All communications to the Men's Club should be channeled through the specific emails listed below where possible. For General Men's Club inquirers please email mensclub@cartonhousemembers.com.

January 8th 2024 Minutes

Attendees Present:
Allen Corcoran, Seamus Lynch John Ennis, Alan Leavy, AustinBoyle, Killian O’Flynn, Gerry Murray, Sheamus Considine, Padraic O’Leary, Adrian Murphy, and Alan Leamy

Apologies were received from Adrian Guckian and Paul Mimnagh

The Minutes of the meeting held on December 4th were accepted, with a small change agreed.
Proposer was Allen Corcoran
Seconder was Austin Boyle

1) Carton / Fairmont Updates
Liam McCool was able to to update on Fairmont plans to renovate the kitchen area with some closure days in the Carriage House and also a short disruption in the layout for dining. He also confirmed the team were in the middle of membership renewals but he did not have an overall view yet on numbers. He confirmed there would be no delay on the member renewal packs.

He was able to confirm that 45k Euro in new sand had been purchased for the course bunkers and would begin to arrive in the next few days – depending on the ground conditions being suitable to get the trucks close to the bunkers. He also confirmed that the work on the new putting green would commence as soon as possible as well as access paths to/from the 14th and 17th holes on the O’ Meara course.

He had received lots of comments from members during the renewal phase and some good ideas about the member benefits and experience in Carton for which he was grateful.

2) Captain’s Update
The Captain reported AGM plans were well underway was scheduled for January 17th 2024. He had invited Martin Mangan and John Plummer to this meeting and hoped that they would be able to attend. Members would get a final reminder over this next weekend to encourage a good turnout. 

February 12th 2024 Minute

Attendees Present:
Declan Meagher, Paul Mimnagh, Seamus Lynch, Alan Leamy, Adrian Guckian, Adrian Murphy, Killian O’Flynn, John Quinn, Austin Boyle

Apologies were received from John Ennis, Shu Hoashi, Allen Corcoran, Gerry Murray

The Minutes of the meeting held on January 8th were accepted.
Proposer was Paul Mimnagh
Seconder was Adrian Murphy

1) Carton / Fairmont Updates
Liam was unable to make the meeting but provided the following update to Seamus Lynch
- The Carraige House to reopen on 23rd Feb
- New members menu will be announced soon
- List of renewed members and non-renewing members are being circulated
- Course update – 14th / 16th paths O’Meara are being worked on as is the bunker upgrade work on both courses
- Captains to meet with John Plummer
- More information will be forthcoming regarding Ladies Open
- Fairmont will send out a newsletter to members
- Golf genius – work ongoing with Men’s Club to implement

2) Captain’s Update
Seamus welcomed the new committee and thanked everyone for being involved.
Work will focus on the following areas
- Constitution upgrading as required
- Diary for the year being sent out
- Captains Meeting with John Plummer
- Update on membership numbers from Fairmont ongoing
- Access to ClubV1 for new committee members if needed
- Ensure handovers from past committee members to new members where needed
- Drive in set for 6th April – work ongoing with Fairmont on costs and pricing of F&B for event
- Meeting to be held with Treasurer relating to budget
- Good turnout to the recent rules night held in the club
- Council meeting scheduled for end Feb/ early March – agenda will be agreed.
- Golf and informal meeting for committee to be held shortly

3) Finance report
- Adrian is new treasurer and is hoping to have a handover meeting with Alan Leavy asap.
- Mandate forms etc. to be signed and submitted to banks.
- Plan is for a draft budget to be prepared and presented at the next meeting.
- Discussion held around sponsorship options for the mens club to supplement income if the membership numbers fall.

4) Vice Captain’s Update
- Bursary TBD.
- Away day in Baltray will be 25th July.

5) Social Report
- Planning underway for Captains Drive in.

6) Interclub Teams
- All comps entered into and paid for.
- Work ongoing to allocate managers to a small number of teams.
- Leinster North Alliance underway

7) Handicap report
- New members to be approved.
- 11 new members
- 12 transfer requests received to date
- Changes to WHS from 1st April will be communicated through the Newsletter

8) Communications
Newsletter sent out including comps results, Winter League update, call for interclub players and diary links.

