SCHOOLBOY GOLF SENSATION Niall Donnelly has been tipped to become Ireland’s next legendary golfer – and he’s only been taking lessons for two months! Just like Hollywood movie Happy Gilmore who discovers his golf talent by smacking a ball into oblivion, the 13-year-old started whacking a ball up and down a field with his friends.
Donnelly now plays off a handicap of 11 and is already winning prizes, including junior golfer of the year. The youngster is coached by Michael Dixon, PGA pro at The K Club – home of the 2006 Ryder Cup – who says: “Niall has a great natural talent for golf and I could tell straightaway. I feel that he will become a very good player – he’s got so much enthusiasm and determination.”
The boy wonder, who practises three times a week and at weekends, has his sights aimed high and will look to his heroes for inspiration when he plays in competitions planned throughout the year at The K Club, as well as the Leinster Boys’ Championship in the summer.
“I love golf and I’d love to be like Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington,” says Donnelly, recalling how he first became hooked on the game. “I started watching it on TV about two years ago and I noticed a lot of young golfers so I picked up a club and gave it a go.
Happy Donnelly
“I then started hitting a ball around with friends and we’d go to a golf course. My uncle helped me with my swing and then when I could hit it far enough we went to Michael Dixon at The K Club. It was Michael who said I had a great talent.”
Mum Martina says she knew her son had something because he became hooked on golf in school summer holidays. “Come June to August I didn’t see Niall. He was out early morning hitting a ball up and down the fields and wouldn’t come back till 5pm or 6pm.”
The young golfer says The K Club is part of the reason why he enjoys the game so much. He says: “The facilities at The K Club are great, especially for chip and put and the putting green. Michael’s taught me things like my swing, ball position, standing and my grip.”
And there’s one other thing that 13-year-old Donnelly’s got used to after playing in fields with his friends up till two months ago: “The balls are all laid out for you at The K Club so you don’t have to keep retrieving them yourself!”
ABOUT JUNIOR GOLF AT THE K CLUB
Junior golf schools at The K Club coached around 150 young golfers last year and Dixon says it is now the number one place where youngsters as young as six can excel and explore golf. “The reason I feel this is that we have world class practice facilities. On the resort we have three practice driving ranges, three practice short-game areas for chipping, bunker play and pitch shots and two tournament size putting greens,” he says.
“With our Junior Program they also learn very important life skills around golf – trust, confidence, integrity and manners – so I feel that juniors working with myself and the assistant pros here at The K Club get so much more than just a good golf swing!”
ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
For the first time in its history, The K Club is giving away family residential membership. This is for buyers of one-eighth titled interests in property at Firstlight The K Club – a stunning private estate set within the grounds of Ireland’s number one golf and spa resort.
- Designer homes and apartments at the Ladycastle estate overlook the Smurfit course and your family residential membership allows you and your kids under 18 to use all amenities, including golf at the home of the 2006 Ryder Cup
- Firstlight The K Club offers you six weeks’ flexible use of your residence each year
- With prices from €160,000 per one-eighth share, enjoy The K Club’s five star lifestyle plus the option to swop a week for an overseas holiday destination
- Book a Discovery Trip for a night or two at Firstlight The K Club and get to play nine holes with our PGA pro Michael Dixon for FREE
- Or make use of our K Spa facilities, including a FREE Hydro-bath treatment.
To book your Discovery Trip to Firstlight The K Club call +353 1 610 7111, or email: info@firstlightkclub.com for pricing and details. www.firstlightkclub.com
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