribute a maximum of five scores to the team throughout the
competition. The best 8 overall team scores from the 10 weeks will count in the league.
Please note that there will be the usual weekend and Thursday competitions; players are
welcome to play in both the League and their normal Ladies or Men's competitions.
Please take a separate card for the Winter League if you are playing in both.
Cards should be returned to the Competition box.
ENTRY CLOSES SUNDAY 29th OCTOBER after which time a draw for teams will be made.
Course Maintenance
The Greens team, led by Iain under the guidance of Colm and his Course Development Committee have maintained the course in admirable condition over what has been a very difficult year, weather wise.
The team have been encouraged by the comments of many visitors, including those from GolfIreland who were impressed by the condition of the course during the recent South Ulster Finals which the Club hosted.
The teams’ efforts must be viewed in the context of the challenges which they have faced over the past year.
The average rainfall in Armagh, since official records began in 1836, stood at 823mm. In the year since last October rainfall levels reached 980mm, 19% more than normal. This included the wettest March and July since records began and the wettest day of rain ever recorded on the 22nd July. Whereas we might normally expect 150 days classified as “rainy”, there have been 240 such days since last October. (Statistics from the Met Office).
At times the challenges faced by the Greens team seem Sisyphean but they continue to take every opportunity to improve playability. While this work is underway the course will never be presented in its pristine best and I would thank members for their continued forbearance while the team conduct essential work.
Members can assist in the maintenance effort although the occasional preponderance of unrepaired pitch marks, un-raked bunkers and litter on the course would suggest that some members are more responsible than others. Please remember to repair any playing damage which you cause and, if you haven’t already got a pitch mark repair tool, Will has a selection on offer in the Pro Shop, many embossed with the Club logo which would make a useful and welcome gift for some.
I know that many members have suggestions as to how maintenance efforts might be improved and I would encourage those members to participate actively in the Club. The Development Committee is always keen to welcome assistance in its efforts to improve the course.
Pretty n Pink Fundraiser
As you know October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and our Ladies Committee once again surpassed themselves with their annual Pretty n Pink Breast Cancer Fundraiser.
Lady Captain Lily raised an amazing £2000 for her chosen charity Pretty n Pink. The charity which Lily described as "very close to her heart" was very appreciative of such a generous donation. Their representative, Karen Hoy, testified to the incredible practical and emotional support which the charity provides to Breast Cancer patients and their families, and sincerley thanked Lily for her unwavering support.
A great day was had by all as there was a Ladies & Gents Open Stableford, a Sweet & Buns Table, a Prize Draw and of course Prizes for best dressed Ladies & Gents, the club certainly was rocking the pink on Thursday evening.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the day.
Forthcoming Ladies' events
Following completion of a range of events over what we considered a "summer" and the completion of the final 18 hole Ladies competition, Lady Captain Lily was pleased to announce the following events which will take place over the next few weeks;
* Halloween Fancy Dress and Quiz hosted by Donna Fox of Donna Fox Tours on Thursday 26th October at 7pm. Posters in the Clubhouse.
* "Tea Ladies" 9 hole competitions each Monday following completion of the sanding programme.
* The Ladies Winter League- sponsored by Philip White Tyres. Entry sheet in the Ladies Locker room.
Charities
I would like, on behalf of Lady Captain, Lily and President Paddy, and myself to thank all members for their generosity on the occasion of our respective competition days. There are always very many calls on our generosity and it is heartening to know that members of County Armagh Golf Club can be called on to contribute to worthy causes.
Pretty n Pink, The Southern Area Hospice, The Kevin Bell repatriation trust were the beneficiaries of the Captains’s Days and President’s Day donations, but there are other charities, too numerous to mention individually, which have benefitted from Club member’s donations.
From the Food Bank appeal which kicked the year off, through the quizzes, where donations to Prostate Cancer UK were featured to Brendan’s draw beneficiaries, PIPS, Suicide Prevention and The Kevin Bell Trust, and Brain Cancer research which Catherine McAnerney continues to support annually, a figure in excess of £5000 has been raised this year. This does not include the sums raised by individuals or companies on their respective golf days whose efforts have not gone unnoticed.
On behalf of both Captains, the President and the respective charities I would like to thank members most sincerely