Captains Letter's 2013

27 February 2013
My fellow Sean Chairde,
It gives me great pleasure to contact the SC family to inform you all of the details of the 2013 event. After two very close run affairs at Mount Wolseley the committee and incoming captains felt it was time to make a change and we are all very excited about this year’s venue selection. The Carlow venue served us very well, however, this year the magnificent Adare Manor. Championship Golf resort will be our destination where we will cross swords, on and off the golf course, from the 8th August. This will mark the first occasion the SC is held at a venue that has hosted the Irish Open so a real step up in quality, no doubt the drinking, sorry golf, will be on a par with the course.

To the outgoing Captains, Flusk and McGann, well done and thank you for serving up a very tight and tense affair last year. Captain Flusk will be a tough act to follow. Dave really opened my eyes to the levels of analysis, preparation and time keeping required for this event but what really stood out was the incredibly brave strategy to allow the opposition take an early lead on the Thursday. Nonetheless, it’s the end result that matters and its now over to this year’s vintage to retain the SC trophy for another year, bring it on!

On a personal note, I take particular pride in being the second Carolan to lead a team into battle following Calco’s memorable 2005 victory at the sunny Glasson. Great times!

On behalf of myself and my 24 by 7 Vice-Captain, Barry Orr, we want to wish our opposite numbers well in the lead up to Adare. Luke has already displayed a shrew leadership style by gathering proven winners around him, namely Norway incumbent Barry “Sham” Nestor. I had the pleasure of spending some time with many of the opponents at their team building activity over the Christmas period. Round one was a leisurely affair in Neary’s leading to a gripping final round at Café en Seine, a real knockout of a night! For me this was a great way to observe the inner workings of the opposition and I can report that there is a real edge to their team this year, we have been warned!

Enough chit chat I hear you say and give me some of the nitty gritty details. It’s been very enjoyable to get an insight into the preparation that goes into this special event. With a change of venue the committee, Shane, Rob, Barry and Alan, really had the whip out and as ever were very hands on in the multiple meetings, emails, phone calls and venue visits that finally brought us to Adare Manor. Incredibly they have managed to maintain the cost at the same price as last year (€650) through some thrifty negotiations with such a prestigious venue. Hats off to the committee for their on-going commitment to the event, not an easy task when trying to balance the many unique needs of the overall group.

This year will be a 3 night affair where we will stay in the on course townhouses. The golf format results in all players playing all 4 rounds starting Thursday the 8th with an afternoon Fourball, scotch foresomes and a fourball on the Friday preceding the closing singles on Saturday the 10th. In a change to tradition we will have the prize giving immediately after the singles to allow for a leisurely run into dinner, off site, in the village of Adare. These changes are all being made as a result of your feedback and while we hope for them to be in place for many years, the beauty of the SC is that is always evolving so keep the feedback coming to the committee.

Several members of each team are already signed up to direct debits. This is the preferred payment method given it removes the chasing required by the Vice Captains so a 6 month standing order of €110 will have covered in time. If you need any more specific details we recommend that you contact your captain and vice-captain directly.

Gentlemen, without further ado I declare this year’s SC is green for go! To the victor the spoils and may the best team win. Now is the time to get your swing working again, or for some just working! Really looking forward to seeing you all in August.

Golf with me!
Oscar “chippy” Carolan
SC Captain 2013

Opposing Captain’s Reply Letter - 6th March 2013
Players & Drinkers
My fellow Sean Chairde members and my opposing Captain,

Firstly, Oscar, thank you for that very long piece of drivel J. However, it was somewhat useful in that you shared the details of the August event, which saves me a lot of bother.

Secondly, to the committee, thank you for all your hard work in helping to organise this year’s event, I am sure everyone is looking forward to it.

I would like to thank last year’s captain of our team, Des. Des, so close and yet so far. Well done to Dave and his team.

On behalf of my team, this year in August, we look forward to drinking, eating, sleeping and drinking more in Adare. We will also play a bit of golf on that finest of golf courses. We will win the event this year. Myself and my vice captain, my very pleasant and dear cousin Barry, will win two of the easiest points on Saturday morning, no matter how hung over we are.
My other fellow team members will be inspirational this year.

Kind regards

Luke.

THE SC Captain 2013