On Monday, September 14th, Event Chairs Tom Barry & Jim Layden hosted a spectacular day of golf at the exclusive Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, one of the most challenging courses in California. The course starts with one of the most dramatic first tees in the game, perched on the top of a hill overlooking U.C.L.A. and the Westwood section of Los Angeles. Set in the canyon below is a short 491 yard par five that is a great starting hole and The American Ireland Fund players swung strongly as they teed off.
Bel-Air is known as one of the most interesting courses in the world to walk because of all the little quirks required to transport golfers from canyon to canyon. These include having to walk through four tunnels and over a suspension bridge, in addition to taking an elevator from the middle of one of the tunnels.
This was the third annual West Coast Golf Classic and it was a magnificent setting for this invitational competition on a warm, sunny day. Leading the foursomes were Bill Folan, Mike Dunleavy Sr., Colin McCafferty, and Joe Morrison. Previous winners Bill Folan and Mike Dunleavy Sr. were back to regain the winning title; however Jim Layden’s winning team of Barry O’Brien, Brian O’Cuiv and Conor Shalloe took the honors. They were presented with a striking Golf Swing trophy produced in Ireland by Celtic Roots, hand-carved out of a piece of bog oak wood almost 5,000 years old.
West Coast Director Marjorie Muldowney greeted a keen group of returning players including Tyler Barth, Brendan Carroll, and Matthew Doran, as well as James Kearney, Dave Larkin, and Dermot Tuohy. New players included Aaron Wood from Chicago, Bill Cafferky from Cape Cod, Ray Conboy, Rob Freelen, JBeau Lewis, Sam Rubin, Frank O’Brien, and Pat O’Keeffe.
National Board Director Harry Hartford joined the party at the Top of the Tee reception, along with Los Angeles Regional Advisory Board Members Kaitlyn Cafferky, Conor Shalloe, Brendan Carroll, Sean Kneafsey, and Patricia Danaher. Traditional Irish live music kicked off the gathering as the celebratory awards ceremony began and there was much banter and enthusiasm for next year’s Classic. The party grew with the welcome addition of Margaret Hayhurst, actress Olivia Tracey, Chris Kyle, Melissa Cafferky, Sylvia Wood, and actress Amy Shiels. According to Tyler Barth "it was an amazing event with fantastic people" in support of the ongoing work of The American Ireland Fund.
Heartiest thanks to Tom Barry and Jim Layden for hosting this magnificent golf outing.
