A year to remember for Irish golf supremo, gentleman Jim
I WAS delighted when current president of the Golfing Union of Ireland, Mayo man Jim McGovern, accepted my invitation for an interview following a very busy year as head of the governing body for amateur men’s golf on the island of Ireland, writes Paul O'Neill
We spoke for almost an hour at Breaffy House Hotel about his experiences, on and off the course, both at home and abroad, during a golfing year that no Irish golf fan will forget for a long time, and come to think of it, no Tiger fan will forget either.
From my point of view, as an industry observer, the role of president is vitally important for many reasons. His primary objective as figure head during various tournaments is crucial in setting the tone for the union when face to face with the grassroots and the media.
He is the representative who makes himself available for comment from players, their parents and the general golfing population week in week out at prize presentations during the golfing season.
He must be his diplomatic best at all times and under every circumstance, never too quick to comment and never short of a word when invited to speak to a gathering of golfers.
A traditional visit to the captain’s dinner at Royal Belfast was his first official engagement two weeks into office.
The warmest of welcomes was afforded to him by the members that evening and he admits that the goodwill shown to the office of presidency and to him personally during his tenure will be his abiding memory of his 12-month term.
The West in Sligo was a magnificent tournament which Jim couldn’t attend but was delighted to see a splendid victory by future Walker Cup player Caolan Rafferty.
A special visit to Co. Sligo was pencilled in for late September but now it was all roads lead to Magnolia Lane, Augusta, Georgia.
What will probably be Tiger Woods’ last hurrah was another highlight of Jim’s year. Like the rest of us mortals, Jim had only viewed the billiard table greens and golden sanded bunkers from television pictures but was pleased to confirm to me that the reports of a hilly terrain were fully justified.
His credentials allowed him full access to the clubhouse and he recalled brief conversations with golfing legends of yesteryear, including Mark O’Meara, Paul Azinger and Gary Player.
Pebble Beach, the iconic venue on the PGA Tour, was another destination on Jim’s schedule. Accompanied by his family, the McGoverns visited the west coast of America for 11 days in total which included a chance encounter with Shane Lowry.
The Open champion’s reputation goes before him and I was not surprised to learn that on recognising Jim in San Francisco, Clara’s most famous son joined Jim’s company for a few minutes and exchanged some pleasantries about the US Open ahead. Jim recalled fondly Lowry’s final two birdies on the 71st and 72nd holes and his solid four rounds at the second major of the year.
On returning home, and before he could catch his breath, Jim found himself in Portmarnock for the closing stages of the Amateur Championship. In front of the largest gallery that anybody could remember, James Sugrue clinched the title following his miraculous entry into the match play stages.
The Irish schools finals were played in Portstewart this year and during the opening round Jim had the opportunity to duck across to Royal Portrush to observe the preparations for the Open Championship.
On arriving at the links venue he was greeted by the boss and driving force behind the Open, as reported by the Daily Telegraph, Wilma Erskine. A quick guided tour soon followed and the confirmation that Jim was to be a guest of the host club on the Friday of the Championship in mid July.
A week prior to the Open Championship Jim travelled to Chantilly in France where the Irish boys' team put up a great display in the European Championships.
We were just a little off the pace but Jim couldn’t help but notice the strength and depth of some of the other nations, most notably Spain.
The Open, of course, would see the second GUI past pupil secure a Major in 2019. Jim recalled the excitement on the Saturday afternoon when opinion was divided amongst the home support.
Tommy Fleetwood’s observation of Lowry’s perfect moving day round on leaving the 18th was good enough for our president to know that the job was done.
A long journey home to Mayo began while Shane was still probably on site at Royal Portrush with the Claret Jug and the realisation that the next seven weeks were filled with tournaments that were very special to this Castlebar man.
When all is said and done the Irish contingent on the Walker Cup team is vitally important for the residents of Carton House.
We had three representatives on the team this year but Jim freely admitted that the Americans sent over a juggernaut and the result was well known early on in the singles on the Sunday.
The home side had no luck in Lahinch either in the Home Internationals, with victory eventually going to England.
The unique opportunity of your home club winning in the Cups & Shields during your residency was on the horizon when the finals were played in Westport. Alas, it wasn’t to be with Castlebar narrowly losing the Pierce Purcell final.
Gar Golden’s passing on the Friday of the tournament was a shock to everybody but as mentioned previously in this column, Jim and the officers of the GUI must take credit for the fitting minute's silence that was observed at 12 noon the following day.
Fred Perry was a very close friend of Jim’s during their time together in office at the GUI. A proposal to have a national tournament for the Over 55s in honour of Fred was vigorously supported by Jim when the idea was first mooted.
The inaugural Fred Perry Trophy was played at Co. Sligo a number of weeks ago with the green pennant going to Gort. Fred’s daughters were in attendance for the presentation and Jim highlighted that this was a very special occasion in what has been a very special year.
In years to come I suspect very few people will be able to say "I was there when Tiger won his last Masters, Lowry won his first Open and James Sugrue won the Amateur at Portmarnock", but Jim McGovern will!