NEWS UPDATE TO MEMBERS – February 2021

Captain for 2021 takes office: On Wednesday 6th January and at a two-metre distance on the steps of the
Clubhouse, outgoing Captain Brian Leech presented Dave Dalton, Captain for 2021, with his Captain’s blazer,
saying.
“It has been a privilege and a great honour for me to represent you, the Members, and also
The Clontarf Golf and Bowling Club throughout a very unusual and difficult year for everyone in 2020.
I would like to thank you all for the support, kindness and understanding shown to me during my time
in office. I would like to wish our Club Officers and Committees, President Tommy, Vice-President
Andy, incoming Captain Dave, incoming Vice-Captain Liam, Lady Captain Anne, Lady Vice-Captain
Mary, Bowling Captain Peter and Bowling Vice-Captain John all the very best for 2021”.
Change of Club Treasurer: The Annual General Meeting of the Club should have taken place on Friday 29th
January but restrictions because of Covid-19 meant that a physical meeting could not take place. The AGM is the
time when Club officers retire and new appointees take over. Fergus Murphy, who had completed his three-year
term as Club Treasurer, decided not to seek a second three-year term. Consequently, Elizabeth Toomey, being the
only nominee for the position, has been installed as acting Club Treasurer until such time as an AGM can be held
and at which the Members can formally approve her election.
At the Management Committee Meeting in January, the Chairman, Ian Maguire, thanked Fergus for the tremendous
amount of work he undertook in dealing with the Club’s finances in such difficult times due particularly to the
unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and also working with the Finance sub-committee in updating the
format of the Club’s Accounts. He also wished him many more years of enjoyment as a Member of the Club. The
President, Tommy Cooke, echoed the sentiments expressed by the Chairman and, on behalf of all the Members,
thanked Fergus most sincerely for his service.
Bar Credits: The Management Committee has agreed to extend the deadline up to 31st October 2021 whereby
Members can use their Bar Credit, paid from the 1

st of November 2019, as a result of the impact on Members’ normal
spending patterns due to the lockdowns directed by the Government in a bid to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members may transfer up to €75 of their Bar Credit for use in the Restaurant when it reopens. If you wish to do so,
please contact the General Manager at 01- 833 1892.
Level 5 restrictions to continue: Following the announcement by the Irish Government on 26th January, that the
current period of Level 5 restrictions will be extended, Golf Ireland has noted with regret that golf and all other
sporting facilities in the Republic of Ireland are to remain closed.
Golf Ireland continues to engage with the relevant authorities in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to
ensure that golf returns as soon as the public health situation improves sufficiently.
The main objective for us all is to continue to do what we can to safeguard ourselves and others from further spread
of Covid-19. Golf Ireland urges all affiliated clubs and their members to continue to adhere to the public health
restrictions in place at this time.
The Management Committee will continue to monitor the situation as regards the reopening of the Clubhouse, golf
course and bowling green, in accordance with directions from the Government, and will keep the Members informed.
How to stay physically active during COVID-19 self-quarantine: Physical activity contributes to both our physical
and mental health. As many people are currently confined to their homes because of the COVID-19 pandemic,
WHO/Europe has developed a guide to help people integrate simple, safe ways to stay physically active in a limited
space. The guide also takes account of some of the physical challenges of working from home, offering tips on how
to integrate movement into daily routines.
“It is possible to keep active, even when you are confined indoors. Now, as more of us are living and working or
studying in the same space, it is even more important to take active breaks to move, stretch and make the time to
focus on our mental well-being. The exercises we have shared in this guide are easy to do and require no special
equipment. They offer a basic, safe starting point for making sure we all keep moving while staying at home,” said
Lea Nash Castro, Nutrition and Physical Activity Officer at WHO/Europe.
WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week
for adults, or a combination of both. The guidance is intended for people in self-quarantine without any symptoms or
diagnosis of acute respiratory illness. It should not replace medical guidance in case of any health condition.
You can find the guide on the WHO Europe website or by keying “stay physically active during self-quarantine” into
your search engine.

Create for Mental Health – Arts and Crafts Exhibition: Despite these difficult times when we are separated from
friends and family, and also from the many social and sporting activities we enjoyed before the restrictions began,
there are at least some things that are free from restrictions; our ability to create and to contribute to society. So to
help engage our minds and stay connected, we are sharing an idea that we hope you will find worthy of support.
What we have in mind is an Arts and Crafts Exhibition featuring the creative output of Members and their families,
which we hope to hold at the end of 2021. We plan to have a sale and auction of the exhibits and all monies raised
will go to a charity that supports mental health. If there is any lesson that 2020 gave us, it was that our mental health
during these times is incredibly vulnerable, just as much as our physical health.
So now is the time to dust off your arts and crafts supplies and equipment if you want to participate in this worthy
endeavour. The exhibition will include works of art and craft from any medium you wish, whether it be painting,
photography, woodwork, embroidery, knitting etc. There are NO restrictions on at least this one thing for 2021. It will
be your choice as to what to create and in your choice of medium. If you are interested in participating please
email denislynch57@gmail.com. We look forward to your participation.
Shopping Volunteer Group: John McMahon and Ray Maguire, the organisers of the Shopping Volunteer Group,
hope that all Members are keeping safe and well and catching up with all the jobs that needed doing but haven’t
been attended to until now. The Club Shopping Volunteer Group is there for all Clontarf Members or other members

