Irish golf in mourning after death of Dr David Sheahan, a Walker Cup star in 1963

FROM THE IRISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

​​​​Former Ireland international Dr David Sheahan, who was rated among the leading players of his era and a Walker Cup star in 1963, has died at the age of 76.

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Below: David Sheahan receiving the Castletroy 

Scratch Cup in 1965

Caption to picture: Dr David Sheahan on his way to victory at the Jeyes Pro-Am in 1962

Most famous for his victory against the professionals at the Jeyes Pro-Am in 1962, the amazing Dr David Sheahan was the envy of his peers.

Sheahan was a student prince at Royal Dublin on 6 June, 1962. Despite being immersed in his medical studies at UCD, the then 22-year-old emerged victorious after a 72-hole stroke play tournament featuring some of the world’s biggest names including five Ryder Cup players. Sheahan’s 10-under par total of 282 was too good for likes of Christy O’Connor Senior, Bernard Hunt, Dai Rees, Harry Weetman and Ralph Moffat.

Playing the 18th in that final round, Sheahan made birdie for a one-shot win over South African Denis Hutchinson. His success as an amateur among professionals was unequalled in Europe for 45 years, not until Pablo Martin’s win at the 2007 Estoril Open de Portugal.

The golfing doctor gained international honours in 1961 and was selected on the Great Britain and Ireland team for the 1963 Walker Cup at Turnberry, where he won both his singles matches.

A three-time winner of the Irish Amateur Close, Sheahan recorded his wins at Co Sligo in 1961, Royal Dublin in 1966 and at his home club Grange in 1970. He played 54 times for Ireland from 1961 to 1970, winning 25 matches and featured on victorious Irish teams at the European Team Championships in 1965 (Sandwich) and 1967 (Turin)

“He definitely, in his spare time, became a legend,” said Des Smyth in conversation with Shane O’Donoghue for his book, Legends in their Spare Time. “He barely practised at all, as far as I know,” Smyth recalled.

In fact, Sheahan played infrequently after the ’63 Walker Cup as he concentrated on his medical career but he returned to the amateur scene with a bang in 1966 when he won the second of his Irish Close titles

A much loved member of Grange, Dr Sheahan served as club captain in 1993 and club president in 2009 and 2010. Even at the age of 73, he was a force to be reckoned with on the golf course and was golfer of the year at Grange in 2013, still a Category 1 player off a handicap of five. Most recently, he played off six.

Beloved husband of Maureen and loving father of Leonard, Darren and Lisa, he will be sadly missed by his family, his grandchildren Ciarán, Mira and Eilis, daughter-in-law Katarina, brother Gerry, sisters-in-law Doreen and June, brothers-in-law David and Brian, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends.

His removal takes place on Thursday evening to the Church of the Three Patrons, Rathgar, arriving at 5.30pm. Funeral Mass on Friday at 10am followed by burial at Kilmashogue Cemetery.

Six-hole golf: what do the architects think?

