Challenge Trophy

This inter club competition was added to the Golf Ireland calendar in 2024, with a review after three years. It is a novel format as it is not match play, but is based on a team of five players, playing stableford with the three best scores to count for a win. The handicap index is from 36 to 54.

Our first round was against Corrstown with Sutton scoring 51 points to 47 for Corrstown. The teams were evenly matched in terms of

handicaps.

The next round on 7 th July was against Balcarrick and they beat us with 56 points to our 49 points, with our team playing very well on a blustery afternoon. Two scores from high handicapped players distorted the result in favour of Balcarrick. The combined score for the five Sutton players was 77 points versus 66 for the five Balcarrick players.

It is an aptly named format as it was a challenge for us to compete against the very high handicaps from Balcarrick with three of the team having three shots on every hole and two having four shots on the 8th hole . In contrast our team had handicap indices 36 to 38.5. It begs the question does the format need to be modified or should it be match play? But that is for the future….

Players: Round 2 v Corrstown

Jacinta O Gorman, Marina Bleahen, Grainne Lappin, Norena Gaffney, Gina Salveta with Susan Clune and Niamh McLaughlin as subs.

Players Round 3 v Balcarrick

Louisa Kinirons, Susan Mahony, Jacinta O Gorman, Norena Gaffney, Marina Bleahen with Melanie McHugh as sub.

The team from Round 2 to 3 varied because of handicap changes and players on holidays. We are disappointed to be out of the competition but we are confident that those involved will make a lot of progress in the game.