Captains Letter's 2012

17 January 2012
My fellow Sean Chairde,
I am delighted to be writing the incoming ‘Captains Letter’ inviting you back to the scene of our latest, greatest and closest battle for many years, Mount Wolseley. I am sure you’re all as pleased as I to be returning to Tullow. This resort has everything, challenging golf course and fantastic facilities. The management and staff deserve every thanks for making us very welcome.

In my opinion, Captain Ian Stanley managed to pull off the greatest win of An Sean Chairde, against the strongest team they could muster. It was all square (12:12) for the first time going into the 14 singles, getting tense and too hard to call as the remaining singles matches hit the turn. The winning point was contested between Mark Scharrenberg battling it out Vs Richie Taylor going up 18 and William FitzGerald’s closer than expected match Vs Karl James on 16. We're not sure, but Fitzer is claiming it!

I have not previously felt for a losing captain as I did for John McGovern last year, an absolute gentleman in defeat. You worked tirelessly and your team responded honourably. During the post event celebrations in the winner’s enclosure, I recall someone saying that if Captain LINO had spent as much time on his pairings as he did on his very clever and amusing poems (Whispers whispers everywhere), the result might have been different! This comment came back to me some months later during the build up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup final when Graham Henry was being interviewed and he said “Victory would be 'inner, eternal peace'.

The play-off for Norway (Nil point) was between Shay and Mick (who had both been playing ‘out of their skin’ before heading down to Tullow). Standing on the 15th tee playing their 5th shot, Shane tried to offer some words of encouragement. Shay replied “but Mick has something that I don’t have”, what’s that?” Shane said, ”½ a point in the bag” retorted Shay!

Despite being on the winning team, Tom wasn’t impressed, had some serious words and seconded Shay’s return to the dark side. He returns with the secret sauce, but it’s his ½ point that will be sorely missed. Following this shock recall, rumours are rife that there are a number of their regulars looking ‘to do a Shay on it’ apparently Hussey is leading the charge. However after brief internal debate, the winning team has little use for his meagre talents.

All joking aside, during my singles match against Des last year, we were pondering over how we were ever going to follow the energy, organisation and attention to every detail that went into SC 2011. So we both agreed that every year the Captains should bring their own style, pace and stamp to this wonderful annual event! Thank God for Barry Nestor and the Committee, maintaining status quo this year may push him to the limit!

Congratulations to Shane O’Reilly, truly deserving the MVP title and very impressively going through their top order with ease. It has been won by 11 different players, but the first time someone has won 5/5. Who will be the first to win it twice?

I would like to thank Mark Scharrenberg for his dedication while representing the A-Team. He will certainly be missed on and off the golf course, and I would like to wish him and his family well on their (hopefully short) return to the US.

All details and agenda for next August can be found on this very impressive An Sean Chairde website. If you cannot wait until next August, Mount Wolseley has a special €65 offer - Deluxe Room with Full Irish Breakfast included. Receive €25 discount spa voucher OR 9 holes of golf (Jan – Mar).

Please let Des know if you would like to get involved in the very successful ‘quiz night’ that he’s looking forward to organising this year. I believe he is planning an x-factor style competition on the Friday night !

Really looking forward to seeing you all again soon as we announce the pairings for the Thursday morning’s Scotch Foursomes, and the pleasure of your company in Mount Wolseley later this year.

Yours faithfully,
David Flusk.

Opposing Captain’s Reply Letter - 19 January 2012
Players & Drinkers
As Captain I am proudly accepting the invite from my opposing Captain. David that was a beautifully well written letter and I ‘m really looking forward to doing battle with you & your team next year. I thought the venue last year was brilliant but I do have 1 complaint........I felt the weddings were too much of a distraction for Johnny Macs team & that is the only reason Johnny wasn’t lifting the trophy that Sat evening!!

Ian not alone is it bad enough to be beaten by an Englishman, but to be beaten by you on my SOIL and in those horrible coloured t-shirts and I had to witness it firsthand cause I played against you in every match bar 1................enough to make any man sick(not the drink)!! But having said all that you are a true gentleman and a serious competitor.
To our past Captain Johnny “The Organiser” you did a wonderful job and you put together our strongest team to date! You were a brilliant Captain and deserved to pick up the trophy, unfortunately there are too many “ good time Charlies” on our team and that I believe is the only reason we lost! Johnny I’m not going to try and compete with all your goings on of last year and the main reason is I couldn’t be arsed!!

To the M.V.P of last year Mr Shano I would like to say......................!

Anyway the reason I believe we are favourites this year is down to 1 person The Talent, The Rock, Mr Steady I could go & on, I would like to officially invite him back to our team, the one and only Shay. Shay brings so much to our team but the main asset is Tom! I would personally like to thank Tom for all the wonderful predicaments he has put Shay into... the stories are now legendary. So I would like to officially invite Tom onto our team as well! WE ARE SO FUCKED!!
Last year in the singles match we had to write down the score of your own match on every tee box, Shay believed he was 4 down after 4 because he was the one writing the scores so he asked Mick would he do it and Mick said “ If I start marking the score I will start losing so no way” he refused to do it!
Lads that is the sort positivity I want this year, with men like that! Fluskey you haven’t a hope!!!

Lads on a more serious note please can everybody try and pay on time this year. This is a constant pain for Barry and Shane , God knows they do too much work as it is. Barry I hope your shoulders in good shape this year I feel they might need to be! On a personal note I would like to take this opportunity to thank Barry Ness and Shane for all the work these guys do every year and without fail it is the best weekend of the year every year, THANKS LADS!!.

Just to reassure everybody myself and Dave after many heated arguments have finally decided that we would have no extra activities after the golf besides drinking heavily. Dave some of your team have asked me to ask you are they allowed to stay up after 12????????

Can’t wait for this event and I am really looking forward to seeing all you guys down there.

p.s Less choking this year please!!

Winner Alrite

Yours faithfully,
Des.