of the local community who might need assistance with their shopping. If you require groceries, medicines, or a little-
pick-me up from the wine counter in SuperValu, all you have to do is ring John McMahon (086 821 3410) or Ray

Maguire (086 851 7416) and they will make the necessary arrangements. Don’t be shy – they’d love to hear from
you, even if it is only for a sliced pan, a litre of milk or a bottle of your favourite tipple! No order is too small. They we

are also putting together a plan for emergencies for anyone who is unfortunate enough to require a skilled handy-
man at short notice.

Many thanks to all the wonderful Shopping Volunteers for their unselfish commitment to help fellow Members.
Golf Tees Lament (Author – Larry Buddin)
Golf tees on my dresser, golf tees in my bed.
Golf tees on my pillows, where they poke me in my head.
Golf tees in my closet, falling from my shirts and pants .
Golf tees along the baseboards, just like army ants.
Golf tees in the carpet and underneath my feet.
Golf tees lined up on the mantle. Oh, they look so neat.
Golf tees in my couch and in my back and thighs.
When I sit and watch TV, I feel those little guys.
Golf tees in the kitchen, in Jurassic coffee mugs.
Sometimes when I pass them, they look like prehistoric bugs.
Golf tees in the bathtub, like sailors on plastic ships.
Golf tee in her make‐up, like little bald q‐tips.
Golf tees in the attic, golf tees in the shed.
Golf tees, golf tees everywhere – I wonder where they bred?
Golf tees out the backdoor, like Hansel‐and‐Gretel’s trails.
Golf tees in the flowerbeds, among the mulch and snails.
Golf tees in my car and underneath the mats.
Golf tees in the backseat, like little baseball bats.
But when I am at the golf course, I ask my partner, like a louse
“May I borrow some of your tees?” I left mine at the house!
A woman’s confidence:.
One night, President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of the routine and go for a casual
dinner at a restaurant that wasn’t too luxurious. When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the
President’s Secret Service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged and Michelle had a
conversation with the owner. After the conversation, President Obama asked Michelle why was he so interested in
talking to her. She mentioned that, in her teenage years, he had been madly in love with her.
President Obama then said, “So if you had married him, you would now be the owner of this lovely restaurant”.
Michelle responded, “No. if I had married him, he would now be the President”.
A woman’s confidence never comes in bits and pieces. This is dedicated to all the intelligent women in The Clontarf
Golf and Bowling Club.

What’s up in the sky? Over the past year, John Lambert, the Men’s Tournament Secretary, has supplied several
articles for the News Update on astronomical matters. He has suggested that anyone with an interest in what’s up
in the sky might like to join Astronomy Ireland (AI). Membership costs €60 plus a voluntary donation of €10 – €20.
Membership of AI includes the following:
• 12 issues of AI’s magazine delivered straight to member’s door.
• Free email service and updates to keep members informed of all the latest events happening in Ireland.
• Reduced rate tickets to any of AI’s ticketed events.
• Special “members only” telescope nights.
• Free advice when buying a telescope.
For anyone with just a passing interest, John recommends a free app called STELLARIUM which identifies most of
what you can see in the sky at night, just by pointing your mobile phone at the sky. This app also shows movement
of satellites in the sky which are visible to the naked eye in a clear sky at dusk. The app also allows you to sit indoors,
point upwards and see on screen what is available in the sky. There are other apps available showing the stars and
planets. Real nerds can get apps that show and identify passing satellites, including the time and direction of the
International Space Station as it traverses the Dublin skies. Some of these apps emanate from NASA.
Only a true golfer will understand these:
1. Don’t buy a putter until you’ve had a chance to throw it.
2. Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.
3. When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls.
4. If you’re afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you
have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up or you can wait until the green is clear and top
a ball halfway there.
5. The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.
6. No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse.
7. The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion
that allowed you to compensate for all of your many other errors.
8. Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot.
9. A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponent’s luck.
10. It is surprisingly easy to hole a fifty foot putt – for a 10.
11. Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of
his own haircut.
12. Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.
13. It’s not a gimme if you’re still 5 feet away.
14. The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly
through the center of a very large tree.
15. You can hit a two acre fairway 10% of the time and a two inch branch 90% of the time.
16. If you really want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age.
17. Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group
of three.
18. When you look up, causing an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when
you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again.
19. Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the
fundamental equilibrium of the universe.
20. If you want to hit a 7 iron as far as Tiger Woods does, simply try to lay up just short of a water hazard.
21. To calculate the speed of a player’s downswing, multiply the speed of his back-swing by his handicap,
i.e. back-swing 20 mph , handicap 15, downswing = 300 mph.
22. There are two things you can learn by stopping your back-swing at the top and checking the position
of your hands: (1) how many hands you have and (2) which one is wearing the glove.
23. Hazards attract; fairways repel. Keep this in mind.
24. A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.
25. If there is a ball on the fringe and a ball in the bunker, your ball is in the bunker. If both balls are in the
bunker, yours is in the footprint.
26. It’s easier to get up at 6:00am to play golf than at 10:00am to mow the lawn.
27. A good drive on the 18th hole has stopped many a golfer from giving up the game.
28. Golf is the perfect thing to do on Sunday because you always end up having to pray a lot.
29. A good golf partner is one who’s always slightly worse than you are.
30. If there’s a storm rolling in, you’ll be having the game of your life.
31. Golf balls are like eggs. They’re white. They’re sold by the dozen. And you need to buy fresh ones each
week.
32. It’s amazing how a golfer who never helps out around the house will replace his divots, repair his ball
marks, and rake his sand traps.
33. If your opponent has trouble remembering whether he shot a six or a seven, he probably shot an eight
(or worse).

