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Tedfords Kitchen - Great food
Given it's location I would say it's very busy pre-show if there's anything on at the waterfront

This new handicap system is confusing. I played off 8.7 with a playing handicap of 8. I shot 84 a few weeks ago and got cut to 8.2. A load of our low 1/2 handicap men all got cut to scratch once the nee system came in. I'm assuming it'll come into its own when I play a few opens at links courses when I get a few extra shots to play with.

Get the golf Ireland app. It shows all your qualifying rounds, puts your last 20 rounds into a graph and highlights the 8 rounds that are used to calculate your handicap.

Who was it that took 5 or 6 putts on the last?

Danny Lee

https://twitter.com/OddsCheckerUS/status/1307890485978116096

Anyone else trudging around the local secondary schools open days/evenings for the P6 & P7 kids?

My eldest is in P6 and after tonight will have visited 3 of the local schools; unless something changes tonight, it looks like the local grammar will be top of the list.  It was always the intention to do the transfer test anyway - or at least prepare in for the transfer test & see how it goes.
Absolutely no intention of using a tutor but there seems to be a lot of parents going down that route.

Do the children go to open days at both P6 and P7 nowadays? My children aren't that age yet but do people really get a feel for the school based off of the one-off visits as opposed to the general perception of the school?

Both year groups would be encouraged to go but its not vital either.

The children are going to be more influenced by the one-off visits and the schools definitely put their best foot forward in order to exert that influence but, as parents you'll be influenced by much more.  I would regard Ballinascreen to be in the fortunate position of falling under the catchment area of a number of good schools and whatever one my children would like to attend there isn't much (or any) negativity with whatever they choose.  I would say my attitude would be different if there was a particularly poor school on the list.

Anyone else trudging around the local secondary schools open days/evenings for the P6 & P7 kids?

My eldest is in P6 and after tonight will have visited 3 of the local schools; unless something changes tonight, it looks like the local grammar will be top of the list.  It was always the intention to do the transfer test anyway - or at least prepare in for the transfer test & see how it goes.
Absolutely no intention of using a tutor but there seems to be a lot of parents going down that route.

I'm doing it for the 3rd time in 4 years. The novelty wears off.
In the past I would have agreed with you about the tutoring, however, I've changed my mind on the issue.
Mrs. tbrick18 is a teacher and actually tutors kids, mostly with special ed needs. Though she does occasionally do transfer work for friends.
We would always work with our kids for homework etc, and followed that through with the transfer. What we found with the transfer work was that the child would lose focus and be more likely to not bother if we were helping. Whereas with a tutor, the child isn't as familiar with them and so works in a more focused fashion.
Whilst I don't agree with tutoring a child for a transfer test that they realistically couldn't pass normally, I think tutoring the more able kids on things like exam technique is definitely helpful.
Where we live, there is one school in particular that if a child wants to attend they must do the transfer, and probably need not only an A, but a high scored A as the criteria uses the scores instead of the grades. The little bit of tutoring could be the difference in getting a place.
Personally, I put no pressure on my kids to do the transfer or choose a specific school. I let them make the decision themselves and so far, they have all chosen to do it. The local comprehensive school seems to be a very good school too and I'd have no issue with my kids going there.
I know for some parents it's life or death getting into a grammar school, personally I think a lot of that is about keeping up appearances and can be very unfair on the child.

I know what you're saying regarding the exam technique but from talking the primary school teachers I think that is a part of their focus in the preparation.  If I feel that is an area that needs additional work i'm in the fortunate position to call upon 5 close relations that are teachers (mix of primary & secondary).
I would be more than happy for my children to attend any of the 3 local schools that we've visited and i'm certainly not pushing them in any direction.  If I was nudging in a particular direction it wouldn't be for the first choice 

Anyone else trudging around the local secondary schools open days/evenings for the P6 & P7 kids?

My eldest is in P6 and after tonight will have visited 3 of the local schools; unless something changes tonight, it looks like the local grammar will be top of the list.  It was always the intention to do the transfer test anyway - or at least prepare in for the transfer test & see how it goes.
Absolutely no intention of using a tutor but there seems to be a lot of parents going down that route.

SF vote seems well down % wise constituency by constituency (bar NB), not great either for the DUP. With knuckles firmly wrapped for both parties and influence gone in the UK the return of Stormont is a certainty.

Stormont will be up and going again very soon, SF and DUP have no influence whatsoever now with Tory majority.

Could see a bit of DUP stalling to force an Election (due by end of January if Stormont is not up and running) so they can parachute in Dodds & Pengelley as MLAs.

One will be parachuted in in place of Carla Lockhart

Any of you fellas recommend a decent Garmin (or other make) watch for golf? 

I've been playing for a few months and am beginning to be able judge how far I can strike a ball with each club (if I connect properly). 


