Captain Aidan Doyle President Padraig McMunn Noel gave County Sligo years of voluntary service and will

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1 Noel Keyes, a truly wonderful man and local legend departed his earthly life on Sunday January 25 th but not before he had left an indelible mark on all of us that were privileged to have known him. The following are messages from members amidst Noels native Waterford colours We at Co. Sligo Golf Club are deeply saddened by the passing of Noel Keyes, Past Captain, Past President and Past Trustee of the Club. I wish to extend our sympathy to the Keyes family during these difficult times. Captain Aidan Doyle Over the years I came to realise that while we had a great course Noel was one of the reasons we had one of the great Irish golf clubs. He loved his game of golf and quietly competitive he won the Henderson Cup(1965), Captain's Prize(87), Club Fourball (92) and Hermitage Cup(99). Noel understood better than most that golf, as in life, is about the journey not the destination. My abiding memory will be a summer's evening with Noel sauntering down the fairway with his pipe in hand, smiling and enjoying his game and trying to get this dim witted student to understand the need to play to your strengths, to stop forcing and trying to get me to grip the club properly! Thanks for everything Noel! Anton Murphy Noel was an outstanding ambassador for our club. He was a wonderful individual, who had a great interest in other people s lives. We served on council together and spent may happy days (and nights) with the choir. It was a privilege to know him and I shall miss his company dearly. Neil Gaynor. Firstly on behalf of the County Sligo Golf Club and on my own behalf can I express sincere sympathy on the death of our esteemed member Mr. Noel Keyes to his wife Pam, his immediate and extended family. Noel was a member of our club for in excess of 50 years during which time he served as Captain, President and Trustee. Apart from the honorary positions held in our club Mr. Keyes as he was fondly known, was a friend to all and always ready to debate and impart words of wisdom. On being elected captain Mr. Keyes congratulated me, wished me well and then gave me a word of friendly advice "you are the first amongst equals, remember this and you will be fine". This advice I cherished and to this day I quote Mr. Keyes advice to all incoming captains. He was a founder member of our club choir and we all remember fondly our trips at home and abroad. Noel was a great family man, a loving husband, father and grandad. He will be sadly missed. May he rest in peace. President Padraig McMunn Noel gave County Sligo years of voluntary service and will always be remembered as one of the pillars of of our Club, a true gentleman. Vice Captain Jeff Hatt Noel can only be regarded as one of life s true gentlemen. For many years he and I and Michael Horan played golf every Sunday morning at 9.26am. He was a very tidy golfer, a great putter and very competitive. We stood shoulder to shoulder together in many choirs for over 40 years and shared so many laughs, the odd wrong note but never an unkind word. Noel, Pam and the whole Keyes family have been wonderful neighbours and support to the Gannon family from the moment Sheila and I arrived in Rosses Point. He never failed, right up to last week, to ask about the welfare of the Gannon family. He will be sorely missed. Joe Gannon

2 I was captain when Noel was in his 2 nd year of Presidency and you could not have met a more helpful and nicer human being. One time I asked Noel what exactly does a President do he replied You sit back and preside Michael O Brien With the passing of Noel, Rosses Point has lost one of its great friends. A pillar in both the community and the golf club we mourn the loss of a true gentleman. An able debater, I recall many discussions benefiting from his timely, precise, and concise contributions delivered with a fine dry sense of humour. His considered advice to Captains over the years was highly regarded by us all and ensured that steady progress was achieved. In more recent times he would be found sitting with his sons and friends enjoying his favourite tipple with a smile for all and at peace with the world. Ar deis De go raibh an anam. Pat Forkan Noel was very involved in club affairs and was hon secretary before going on to serve as Captain, President