Kennedy shoots his way into club's history books

GOLF New course record at Black Bush GC

It was one of those moments that can happen in any sporting arena. A special moment when something truly exceptional is achieved. Something that is made all the more memorable because it was unexpected. A bolt from the sky, something straight out of left field.

On the last weekend in June Black Bush Golf Club held its ladies captain's (Edel McDermott) prize to men, and young golfer Shane Kennedy, who is from nearby Dunshaughlin, produced a round of golf that most club players can only dream about. He shot a 64.

"It's a phenomenal score, nine under for a round of golf is incredible, he had 10 birdies, remarkable golf," was how club captain Colin Rogers reacted to the score. "Shane was playing off two but he's playing off a lot less now."

It was a new course record by some distance although ironically, Kennedy didn't go down as the overall winner of the competition - he was, at 22, too young to get that accolade.

"We have a specific student category, a prize to students. The rules were changed so that the gross prize goes to the best score on the day irrespective whether you are a student or anything else, the best golfer on the day gets the gross prize, but Shane didn't win the competition, overall. The club rules dictate that because students (players under 24) have their own category, they don't qualify for the overall prize. That was won by John Sheehy. He shot a 64 but it was nett. It was still great shooting."

From Dunshaughlin, Shane Kennedy's remarkable round of golf was perhaps, in hindsight, not all that surprising as 24 hours previously he had shown he was right on his game.

"The day before I was out in Laytown/Bettystown supporting the club," recalls Colin Rogers. "We had our Senior Cup team playing a qualifier. There was, I think, 21 clubs from around Leinster involved in the competition on a blustery, windy day with rain. Despite those conditions Shane shot two over which on that course is a really good score indeed.

"Then the next day he comes out and in our lady captain's prize to men he gets that phenomenal score. That record of 64 I don't think is ever going to be beaten. The previous course record was 68 that was achieved about 15 years ago.

"Shane is from Dunshaughlin but his brother, Sean, is also a low handicapper playing off scratch and there's sibling rivalry there but in a good-natured way. Sean was the first to get the congratulations in as he shares the card with Shane." Their mother Sharon is also a club member.

An insight into how Kennedy, who is a student at DCU studying Biology and PE, achieved his remarkable round was provided when the men's captain went to seek out the young golfer after his ground-breaking round.

"I was in the club when I heard about the score so after he was finished I went out to congratulate him," added Rogers. "I thought he might be in the clubhouse but I had a look around but where did I find him after shooting the best score that we've ever had in the club? Out on the chipping green. Practicing!"

The men's captain says the new course record is very significant in all sorts of ways. "It sets a target for everybody. That previous record of 68 was set for a long number of years but now Shane has raised the bar that much higher."

Black Bush GC, has a membership of close to 1,000 and are very much a community based institution but the push is on to bolster their ranks. "The club was set up in 1988 by a group of very enthusiastic like-minded people from Castleknock and Dunshaughlin. We are very focused on getting people from the locality to join, from places like Dunshaughlin, Dunboyne and Ratoath," added Rogers.

"The demographic is changing in the club, we have taken in a lot of younger players which is great. People often ask me what's the best golf club to join. I always say the one that's closest to you, that's the one you are going to get the most value from. We have 27 holes so there's never any problem getting a game of golf in Black Bush."

The club's focus on attracting talented young players is clearly proving effective - a fact underlined by Shane Kennedy's remarkable round.