Tag: Belfast

Posted on by

New Green Keeper for Colin Park Golf Course

Pat Devlin makes big changes

It is evident of late that there has been a change in quality of the greens on Colin Park – 9 Hole Golf Course. But why such a dramatic change? Surely it’s not all down to the weather putting Rose Tinted Glasses on us!

In Short it is down to the efforts of Pat Devlin whose career as a green-keeper has spanned more than 50 years. Pat’s vision and hard work has rubbed off on other green keepers and staff at Colin Park enabling the dramatic turnaround. But who is Pat Devlin, and what brought him to Colin Park?

New Green Keeper for Colin Park Golf Course

‘In June 1966  I began my career at Balmoral as assistant green-keeper & worked my way up to head green-keeper, where i spent 13 years. I played golf as much as possible with the great Fred Daly and Eddie Polland reducing my handicap to 4. Being offered a position as Course Manager at Lisburn GC was great and in 1979 we hosted the Ulster Professionals. I was then offered the position of Course Manager at Co. Louth {Baltray} in 1991. It was an easy decision as as I wanted experience on a links course. We hosted the Irish Professionals and the East of Ireland. However I stayed for only 2 years as I always missed the North. The position of course Manager came up at Belvoir Park GC and  I was lucky enough to be appointed, where we hosted the Irish Close, the Irish Professionals and many other high ranking tournaments including The World Blind Championship. I have now retired from full time work and accepted part time Course  Manager position at Colin Park GC which i wish to transform on a low budget  – a great challenge which i totally accept and look forward to. I started on April 11th 2017’.

During the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass this week our Head Greenkeeper Pat Devlin is giving us a taste of the speed of the greens will be reaching at Sawgrass. Using a Stimpmeter at Colin park, Pat has got the greens running at 10.4. When you think the fastest they got at Augusta this year was 13, Pat will be making the members very twitchy!

https://www.facebook.com/colin.park.77/videos/1275223505927374/

Recent Changes to Course

Here are some of the changes we have made to date:

The fairways has been double cut, so there is no longer any rough, just a first cut which will speed up play and promote no hold ups. with noticeable increase in speed of play with no hold ups. The greens are now being cut 4 times a week and rolled instead of 2 which helps with speed and role. Colin Park is now perfect if you want to nip out for 9 holes with just an hour to spare.

For more information  for our Golf Course and Golf Lessons please contact us by email at colinpark@colinglentrust.org or call us on 02890614115.

Posted on by

Prince’s Trust Team Programme

Colin Glen Trust are now offering a fantastic life changing opportunity for Young Adults in West Belfast starting this February.  The Prince’s Trust Team Programme is a unique Personal Development & Employability Scheme run out over 12 weeks. Throughout the programme participants will get the opportunity to take part in:

  • An Activity Residential in the Mournes including Team Building, Bouldering, Hill Walking, Kayaking, Laser Tag.
  • 2 Weeks Work Placement in fields which the participants have an interest.
  • Interview and CV building skills which will help the participants to widen the reach of applying for and securing a job.

ALSO

  • A week long community project of their choice which will give them a sense of pride and achievement.
  • The opportunity to gain The Prince’s Trust Certificate and Award in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skills.
  • Developing presentation skills which will build confidence and ability when it comes to the world of work.
  • Team work skills that you can’t gain anywhere else.

Meet New People, Take Action, Gain new Experiences, Plan for the Future, meet The Challenge & Have Your Say!

If you have any young people between the ages of 16 – 24 and are deemed NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) or are working a low hour contract and would like to join the TEAM, then they can apply and take part in a once in a lifetime opportunity with The Prince’s Trust TEAM Programme.

The next TEAM Programme starts on Monday 5th February 2018

Colin Glen Trust

163 Stewartstown Road, Belfast.

BT17 0HW

Help them jump start their career ideas into a reality.

Contact:

Adam Leahy or Seamus Mullan

Princes Trust Team Leader

07517 425 307

E-mail princestrust@colinglen.org

Posted on by

Local Cycling Projects Receive Sport NI Funding

Sport NI Funding

Sport NI funding – Ahead of this year’s exciting Giro D’Italia Gran Fondo, Sport Northern Ireland announced details of funding awards to ten grass-roots community projects aiming to build on the success of last year’s Giro D’Italia Big Start and keep local people cycling.

The awards were made as part of special £85,000 cycling-themed strand of Sport NI’s Active Awards for Sport small grants programme, established to continue the Giro legacy and support further development of cycling, particularly in areas of greatest need.

 

Sport NI Director of Participation Nick Harkness welcomed the announcement, and noted the significance of the awards, stating:

 

“The tremendous success of last year’s Big Start, and the mounting excitement for this week’s Gran Fondo event demonstrate the huge interest in and enthusiasm for cycling in Northern Ireland. Sport Northern Ireland recognises how important it is for us to recognise and respond to the upward trend in grassroots participation in cycling and that is why we are delighted to be making today’s funding awards.

 

These ten projects are doing fantastic work. As well as enabling people across Northern Ireland to enjoy and engage in cycling, particularly underrepresented groups such as women and people with disabilities, they are also using use the sport to promote more cohesive and inclusive communities.”

 

Among the groups receiving an award is the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre in Derry, whose ‘Creggan Goes Cycling Crazy” promotes participation in cycling across the Triax area of the city. Commenting on their award, Old Library Trust’s title George McGowan noted:

 

“We’re delighted to have the support of Sport NI for our project. Its aim is to enable local families to regularly take part in cycling activities and events, and to educate and train new generations of bike mechanics to assist in the upkeep of local community bikes. Like so many people I was delighted to see the Giro D’Italia come to Northern Ireland last year, and am really looking forward to the Gran Fondo. I believe that, through projects such as ours, we can continue to build on the legacy of these major events and ensure that cycling continues to benefit and be enjoyed by local people for years to come.”

 

Sport NI Funding ¦ Mountain Biking ¦ Active Awards For Sport ¦ Cycling ¦ Northern Ireland  ¦ Belfast