I've had a look online and am none the wiser and I'm not really looking to break the bank either!

I use the Garmin Approach S20 GPS Watch
I've probably had it 18-24months & I've no complaints at all.  Used to use a rangefinder as I didn't like the thought of wearing a watch while playing golf (didn't even wear a watch at all at that point).  Went ahead and bought the watch anyway; rangefinder is rarely out of the bag now.

[Could Upper Bann be in play at all for a pact?]

Any word of reciprocal moves from Alliance in South Belfast/ North Down, couldn't see them doing it in NB TBF.

Would have thought the Green's would withdraw in North Down and East Belfast also.

Could Upper Bann be in play at all for a pact?

Or even South Antrim to help out UU they prob burnt that bridge by withdrawing from NB?

Couldn't see it. Results from 2017 general election:

DUP 43.5%
SF 27.9%
UUP 15.4%
SDLP 8.6%
Alliance 4.5%

The DUP Brexit result is atrocious. I wouldn't rule out a backlash

I would. Areas like this and north Antrim won't change.

I agree. Upper Bann is a safe DUP seat. Arlene could blow millions on a half baked heating scheme and the DUP wouldn't lose a single vote. The unionists have more in common with free staters than they care to admit.

Will the news of David Simpson standing down have any affect in Upper Bann?

[The key to victory more often than not in provincial championship is experience.]

The key to victory more often than not in provincial championship is experience. Just take a look at all the teams mentioned in the last few pages and they all have vast experience in their respective provincial championship series - Crokes, Corofin, Cross, Derrygonnelly, Kilcoo, Ballyboden. To a lesser extent Naomh Conaill and Clontibret but these 2 have consistently reached finals within their own county. Yes of course, a team can come from nowhere to win it but not often. The likes of Cargin, Magherafelt, Trillick etc need to get there for a few seasons on the trot but they can't even get out of their own county again to do that. Fair play to the teams that win their own county consistently - they deserve a provincial title if they get it but they are not easy won.

I agree with that to a certain extent but ulster is littered with champions that have little or no experience of competing at that level:
Gaoth Dobhair 2018
Slaughtneil 2014
Loup 2003
Ballinderry 2001
Dungiven 1997
Crossmaglen 1996
Mullaghbawn 1995
Bellaghy 1994
Errigal Ciaran 1993
So in the past 25 years a third of the champions have "came from nowhere"

Then you have the clubs that have gained plenty of experience at ulster club level but haven't had the breakthrough
Cargin
Scotstown
St Eunan's
Kilcoo
Mayobridge
Roslea
Enniskillen Gaels
Derrygonnelly
Castleblayney (post '91 team)

To suggest Slaughtneil were strolling through Derry is just nonsense. They won because they were the best team but some of their Derry championship games were tougher than some of the Ulster club games.

Awk oakleaf wise up they strolled through it, yes it was because they were an exceptional team but they still walked through it

But in 2014 Slaughtneil won their first Derry title in 10 years and went on to win Ulster... how does this fit the narrative that you need to be regularly competing in Ulster to win it??

It certainly helps. The fact is Slaughtneil were coming back again and again after that, they pipped an Omagh side in the final who had just won their first Tyrone title in 26 years.

But the Derry championship is litter with one-off (or first-time) winners going on to in Ulster in the same season; why not Tyrone... maybe because they aren't good enough!!??

Bellaghy 1994
Dungiven 1997
Ballinderry 2001
Loup 2003

To suggest Slaughtneil were strolling through Derry is just nonsense. They won because they were the best team but some of their Derry championship games were tougher than some of the Ulster club games.

Awk oakleaf wise up they strolled through it, yes it was because they were an exceptional team but they still walked through it

But in 2014 Slaughtneil won their first Derry title in 10 years and went on to win Ulster... how does this fit the narrative that you need to be regularly competing in Ulster to win it??

I work in construction- main contractor takes 35% RCT Tax off my invoice and pays to ROI Revenue. I then have to reclaim it.

Speak to your accountant, should only be 20% you are losing.

0% up to date tax compliance
20% substantially up to date
35% poor tax compliance or not registered

Leagues are for playing in....

Any truth in the rumours circulating in Owenbeg on Sunday night that the league structures are changing again next year to a 16 team division 1, giving Dungiven and Banagher a reprieve from Intermediate status?

Never heard the rumour but Dungiven & Banager aren't intermediate next year!  In 2020, if the structures remain the same, they will both still play in the senior championship as the finished in the top 15/16 in the league (depends on who wins the intermediate championship) in 2019; in 2020, they will play their league football in Division 1B - if they finish in the top 3/4* (again depending on who wins the intermediate championship) in 2020 they will still play senior championship in 2021

*even if they don't they can still put themselves forward to play in the senior championship as far as i know.  Glenullin did it a few years ago but i don't know if that ruling has changed.