and club Trustee, He was one of the original members of the Male Voice Choir and was singing with the choir for nearly twenty years. He was the winner of the "Ponger Cup" subsequently replaced by the Neafsey Cup. A true gentleman, who gave great service, not only to the club but also to the local community of Rosses Point. He will be sadly missed. Tony Cunningham Noel made a major contribution to The County Sligo Golf Club. His commitment and devotion to the club is well documented and he leaves a lasting legacy. Noel will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Michael Kennedy. Noel was a warm, friendly, calm, relaxed guy with a wry sense of humour. We share the same birthplace of Poleberry, Waterford City but didn t meet until we were in Sligo. He had a lifelong love of Waterford hurling and fondy recalled the Déise s All Ireland wins in 48 and 59. Noel Flavin I never heard of any man who beat him in an argument. A great man for devilment, he drove my father mad by his purchasing antics in the bar.. Noel s handwriting was excellent as can still be seen from looking at the old club meeting minutes. He will be greatly missed Nicky Harte Right from when I first joined County Sligo GC in 1989 Noel was a welcoming face. Over the years we became friends. Noel would always have a kind enquiry about my family. We shared our mutual interest in sport and when the Waterford hurlers were going strong we chatted about them and he'd inquire about the progress of the Rossies. For years we both sang together in the second tenors. On our away choir trips Noel was never first to bed!. During my Captain's year in 2007 I always had Noel's support an indeed I sought, received and valued his wise counsel on occasions.in that same year I asked him if he would undertake a special project and compile a list of Captain's prize winners. I had observed that there was no record in the club of the winners of the premier competition for members. Noel graciously accepted the task and set about it with diligence and painstaking assiduousness. He spent many hours in the county library trawling through records of local newspapers and eventually produced a comprehensive list of winners, in it's own way a piece of club history. One curiosity that arose from this was that in the early days the format for Captain's prize was a mixed foursomes! This list appeared on the club website when Vinnie McGee was PRO but has since disappeared. I feel that this list of winners, collated with such effort, should be displayed in the club and it would be especially fitting now. It is also wonderful that the club foursomes is now to become the Keyes foursomes after Noel formally presented trophies for the competition recently. Our club has lost a great member. Pam and her family have suffered a great loss. Noel will be missed. Dr Michael McNamara I first got to know Noel some thirty years ago when we sat on council. As then club secretary he displayed an encyclopaedic knowledge of County Sligo Golf Club, its traditions and rules but only used this knowledge when prevailed upon to do so or to diffuse a difficult situation. As captain I often sought his advise which he gave generously. I had many a conversation with him and never once did I hear him utter a word of negativity about anyone. Noel was good company to be with and his quiet humour was infectious. I am proud to have taken the odd ball of malt with a true gentleman. Tom Kenny Noel s friendly and courteous company was a pleasure that had its essence in his natural good humour and witty recollections. His rich life's journey, he generously shared, should you need calm balanced advice or a good philosophical slant on any problem, great or small. One left him, looking forward to be again in his ever pleasant company. Rory Callaghy