9) Competition Report
Thanks given to John Lucid for the work carried out by him and the team last year.

10) Junior’s Report
Coaching sessions ongoing.
Quiet time for juniors at the moment.

11) Sub Committee Appointments
All sub committees proposed and ratified at meeting.
Junior Committee - Colin Cunningham and Brian Cunningham
Handicap Committee – Gerry Murray, Joe Lavin, Joe Foley and Shu Hoashi
Finance Committee – Adrian Guckian, Alan Leamy
Mens Competitions Committee – Declan Meagher appointed, along with the following sub-committee members – Declan Murphy, John Giblin, John Quinn, Martin Duncan, Martin McInerney, Pat O’Mahony and Tom Healy.

11) AOB
Matters Arising from the AGM discussed.

March 25th 2024 Minutes

Attendees Present:
Gerry Murray, Declan Meagher, Paul Mimnagh, Seamus Lynch, Allen Corcoran,Adrian Guckian, John Ennis, Adrian Murphy, Killian O’Flynn, John Quinn, Shu Hoashi.
Apologies were received from Austin Boyle,Alan Leamy, Padraic O’ Leary.

1) Faimont Update
• Liam reported that progress was being made on the various projects on the course – even if the timetable had slipped a little.
• Contractors have begun clearing the fallen tree at the 16th bridge on the O’Meara course, all should be removed by the weekend
• Paths around the 14th tee and back of 16th green on the O’Meara are scheduled to be tarmacked from the 18th April.Contractor for new putting green due onsite this week
• Maintenance work on the O’Meara greens started on 25th March, they have been solid-tined. Aerating greens with solid-tines is becoming more popular, which helps to speed up the aeration process while still filling the holes with sand to dilute thatch and organic matter.
• Bunkers continue to be drained and topped up with sand, the weather has prevented the team from accessing some areas of the course.
• Montgomerie greens have recently been hollow cored
• Kitchen renovations are almost complete and the new members menu is in place

2) Previous minutes
• The Minutes of the meeting held on February 12th were accepted.
Proposer was Allen Corcoran
Seconder was Adrian Murphy

3) Captain’s Update
• Finance – budget discussions with Treasurer; discussions on €8k allowance with Fairmont, and decision to revert to existing process until further discussions happen
• Membership number discussions with Liam & Derbhail
• Competitions – discussions with Comp Sec on various handover topics
• Council meeting – held on Tuesday, 19th.
• Captain’s Drive-In - continued preparations in conjunction with Lady Captain
• Social event pricing – discussions with Derbhail on pricing for all social events and inter-club meals.
• Rules on water holes – discussions on potential changes to rules on water holes with Shu

Key areas of focus over the coming weeks will be preparation for the Joint Captains’ Drive-In, continued engagement with Liam and John on course conditions and improvements and ongoing discussions on the club budget.

4) Finance report
• The Treasurer explained the projected loss of approx. 85 members from the Men’s Club has significantly impacted the revenue of the Men’s Club. Based on the subscription of €245, income will be down almost €21k. In order to prevent further loss of membership, the Men’s Club is attempting to maintain the offering and experience for the remaining membership on this tighter budget and in an increased cost landscape.
• He is examining potential sponsorship avenues – to bridge the divide that has been created between projected income and expense. The general conclusion was that an approach could be made to Fairmont in this regard. In addition, it might be wise to consider holding another club development day at Carton in either late June or September.
• The Captain and Treasurer will follow up with Fairmont to discuss potential options of support.

5) Vice Captain’s Update
• The Bursary list is due imminently & we will then decide the allocation of money. The budget will be the same as last year as agreed with the Treasurer.
• Preparations for the Vice Captains day are under-way & details to follow in next committee meeting in April,

6) Social Report
• Since Padraic O’ Leary was not present there was no update or social report-

