Each week can be competitive as a club golfer, whether it’s simply battling to play to your handicap, the weekly stableford competition, or a cheeky side bet between you and your playing partners. Golf is competitive!!

However, sitting high above the medals and member card top ups, at the top of the aspiration list each year is winning the Captain’s Prize. It’s that one day you visit the range before you tee off, or buy a new glove, or really push the boat out on some shiny new ProV1’s and then pray you don’t go left off the first tee!!

Winning the Captain’s Prize is a licence to gloat for the rest of your life, just ask my Dad. My father won the Captains Prize in Woodenbridge Golf Club in 1979, the prize was a wooden container of silver cutlery engraved with “Captain’s Prize Winner”. This cutlery, which is older than me, has been unveiled at every family dinner since then. Accompanied with the same story of that birdie on 18 to win. The birdie putt has become longer and has more break with each year that passes!!!! Dad then personally washes the cutlery (not the pots, pans, plates or anything like that) in a special solution post dinner and wraps each piece to keep it from tarnishing. A spoon once went missing for a short period, each of his 4 children being interrogated separately before it magically appeared, the look on my sister’s face was a definite giveaway!

Taking the above into account, we caught up with our Captain’s Prize Winners from 2020 for a quick chat to get to know them a little better.

Druids Heath Ladies Club Captain’s Prize Winner Norma Malone

Q1. What’s playing on your Spotify/radio at the moment?
Listening to old cheesy 50's songs from Alma Coogan, Doris Day, Rat pack. Also Elis Regina, a Brazilian singer especially her duet Aguas De Marco, have gone down a bossa nova/ samba wormhole. Anything up beat to be honest at the moment

Q2. Most famous person you have ever met?
Bill Clinton at a conference in New Orleans. He was so charismatic and spoke for an hour without notes...impressive.

Q3. Best 18-hole score and where?
44 points in Rosapenna Old Tom Morris Course.

Q4. Favourite Film?
Pink Panther with Steve Martin as Clouseau. It is so ridiculous it makes me laugh every time I see it.

Q5. Pro you most admire, why?
Padraig Harrington, a great ambassador for Irish golf, always tries his best, is constantly trying to improve. He also makes stupid mistakes so is relatable to me!

Q6. Favourite hole on your course, why?
14th par 3 it can be such a great scoring hole or a disaster.

Q7. What team do you support?
Manchester United, of course...are there any other teams?

Q8. Best shot you hit during the Captains Prize?
To be honest I just tried to play within myself so there were no epic shots or disasters...steady was my goal.

Q9. Worst shot you ever hit during the Captains Prize
Again, I just tried to play within myself so there were no epic shots or disasters.

Q10. Favourite member to play golf with?
I couldn't possibly say without offending someone. (An answer Bill Clinton would be proud of Norma).

Druids Glen Captain’s Prize Winner Hilary Gall

Q1. What’s playing on your Spotify/radio at the moment?
Luke O’Neill giving us hope of an end to the pandemic

Q2. Most famous person you have ever met?
Seve Ballesteros.

Q3. Best 18-hole score and where?
Played with Kevin Keyes in a mixed foursomes in Arklow GC. 48pts to seal the win.

Q4. Favourite Film?
Bagger Vance. Feel good golf movie with Matt Damon and Will Smith

Q5. Pro you most admire, why?
Padraig Harrington. 3 Time Major winner. Total dedication & commitment to the game and great commentator. Fantastic Ambassador for Ireland. Hopefully, winning Captain of the Ryder Cup Team 2021.

Q6. Favourite hole on your course, why?
The 12th. Made a birdie in the Captain’s Prize.

Q7. What team do you support?
Team Druids Glen followed by the Dubs!

Q8. Best shot you ever hit during the Captains Prize?
The 17th hole. I Made the green (Thank God) for a comfortable par.

Q9. Worst shot you ever hit during the Captains Prize?
The 16th. All 8 shots!!!!

Q10. Favourite member to play with?
Playing in the Irish Mixed with Ken Fennell.




Druids Heath Men’ Club Captain’s Prize Winner Rob Lester

Q1. What’s playing on your Spotify/radio at the moment?
Recently I have been listening to a lot of podcasts on Spotify. Mainly… The Blindboy Podcast, his insight to a whole array of topics is always interesting.
I also listen to The Bill Bert Podcast, Bill Burr and Bert Kreischer are hilarious together and it's a good podcast to get a laugh out of.

Q2. Most famous person you have ever met?
I haven't met any famous people I can think of. Worth remembering anyway.

Q3. Best 18 hole score and where?
+2 gross is Druids Heath. I got to a single figure handicap (9) from (11) for the first time after that round.
Rob gets confirmation he’s won

Q4. Favourite Film?
There is a few I could mention but after watching it again over Christmas I would say “The Usual Suspects” is probably my favourite film. Great story, great cast and probably the best twist in film history.

Q5. Pro you most admire, why?
Padraig Harrington. Watching him win his three majors were the start of a greater interest in golf for me. The time and effort he also puts in making the videos on his youtube channel for amateurs to learn is very admirable.

Q6. Favourite hole on your course, why?
I love the par 3s but hole 10 in Druids Heath is probably my favourite. It’s a tight enough drive that can cause trouble but with a good drive the right club is needed to hit to the right tier of the green where the pin is on the day.

Q7. What team do you support?
I’m a Liverpool FC fan have been as long as I can remember. And I have passed that love for them on to my nephews which makes me happy seeing them in their Liverpool kits all the time.

Q8. Best shot you ever hit during the Captains Prize?
Round 1 there was a lot to choose from, but it was definitely the birdie putt on 10 in round 2 after I had faltered a bit on the front 9. I hit 2 good shots to the front of the green, left about 25 feet up the hill to a middle pin. Broke lovely from right to left and dropped in the side of the hole to get me back on track for the back 9.

Q9. Worst shot you ever hit during the Captains Prize?
Too many to mention on the front 9 of round 2.

Q10. Favourite member to play golf with?
I have amassed so many friends since joining Druids Heath, it’s a pleasure to play with everyone. Mainly though I’ve always played with Colin O’Donovan, Patrick Joseph Kelly, Dave Deevy, Charles McGettigan, Chris McEvatt and Ronan Keegan. Never a dull moment on the course when we are out there.

All 3 winners admire Padraig… So there you have it folks, the key to winning a Captains Prize is to admire Padraig Harrington!!!!

Until next time….

Marcus Doyle
Golf Manager