Galway man tackles 18 golf courses in one day

A former star goalie became a modern day Moses as he ‘parted the waves’ on an incredible 18 golf courses throughout Galway and the rest of Connacht in a single day.

Golfers stood aside and watched in awe as Vinnie Mullen from Dunmore toured the province’s best courses in an amazing feat to raise funds for Pieta House West.

At the moment it is estimated that he may have raised more than €11,000 for the Pieta House which is based in Tuam. He was helped greatly by the Dunmore MacHale’s GAA Club.

The former Dunmore MacHale’s goalkeeper, who now plays off a 14 handicap, played a hole in 18 golf courses across the five counties in the province.

He started out in Oughterard Golf Club and ended up in his native Dunmore Demesne Golf Club having covered hundreds of miles during the course of a very eventful day.

Vinnie shot a very respectable 37 points for his 18 holes despite having the misfortune of not having recorded a score when he pulled his drive into trouble at the par three fifth hole in Tuam Golf Club.

The adventure began at around 6.30am when he teed off in the company of his good friend Ollie Turner of Galway Bay fm at Oughterard.

Fourteen hours later he had played a golf hole in Galway, Galway Bay, Cregmore, Athenry, Loughrea, Ballinasloe, Mountbellew and Tuam.

It is the time of year when many Captain’s Prizes are being held in golf clubs and Vinnie happened to come across a few of them.

On one occasion in Loughrea, the Captain James Kennedy asked members to step aside as Vinnie hit his drive on the sixth hole just in front of the clubhouse.

The members duly obliged and applauded Vinnie as he made his way down the fairway following a spectacular shot.

He completed his first nine in Tuam by around 1pm with a very respectable score of 19 points. It was then on to courses further afield.

Vinny’s next stop was Ballinrobe where men’s club captain Charlie O’Sullivan from Headford was among the welcoming party.

It was then on to Claremorris, Ballyhaunis, Ballaghaderreen, Tubbercurry, Boyle, Carrick on Shannon, Castlerea and finally Dunmore at 8.30pm.

There he was greeted by golf club Captain Charlie Kelly, Lady Captain Margaret Gerrard and Club President Brian Sweeney were on hand to congratulate Vinny on finishing his challenge with a very credible 37 points.

St Jarlath’s Credit Union in Tuam sponsored €1,000 for the Drive 4 Pieta fundraiser with local Dunmore MacHales volunteers helping out with bucket collections on the day in many of the venues where Vinnie played.