7) Interclub Teams
Killian O’Flynn commented on his key areas of focus since the last meeting;
• North Leinster Senior Alliance final fixture scheduled for 25/03/2024 against Headford.
• Draws received this month for other 12 interclub competitions.
• First fixture will be the Leinster Trophy vs. Hermitage on 28/04/2024.
• Provisional tee times and post-match meals booked for all first fixtures.
• Interclub Team Members reports circulated to all Team Captains.
• Interclub Challenge vs. St. Annes scheduled for 07/04/2024. There will be 3 x Senior Cup matches, 3 x Fred Daly matches and 6 x Barton Cup matches
And his key areas of focus for the next month
• Junior Interclub competitions have to be entered by 25/03/2024.
• Confirm teams for the challenge match against St. Annes on 07/04/2024.
• Provide matchday support for the Leinster Trophy fixture on 28/04/2024.
• Confirm team captains for the Leinster Fourball and Junior Cup teams.
• Team Captain’s Contact Directory to be populated on Golf Ireland Club Hub.
• Newsletter to be issued on team captains and first round fixtures.
• Official Team Sheets to be circulated to all team captains.
• Fixture dates, times and courses to be agreed with opponents.

8) Handicap report
• Gerry reported that 3 new membership applications were submitted for approval, and approved.
• He also mentioned that we need to implement the points deduction approach for our winter competitions, to ensure maximum distribution of prizes across members, as we had done in previous years.
• He also mentioned that the club needed to delete ex-members from the Golf Ireland Clubhouse before March 31st.

9) Communications
• Paul reported that updated comms continued to be supplied to members on a regular basis and in addition where required.

10) Competition Report
• Declan indicated his intention to use Golf Genius as the software for the upcoming Captain’s Drive In Scramble and asked the committee to download the software and he gave a short demo on the key points.
• He also mentioned that due to the decrease in numbers in the Men’s club, he would be revising downward the competition prize levels to ensure equitable distribution.
• Matchplay Registration has now opened up and a notice would be sent out to remind interested members to register.

11) Junior Report
Austin was unable to attend the meeting but did have the following comments by email.
• Coaching ongoing and to finish in early April. No cost to junior budget for coaching as entirely funded by coaching fee.
• Outings this year to be organised by 18-hole golfers and cadets on alternate weeks.
• Meeting held with sub-committee for Junior Boys Cadets to plan cadet outings.

And his key areas of focus after this meeting
• Junior Captain’s Drive-In – complete preparations, confirm dates with Men’s and Ladies Captains & hold the event on Sunday 7th April.
• Agree sponsorship approach for Juniors in line with allocated 2024 budget.
• Work with the Girls Junior section to plan integration into one overall Junior Section for 2025.

11) AOB

Golf Genius 

The new software project is proceeding well and Allen Corcoran reported that Get GI connection now in place.
- Allen to get draft project plan together and shared with both clubs and then have a working group setup to meet ahead of the training sessions. Allen to get the accounts over to Alex to get user accounts setup
- Setup the training sessions in the next 3 weeks

Rules

Shu circulated a document for initial discussion on a review of the rules relating to the water holes on both courses. Input will be sought from a GI rules official in the coming weeks to discuss the current rules, and any potential refinements that might be useful.

Next meeting will be held on Monday 29nd April at 7.30pm

April 29th 2024 Minutes

Attendees Present:
Gerry Murray, Declan Meagher, Paul Mimnagh, Seamus Lynch, Allen Corcoran,Adrian Guckian, Austin Boyle, Padraic O’ Leary, John Ennis, Adrian Murphy, Killian O’Flynn, John Quinn, Shu Hoashi.
Apologies was received from Alan Leamy

1) Faimont Update
• Liam reported that the work on pathways on 14th and 16th on the O’Meara course had been completed.
• The new putting green area has been drained by contractors and the green will be laid shortly. He thought it would then take 12-14 weeks to bed in properly.
• There had been a good response to the volunteer request for the Ladies Open – internally and externally

2) Previous minutes
• The Minutes of the meeting held on March 25th were accepted.
Proposer was Gerry Murray
Seconder was Declan Meagher

3) Captain’s Update
• Captains’ Drive-In on Saturday, 6th – successful day overall. Thanks to all who helped in advance and on the day, in particular Liam, Thomas and their staff, and Declan and his competitions sub-committee. Many thanks to all members who supported the day, and congratulations to the winners.
• Junior Captains’ Drive-In on Sunday, 7th – tremendous day, with a great turnout, excellent 5-hole scramble competition and prize-giving afterwards. Thanks to Austin and Colin for their continued great work with the juniors. Best of luck to Aoife Lyons and Brian Synnott for the year ahead.
• Committee Away in Headfort GC – many thanks to all who attended and to the hosts for their superb course and hospitality.
• Course conditions and F&B – we have continued to engage with Liam and John Plummer / Martin Mangan on course improvements, and acknowledge the progress made with the bunkers and the pathways, the course conditions overall and the experience in the Carriage house and the Halfway Houses.