3 Noel always had time. He was always interested! Never saw him in bad form! Great man! Joseph Keyes being presented with the Junior Golfer of the Year for the third year in a row. Taken on the 8 of November 2014 and featuring his late grandad Noel Keyes who was his first golf coach. Dr. Kevin Flanagan The sad news of the passing of Noel Keyes last weekend was a shock not just to the members of the golf club but to the entire community of Rosses Point and further afield. He brought his great gifts of patience, knowledge and clear sightedness to the members of the club. Noel had the wonderful knack of getting his point across in a gentle but firm manner and he always had the utmost respect for other points of view. I doubt Noel had a bad bone in his body, everybody respected him and he was popular with all the members, golfers and staff. He will be remembered with great affection and the old saying "ni bheidh a leitheid ann aris" definitely applies to the late Noel. Michael McGowan Noel Keyes served Co. Sligo so well as a member, my fond memories of Noel are his great capacity to listen to all views, his commitment to the constitution of the Club and the rules of golf and his willingness to serve the Club in whatever capacity the Club asked of him. The Club s constitution was his bible and his great knowledge of same was called upon on many occasions at Council and at AGM s. Before the computerisation of scores for the West of Ireland Noel was the scrutiniser of score cards and always on Good Friday he would down tools and head to the ceremonies in the local Church and nobody was allowed check scores while he was away. Noel was a very committed member and we were so fortunate to have him as a member and I know he enjoyed his time working for us all. May he enjoy the fairways in Heaven. Gerry McManus - Trustee Known for his uncontroversial and diplomatic personality, Noel always the peace maker, will be remembered fondly. Paddy. Morgan When I was a young lad of 13 Noel Keyes, who hadn't yet come to live in Rosses Point, had already established a great reputation as a table tennis star and here in Rosses Point, the Table tennis Club of St. Columba's wasn't exactly short of quality or even national talent. His marriage to Pam would ensure the team had what we now refer to as 'strength in depth and it was the best team in the county at the time. In the community, Noel was a Sea Scout leader and also Chairman of the Realt na Mara Board of Management. For Centenary year of the golf club, Noel took on the onerous task of Honorary Secretary.. We didn't have a Secretary Manager at the time but Noel took on the challenge and brought the Club through a difficult year. On the Links and Clubhouse committees he helped steer us through these challenging times. Also that year the Club hosted the All Ireland Finals of the Cups and Shields when we were Runners up in the Senior and Junior Cups ( the following year we went on to victory in the Barton Shield). It was a challenging time for the Club which saw a major erosion protection programme commence on the 2nd beach - in the vicinity of the 13th Green and the 14th River. Then followed the construction of the new 12th Green and the returfing of the Rye grass greens on the Championship course and the development of Bomore as a new 9 hole facility. Without Noels support these projects would never have seen the light of day. Later he was to preside over the opening of the new extension to the Clubhouse as President and then followed 10 years as Trustee. Noel was seen as pivotal in all the major developments. He was best known for his role on the West of Ireland Championship Committee down through the years. He had a great depth of knowledge and experience on the running of the Championship and was rock solid when difficult calls had to me made. Another memory was whenever Noel rose to speak at an AGM silence almost without fail descended on the meeting. His closing remarks always, eloquent and challenging summed up the issues clearly and ensured victory for common sense. Oliver McDonagh Trustee Noel was part of the fabric of our club, he knew everybody and always had a friendly word or welcome. I met him first in my early days in Sligo nearly 20 years ago and he was instrumental in settling me into the club and indeed life in Sligo. As I undertook various roles in the club Noel was always supportive. May he rest in peace..terry Brady

