mount juliet & royal portrush top our 2012 polls - Backspin Golf ...

Above: Darren demonstrates his bunker skillsduring the Darren Clarke Foundation championsweekend at Portmarnock Golf Club.Left: Pictured with Darren during his championsweekend at Portmarnock Golf Club are, at back,from left, Jonathan Hewitt, Shane McGagh, GaryHurley, Ryan McKinstry, David Foy and GavinMoynihan. At front, from left, Caolan Kennedy,John Ross Galbraith, Conor Purcell, ReeceMcKeown, David Carey and Ross McKeever.Photos by PAT CASHMANwww.cashmanphotography.ieAbove: Members of the Ballykisteen team and supporters celebrate their victory in the All Irelandfinal of the Musgrave Crumlin Children’s Hospital Club Challenge in the Algarve last year.Clubs encouraged to supportMusgrave Crumlin ChallengeThree clubs - Limerick County, Nenaghand Castleblayney - have successfullydefended the Musgrave sponsoredCrumlin Hospital Club Challenge since itwas launched in 1998 and this is the taskfacing Ballykisteen Golf Club in 2012.Represented by Joe McDonald, JamesKeane, Damien Cullen and club captainJohn Hughes, the Munster championswere crowned the All Ireland winners inthe grand final in the Algarve last year.The title was decided over 36-holes atPalmares and Pinta and the winningstroke was a short putt by Damien Cullenon the last green at Pinta, whichkickstarted great celebrations!Previous winners Elm Green andRoscommon represented Leinster andConnacht respectively, while Nuremorecarried Ulster’s hopes.All funds raised through this annualevent go directly to Our Lady’s Children’sHospital in Crumlin.The Musgrave Group provide generoussupport. Now entering its fifteenth year,the event has raised a substantial amountfor the hospital’s St. Anne’s Ward whichwas built by the company.Golf Clubs nationwide can get involvedin the 2012 Musgrave Crumlin Children’sHospital Club Challenge either byincluding the three person “Rumble forCrumlin” competition day in their club’sdiary or by hosting a singles event withthe winner, runner-up and gross winnerrepresenting the club at the ProvincialFinal.The competition format allows for allmale, all female or mixed teams.The 2012 Provincial Finals will takeplace on the following dates...Leinster Grange GC, Aug. 30thMunster Nenagh GC, Sept. 3rdConnacht Bearna GC, Sept. 6thUlster Concra Wood GC, Sept. 13thThe All Ireland Final - involving thefour winning Provincial clubs - will returnto the Algarve in Portugal from 12th-15thOctober.Full details regarding the MusgraveCrumlin Hospital Club Challenge andentry forms for 2012 can be obtained bycontacting tournament co-ordinator PatCashman at litia@eircom.netPrevious winners of Musgrave Crumlin Hospital Club ChallengeYear Club Venue1998 Galway Portugal1999 Limerick County Portugal2000 Limerick County Portugal2001 Roscommon Portugal2002 Fermoy South Africa2003 Nenagh South Africa2004 Nenagh South AfricaYear Club Venue2005 Galway South Africa2006 Fermoy Portugal2007 Elm Green Portugal2008 Castleblayney Portugal2009 Castleblayney Portugal2010 Castle Hume Portugal2011 Ballykisteen PortugalBACKSPIN | 29