Key Focus Areas after this meeting:
Council meeting – due to be held on Monday, 13th May.
Inter-Club – support for the various teams as the schedule gets underway in earnest.
Finance – support the progress of options for fundraising.
Course updates – continue to engage with Liam & John.
Carriage House and Halfway Houses – continue to engage with Liam and Thomas

4) Finance report
• Adrian reported that the reconciliation between Fairmont and the Mens’s club had been largely completed and he was now waiting on the payment agreed.
• The control aspects on sign off for food and beverage was working well and he appreciated the move to photos of invoices for team refreshment in the club house

5) Vice Captain’s Update
• Adrian reported that all arrangements were in place for the Vice Captain’s prize on the weekend of 10th-12th May – the first major event of the new season. This included starting the comp on Friday with up to 80 spots available. Food would be available as well. He also hoped to have a drinks reception and possibly the presentation outside if weather permitted. A live clubhouse scoreboard might also be possible.

6) Social Report
• Padraic reported that the joint captains drive in was a huge success. He congratulated Seamus and Sinead on organising a great day. Food and service was very good, and the event went off very well.
• The next big event in our calendar is the Vice Captains prize on the 10th and 11th of May. Adrian has been very busy arranging and negotiating the event as follows.
• Platters on Friday evening for the players who play on Friday evening.
• Sit down meal/buffet (yet to be decided) at 7.30pm on Saturday night.
• Choice of salmon and salad or chicken curry and rice.
• Selection of deserts afterwards for members.
• Entertainment laid on as follows.
o KJ Mc Evoy in the bar from 5pm till 7pm
o Dave Browne on piano with a female singer later in the evening (Dave was lead singer with picture house).
o Have asked Fairmont for a drink’s reception on arrival tbc.
• First Friday evening mixed social is penciled in for the 17th of May.

7) Interclub Teams
Killian reported that his key focus area since last meeting
• St. Annes challenge match complete.
• North Leinster Senior Alliance League now complete.
• Leinster Trophy and Leinster Fourball fixtures complete.
• Defeated by Hermitage and New Forest respectively.
Current Key areas of focus
• Mixed Fourball match vs. Slade Valley on 05/05/2024.
• Jimmy Bruen and Leinster Senior Interclub set for weekend of 12/05/2024.
• Barton Cup and Pierce Purcell set for w/e 19/05/2024.
• Junior Cup and Barton Shield thereafter,
• Mixed Foursomes and Duggan Cup in early June,
• Senior Cup in late June,

8) Handicap report
Gerry reported that 3 new members had been accepted since the last meeting and in the year to date he had noted some members who had left previously had re-joined the club
• He and his sub-committee had agreed that a mid-year review of handicaps will take place around July.

9) Communications
• Paul thanked the committee for providing timely updates to him for relaying to the members in his comms.

10) Competition Report
• Declan reported that he would commence a trial of mixed tees to see the impact on member enjoyment, It would probably mean a more enjoyable round for the seniors and the handicap change would equalise the advantage they would receive.

11) Junior Report
• Junior Captain’s Drive-In – successful event held with Men’s and Ladies Captains on Sunday 7th April with prize-giving afterwards in the clubhouse.
• Outings this year to be organised by 18-hole golfers and cadets on alternate weeks. First outings up and running with a very successful cadet outing on
the 28th April.
• Meetings held with sub-committee for Junior Cadets to plan cadet lessons

12) AOB
• New Fundraising ideas were discussed and this will be tabled for the next committee meeting
• New local rule changes were also discussed to cover some situations during play and these will be confirmed in time for inclusion in the new playing card print run.

Next meeting will be held on Monday May 27th at 7.30pm