4 Provisional Competition Diary to Mar 1 + Captain & Revised Presidents Day Dates Day Date Competition Name Competition Format Tee Holes Sat 24-Jan Singles Singles Stableford White 13 Sun 25-Jan Winter League Rd7 Fourball V-Par White 9 Wed 28-Jan Wednesday Society Singles Stableford Blue 13 Sat 31-Jan Fourball 4Ball Betterball Stableford White 13 Sun 1-Feb Singles Singles Stableford White 13 Sat 7-Feb Singles Singles Stableford White 13 Sun 8-Feb Winter League Rd8 Fourball V-Par White 9 Wed 11-Feb Wednesday Society Singles Stableford Blue 13 Sat 14-Feb Singles Stableford White 16 Sun 15-Feb Singles Singles V-Par White 16 Sat 21-Feb Singles Singles Stableford White 16 Sun 22-Feb Winter League Rd9 Fourball V-Par White 9 Sat 28-Feb Fourball 4Ball Betterball Stableford White 18 Sun 1-Mar Singles Singles Stableford White 18 Sat 4-July Captain s Day Stroke White 18 Sat 25-July President s Day Singles Stableford White 18 LOCAL RULES APPLICABLE TO COURSE REVITALISATION All Bunkers under construction and those under renovation have been defined by the Committee as ground under repair, and therefore lose their status as hazards and are automatically classified as through the green. Therefore, unless the Committee specifically states otherwise, Rule 25-1b(i) applies, not Rule 25-1b(ii) and in addition Relief must be taken. If a ball lies in or touches other areas of ground under repair (i.e. Green Extensions, New Tee Boxes and areas of Fairway/Rough reshaping) relief must be taken under rule 25-1b (i) Godsell wins Saturday 24 th January 2015 Singles Stableford, 13 holes White Tees. David Godsell with a great score of 29 pts won the hole competition in almost ideal winter conditions. 1, David Godsell (16) 29pts; 2, Ivor Craig (18),27pts ; 3, Dave S Fleming (13),26pts B6 Entries 54, CSS N/A. The business end of the Winter League approacheth! Sunday 25 th January 2015 Diageo Winter League Round 7 ; 9 Holes V PAR Only 2 more Qualifying rounds and things are hotting up with two great team scores in Round 7. Winners on the Championship course with a score of 5Up were young guns Conor Wynne and Paddy Bird whilst in Bomore the tried and tested partnership of Michael Cullen and Vincent Nally were the winners with 3Up Championship Course Conor Wynne(5) Paddy Bird(6) 5up Bomore Michael Cullen (10) Vincent Nally (13) 3up

5 The Route Memories of the Coast to Coast Golf Classic (86 to 96) courtesy of Aidan Kiddo Anderson The Maiden Voyage 1986 Frankie Kelly Bend It 5 Water Crossings! Route was reversed for 3 years Kevin Flanagan was the only player to hit an iron from Coney to Oyster Island a distance of 250yds A handmade Johnny McGonigle Driver disappeared from the grip of Timmy Rooney and was lost at sea as he hit his drive from the promenade to Oyster. like Burgess Strandhill Team of F Conlon, P Duggan & D Carr Versus Co Sligo GC D A Nicky Harte, Bill O Connor & Aiden Anderson Spotters/Score Recorders Siobhan Flanagan/Sheila Rooney Mystery Member Any ideas? The first winner was Nicky Harte Co Sligo who defeated P Duggan of Strandhill following a sudden death play-off. Both players had previously made the maiden voyage in 55 shots. An RTE production by Tommy Gorman featured on the six o clock news A Kerry student having played out onto Coney Strand had to stop playing after experiencing heart palpitations. He consulted with his TCD colleague K P Flanagan. His next memory was seeing his parents with Maurice Nelligan in the hospital coronary care unit. The event raised much deserved Lifeboat funds in advance of the arrival of the Sligo Lifeboat station to Rosses Point. Sheila and Kiddo

6 Mystery Member From last week Guessed correctly by one and only Dave Dent Last Wednesday (21 st January) Jack Nicklaus from Columbus, Ohio, USA celebrated his 75 th birthday MVC Spring Concert Thursday 19 th March Radisson Hotel With Eimear Quinn Sligo Academy of Music Niamh Fitzpatrick Proceeds in aid of Donal Parson Trust & Baby Rory Gallagher Kids4Kids Admission 15 In the coming weeks a series of articles on our greatest golfer Cecil Ewing will be printed.. We begin by publishing a CV of his record in the Irish and British Championships Did you know Eamon Darcy was 16 when he turned professional whilst playing off a handicap of 12 (twelve not 1.2!) So look out for flying elbows on the Pierce Purcell panel they could be future Ryder Cup stars!!! Super Seniors Christmas Outing with Past Captain Anton and President Padraig Cecil Ewing CHAMPIONSHIPS British Amateur Runner-up 1938; Semi-finalist Irish Amateur Open (2) Winner 1948, 1951; Runner-up Irish Amateur Close (2) Winner 1948, 1958; Runner-up West of Ireland (10) Winner 1930, 1932, 1935, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1949, 1950; Runner-up 1928, 1934, 1937, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, South of Ireland Runner-up Irish Seniors Amateur Open Winner 1970; Runner-up Bertha Belch, a missionary, will be speaking tonight at the Memorial Church. Come and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.