By Sean Dudley

Golf’s administrators are keenly aware that one of the factors limiting participation is the time required to play a traditional ‘full’ round – 18 holes – of golf.
In a recent interview with BBC Radio, European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley highlighted that “people’s time is so precious,” and said “every golf course being built needs to be six holes, six holes, six holes,” allowing people to play a single loop before they go to work.
Pelley also spoke of the possible introduction of a new shorter format for the professional game: “We are looking to create a format that would be six holes. That could be an hour, an hour-and-a-half content programme.”
“Yes there would be a shot clock, yes there would be music being played, and PA announcements, and players would be dressed a little differently, and maybe they would only play with five or seven clubs,” he continued, indicating that a six-hole tournament could be rolled out by 2018.
So what do architects think, and what does this mean for their designs?
“In the Netherlands, 65 per cent of green fees sold are for nine-hole rounds,” says Frank Pont of Infinite Variety Golf Design. “Having the possibility to play six holes will, in my opinion, get more people to try the game and continue playing golf. Also you need less land to build six-hole courses on, so you could build them closer to metropolitan areas.”
“Six-hole golf is a great idea – not only for tournaments but for golf in general,” says Lassi Pekka Tilander of Tilander Golf Design. “The routing of my home club comes back after five holes. Many of my best golfing memories comes from these five-hole games.”
Tilander says he is always conscious of the need to appeal to golfers looking to play shorter rounds. “When designing a new course, I always try to get at least two nine-hole loops or, even better, three six-hole loops,” he says.
 “However, because of the form of the land, it’s not possible all of the time.”
Pont highlights that for many courses, a new format would be easily accommodated. “My home course at De Pan has a three, a six, and a nine-hole loop, all starting and finishing at the clubhouse, which works really well,” said Pont.
 “But from an architectural perspective, it’s important to make sure there is enough variety. Ideally there would be two or three par three holes, two or three par four holes and one or two par five holes – all with different lengths and playing strategies.”
Pont adds: “I believe six, nine and twelve hole courses will be built more and more, and especially in urban areas.”
Tilander questions whether a six-hole format is likely to be any more appealing than nine holes. “Most courses already have two nine-hole loops,” he says. “If people don’t play nine holes on their home course, why would they play only six holes? What makes traditional nine-hole golf so ‘unsexy’?”
The simple answer to Tilander's argument is that if you had only an hour or so to spare from work then you are more likely to be able to squeeze in six holes of golf than nine holes.
Tilander does, however, acknowledge the potential impact of shorter formats. “Reducing the number of holes will be a big difference for the game,” he says. “Having top level professional six- or nine-hole tournaments would be a good start, but at the same time there should be more nine-hole club tournaments and social events.”

+This article first appeared in Issue 46 of Golf Course Architecture

Tiger Woods will start comeback in Bahamas tournament from December 1 to 4
 
FROM GOLF DIGEST
It looks like that Tiger Woods' comeback is going to take place in 2016, after all. At least, we think. Woods announced 
today his intention to make his return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge. 
The event, hosted by Woods, will take place from December 1 to 4  in the Bahamas. Previously, Woods announced he had hoped to play in the Hero along with the Safeway Open, the first tournament of the 2016-2017 US PGA Tour season, and the Turkish Airlines Open, before withdrawing from the Safeway three days before the event.
 He sounds more confident he'll actually tee it up this time.

"I am excited to make my return at the Hero World Challenge at Albany and play in this terrific tournament," Woods said in a statement. 

"This is our 18th year, and every year we put together a top field that showcases the best golfers from the previous season."

Woods hasn't played since the 2015 Wyndham Championship. Following that event, in which Woods finished T-10, he underwent two back surgeries. Assuming he plays in the Bahamas, it will end the longest break (15 months) from golf of his career.

Turkish Airlines Open: Padraig Harrington, who is there,  questions withdrawals

Padraig Harrington's victory at the Portugal Masters in October was his first European Tour title since 2008

 

FROM BBC SPORT.COM
Players who have  pulled out of this week's Turkish Airlines Open because of security concerns may have over-reacted, says three-time major winner Padraig Harrington.

World number three Rory McIlroy withdrew following last month's missile attacks in the Antalya region, which hosts the tournament. So too did American Patrick Reed.
It will feature only three of the top 10 players in the Race to Dubai.
"There's a lot of scaremongering," said 45-year-old Irishman Harrington.
"They have to put more security in and pay attention, but is it more dangerous here than anywhere else? I'm not sure."
The leading 70 players in the Race to Dubai were eligible for the Turkish Airlines Open starting on Thursday, but the withdrawals mean the field goes down as far as Sweden's Pelle Edberg, who is ranked 102nd.
Harrington, who is 43rd in the standings, said he encountered no problems when he played at the 2016 Rio Olympics, amid fears of the Zika virus, and in Northern Ireland, during the Troubles.
"That was a big factor cited in not going to Rio, safety reasons, and how wrong were they there?" he said.
"I've tended to travel and play around the world because I did it in the late 80s and early 90s in Ireland and we had our troubles in Ireland.
"I played a lot of golf in Northern Ireland during that period and I remember other golfers from down south saying 'you're mad going up there'.
"You couldn't convince people who hadn't gone there and experienced it for themselves that it was a great place to go."
Englishmen Danny Willett, Tyrrell Hatton and Lee Westwood are the only players in the top 10 who will play at the Regnum Carya Resort, Turkey this week.
Second-placed Willett, the Masters champion, will regain top spot from Sweden's Henrik Stenson by finishing outright fifth or higher.

