Golfers across the south-east made their way to West Waterford Golf Club to catch a glimpse of The Open’s Claret Jug on Friday morning.
The Golf Champion Trophy attracted onlookers from West Waterford Golf Club members as well as those affiliated to Dungarvan and Youghal clubhouses.
Chief Whip, Mary Butler of Fianna Fáil was also in attendance, as was Pat Nugent who is currently Cathaoirleach of the Dungarvan Lismore District Council.
Chief Whip, Mary Butler, pictured alongside West Waterford Golf Club members beside the Golf Champion Trophy
Cathaoirleach of Dungarvan Lismore District Council, Pat Nugent
West Waterford Golf Club Chairman Jim Moroney expressed his thanks to governing body Golf Ireland for bringing the trophy to Coolcormuck and predicted exciting times for the club.
“It’s a great day and we thank Golf Ireland for coming today,” he said.
“We’ve great plans for West Waterford. We have a 10-year capital programme in progress starting this year. We are starting with a driving range and we also have drainage work ongoing. So hopefully we’ll have a very good course by the end of the year. It’s improving all the time and it’s 100% thanks to our volunteers.”
The club was one of just twenty clubs selected to host the trophy ahead of this year’s tournament in July and Club President Ciara Donnelly said events like Friday’s are down to the volunteers at West Waterford.
“It’s fantastic. I think it’s just recognition of the work our volunteers are doing. We just can’t run this club without the volunteers. It’s literally from management down to serving teas and coffee here,” she stated.
The Club President thanked Chief Whip Mary Butler for her support and effort in helping the club.
“Mary’s done an awful lot of work for this club and with the Sports Capital Grant she put a huge amount of work into getting us that funding which is going to help the course so much.”
Chairman Moroney outlined the enormity of hosting the Claret Jug inside the West Waterford Golf Club clubhouse.
“This is a very prestigious event. We’re one of 20 clubs that have been selected. And I suppose the main reason we were selected is because we have a fantastic Get Into Golf programme. We’re promoting golf as much as we can.”
And Club President Donnelly said it was a great feeling to be in a chapter of the trophies history.
“It’s fantastic. We’re delighted with the turnout here. It’s a huge honour. We’re now a very small but proud part of the Open Championship history, so it’s great,” she concluded.
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