From times past:
Temporary Wartime Golf Rules in Richmond Golf Club, Surrey, England, 1940
1. Players are asked to collect bomb and shrapnel splinters to save these causing damage to the mowing
machines.
2. In competitions, during gunfire or while bombs are falling, players may take cover without penalty for
ceasing play.
3. The positions of known delayed-action bombs are marked by red flags at a reasonably, but not
guaranteed, safe distance therefrom.
4. Shrapnel and/or bomb splinters on the fairways or in bunkers, within a club’s length of a ball, may be
moved without penalty and no penalty shall be incurred if a ball is thereby caused to move accidentally.
5. A ball moved by enemy action may be replaced, or, if lost or destroyed, a ball may be dropped not
nearer the hole without penalty.
6. A ball lying in a crater may be lifted and dropped not nearer the hole, preserving the line to the hole,
without penalty.
7. A player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous explosion of a bomb may play another ball from
the same place. Penalty one stroke.
And you thought some of the Temporary Golf Rules because of Covid-19 were an anathema!
Finally, be ready for when golf resumes:
1. Take good care of the battery in your golf trolley: In these strange times, when the battery in your golf trolly
is not getting any use, it is important that you take good care of it and that you follow the manufacturer’s storage
instructions for your type of battery.
• For Caddy Cell batteries, check: http://caddycell.com/index.php/instructions
• For Powakaddy batteries, check: PowaKaddy-Plug-n-Play-Battery-Charger-Instruction-Booklet-090818.pdf
2. ClubV1 Members Hub – a reminder: The new Club V1 competition software system is now in operation in
Clontarf Golf Club. Having this application on your phone and/or your iPad will provide you with up to date
information on golf activity, playing history, competition results, personal Club accounts and direct access into
the BRS booking system. The Club V1 app is free to install and Members can register by way of the following
simple steps:-
(1) Open GOOGLE or your preferred search engine
(2) Search for ClubV1 Members Hub
(3) Press “Install” and then “Open”
(4) Two message boxes will appear on screen. (1) If you already have a HowDidiDo passport account, please
“click here”. (2) Passport Registration – If you do not have a HowDidiDo passport account “click here” and
proceed to create one.
(5) Enter your email address, your password, confirm your password, and enter your forename and surname.
(6) Then register.
(7) Validation Link – A validation link will arrive in to your email immediately.
(8) Open the email and confirm your account.
(9) Log in to Passport and Profile Update and proceed.
It’s all very simple – just follow the on-screen instructions and you’ll be up and running in no time.
3. World Handicap System – a reminder: The New World Handicapping System is now live and you can access
your Handicap Index by creating an account in https://www.golfireland.ie/signup.
You will need your swipe card number and your pin number to create your account in Golf Ireland. Your pin
number can be found on the back of your swipe card or in the ‘My Dashboard’ tab of your Golfnet account.
Please be aware that your Handicap Index is not your Playing Handicap.
Having registered on the Golf Ireland Website a player can access their Handicap Records via ‘My Golf Login’ –
located in the top right hand corner of the Home Page. This will be the main source of a Player’s Handicap
Record in future.
The WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM, (Clubhouse) will be updated at midnight on the day in which a player has
played in an acceptable score Competition. It will display My Golf Account which includes My WHS Handicap
Index, My Handicap Performance and My Golf Scores.
A detailed chart is in place at the Pro-Shop and Concourse to assist Members in determining the Course
Handicap and then their Playing Handicap, depending on the format of play.