The Turkish Airlines Open features a tee box on the roof of a villa

By Keith Jackson

Last Updated: 01/11/16 4:10pm

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A look at one of the most unusual tee positions on the 16th hole at the Turkish Airlines Open this week.

European Tour stars will face the unusual prospect of teeing off from the roof of a villa as the Race to Dubai Final Series tees off at this week's Turkish Airlines Open.

The picturesque Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort in Antalya hosts the event for the first time, and tournament officials took the decision to construct a new back tee on top of one of the many holiday homes situated around the course.
The villa behind the 16th was built where the original back tee used to be, but tournament officials took the decision to construct a new tee on the roof which adds 34 yards to the par-four, which now measures 463 yards.

Tournament director Miguel Vidaor told the European Tour: "Obviously it's the first time Regnum Carya Golf and Resort Spa has hosted a European Tour event and we took a look at the course and how we might set it up.

"The original 16th hole was altered during the construction of the villas and the new tee on the roof is pretty much where the old tee used to be."

Hogarty  takes MENA Tour Championship honours at Muscat Hills, Scots disappoint

By VIREN VARMA

MUSCAT, Oman — Tyler Hogarty held his nerve when it mattered most to win the season-ending Tour Championship as England’s Craig Hinton walked away with the coveted MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title today.

Hogarty, a 24-year-old South African closed with a five-under 67 to reach 12-under for the tournament, sealing his maiden win on the tour, two shots ahead of England’s Luke Joy, who staged a compelling fight-back with a blistering back nine 30 en route to a course-record equalling 66.

Sweden’s Per Barth occupied solo third on nine-under after carding final round 67, one clear of England’s Jordan Garnish and two off Stuart Archibald who matched Joy’s low score of 66.

“Obviously, I feel delighted to get over the line this time around after coming close to winning on so many occasions,” said Hogarty after receiving the winner’s trophy from His Highness Al-Rawy Kais Al-Said, CEO and Chairman of Muscat Hills.

“I played quite consistently during the week and stuck to my game plan which was to take advantage of the par-5s and not to get frustrated,” said the South African, who joined the MENA Golf Tour as an amateur in 2012 before turning professional a year later.

“I pitched in for from about 25 yards from an eagle on the second and then holed a 25-footer from the fringe for a birdie on the 15th and that proved crucial to winning the championship,” said Hogarty, who also received a cheque for $18,000, making it the biggest payday of his professional career. 

England’s Joy, who made the turn at level par, reeled off six birdies, including four in a row from the 13th, to post a creditable second that earned him $12,000, taking his overall earnings during the season to $ 38,355.

Hinton finished in a tie for 25th on two under after a final round 69, but it was enough to land him the Order of Merit title with a total earnings of $39,338 as his countryman Zane Scotland ($34,195) finished third.
Scots Paul Doherty and Aberdeen-born, Dubai-based Clarke Lutton had disappointing scores. See the final totals below to see how far down the list they finished.

England’s Todd Clements returned a 68 to win the amateur division at seven-under, but it was India’s teenage Rayhan Thomas, this year's Scottish boys' open stroke play champion,  who comfortably topped the order of merit standings with 329 points, well ahead of England’s Benjamin David (231 points).

The top three professionals on the Order of Merit and the leading amateur will be invited to compete in the 2017 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in addition to earning full playing privileges on the South African Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Q-School.

Players, ranked between six and 15, will be also be exempt into the final stage of the Sunshine Tour’s Qualifying School in a move aimed at creating meaningful playing opportunities for players knocking on the doors of stardom.

FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY IN DOLLARS

1		Tyler Hogarty	-12	F	70	67	67	204	$18,000.00
2		Luke Joy	-10	F	72	68	66	206	12,000.00
3		Per Barth	-9	F	69	71	67	207	8,000.00
4		Jordan Garnish	-8	F	69	69	70	208	4,099.00
5		Stuart Archibald	-7	F	71	72	66	209	3,099.00
5		Todd Clements [Am]	-7	F	71	70	68	209	-
7		Younes El Hassani	-6	F	72	69	69	210	2,399.00
7		Lee Corfield	-6	F	70	72	68	210	2,399.00
7		Benjamin David [Am]	-6	F	70	70	70	210	-
7		Joe Heraty	-6	F	69	68	73	210	2,399.00
7		Rafa Culla	-6	F	73	67	70	210	2,399.00
12		Zane Scotland	-5	F	69	72	70	211	1,477.00
12		Max Williams	-5	F	68	68	75	211	1,477.00
12		Faycal Serghini	-5	F	70	69	72	211	1,477.00
12		Edward Barry-Walsh	-5	F	75	67	69	211	1,477.00
12		Sixto Casabona-navarro	-5	F	73	67	71	211	1,477.00
17		Daniel Owen	-4	F	67	70	75	212	1,327.00
17		Borja Cabello	-4	F	72	72	68	212	1,327.00
17		Fredrik From	-4	F	71	71	70	212	1,327.00
20		Jake Shepherd	-3	F	71	70	72	213	1,284.00
20		Tiago Lobo [Am]	-3	F	73	70	70	213	-
20		Scott Campbell	-3	F	70	74	69	213	1,284.00
20		Liam Crawford	-3	F	70	73	70	213	1,284.00
20		Matt Killen	-3	F	72	73	68	213	1,284.00
25		Ahmed Marjan	-2	F	75	70	69	214	1,174.00
25		Paul Doherty	-2	F	68	71	75	214	1,174.00
25		Rayhan Thomas [Am]	-2	F	71	69	74	214	-
25		Craig Hinton	-2	F	69	76	69	214	1,174.00
25		Fredrik Lindblom	-2	F	72	69	73	214	1,174.00
25		Edward Holland [Am]	-2	F	73	70	71	214	-
31		Mariano Ochoa	-1	F	69	74	72	215	1,062.00
31		Max Helgesson	-1	F	70	73	72	215	1,062.00
31		Antonio Costa	-1	F	74	69	72	215	1,062.00
34		Jean-Luc Burnier	L	F	71	69	76	216	989.00
34		Othman Almulla [Am]	L	F	72	71	73	216	-
34		Anton Guedra	L	F	75	68	73	216	989.00
37		Daniel Suchan	1	F	70	72	75	217	964.00
37		Ryan Laird	1	F	73	73	71	217	964.00
39		Elliott Oxlade	2	F	74	74	70	218	929.00
39		Louis Campbell	2	F	72	75	71	218	929.00
39		Jesper Alm	2	F	71	71	76	218	929.00
39		Andrew Marshall	2	F	70	76	72	218	929.00
43		Clarke Lutton	4	F	75	72	73	220	889.00
43		Mehdi Saissi	4	F	75	68	77	220	889.00
43		Rocco Sanjust	4	F	74	74	72	220	889.00
46		Jonathan Fransson	5	F	74	77	70	221	865.00
46		Aaron Leitmannstetter	5	F	76	75	70	221	865.00
46		Khaled Attieh [Am]	5	F	75	74	72	221	-
49		Kevin Esteve	8	F	76	74	74	224	850.00
50		Adam Sagar	9	F	75	76	74	225	835.00
50		Oscar Hertzberg	9	F	71	78	76	225	835.00
52		Adam Ward	10	F	75	78	73	226	820.00
53		Joshua Seale	11	F	73	79	75	227	805.00
53		Ediz Kemaloglu	11	F	79	73	75	227	805.00
55		Josh Taylor	12	F	76	76	76	228	780.00
55		Andi Dill	12	F	73	78	77	228	780.00
55		Jonny McAllister	12	F	76	73	79	228	780.00
58		Mustapha El Maouas	13	F	72	79	78	229	761.00
59		Sam Hobday [Am]	14	F	73	81	76	230	-
60		Michael Dreyer	21	F	83	75	79	237	752.00