Dublin University Golf Club (DUGC) and Dublin University Ladies Golf Club (DULGC) both made the trip south to Lahinch last Friday to participate in the Bunbury Shield. Named after former DUGC member Peter Bunbury, the trip revolves around a match on Saturday morning against Lahinch Golf Club’s Senior Team. This year’s match took on an extra layer of poignancy after the unfortunate passing of Bunbury earlier this year. However, it was always a tough ask for DUGC, up against a side Trinity had not beaten in over 50 years.
The convoy arrived in Lahinch on Friday night, DUGC’s players timing their arrival in order to take up the invitation to the President’s Prize Dinner of Dublin University Graduate Society. Lahinch had been chosen as the locale for the dinner by President Gavin Caldwell, as society member and Lahinch Golf Club President David Conway was celebrating his year of presidency at the club. Conway’s son, John, was in attendance as a representative of DUGC.
The dinner, at which over 70 members of DUGS were present, was held at the golf club, and saw the awarding of the 50th President’s Prize to Darragh Garrahy. Garrahy, captain of DUGC in 2011, won the award with a score of 42 points (one under par gross).
Eight golfers from DUGC teed it up to play for the Bunbury Shield at 11.50am on the Saturday morning, with members of DUGC seeking to get their names in the history books by overcoming their more experienced opposition. Conor O’Mara, Dylan Lambe, Conor Fitzgerald, Cillian Tully, John Conway, Jack Killeen, Rory Devitt and Ian Smith all played in the match, but, as is almost tradition by now, the Trinity students were soundly beaten once again.
From DUGC’s perspective, it had been a positive experience against some excellent Lahinch players. The DUGC players gave a good account of themselves, but were ultimately outclassed by their long-time opponents in what was their first loss since the club’s trip to Scotland in September. DUGC will seek to get back to winning ways when the team hosts Queen’s University Belfast on November 30th.
