The Heath Golf Club have named their Men’s, Women’s and Junior Captains for the 2023 season.
John Cushen will be the Men’s Captain, Rovena Fahey is Women’s Captain and Paddy Fitzpatrick is Junior Captain.
John Cushen was born and raised in Portlaoise on a family farm, one of ten siblings at Ballyclider, Portlaoise.
After a successful career in flour milling in Ireland and New Zealand, he finally settled back in Portlaoise in 1992, with his wife Mary and four children and purchased a newsagent in Lower Main Street followed by another one two years later in Laois Shopping Centre.
They retired from business in 2013. As well as playing hurling and football with Ratheniska John was Chairman of Ratheniska Macra at 16 years. During his term in business, he captained the Midland Traders, and Irish Retail Newsagents Golf Societies.
He joined the Heath Golf club in 1996. John reckons his golf highlight to date is winning a monthly medal playing with a handicap of 12 and he has had 3 holes in one on the Heath.
He was a member of the Fred Perry and South Leinster teams in 2022 and managed the JB Carr team in 2022. He served as President of the Club Bridge Club.
Rovena Fahy was born in Laois but became a Lily White at a young age as she lives in Newbridge. However, she has returned to Laois to play golf.
Rovena has been involved in sport since her teenage years. She played everything from squash to badminton to volleyball and she is still involved in basketball.
She progressed to club basketball with Newbridge, Kilcullen and Dublin and played at various levels for over 35 years. She took up Refereeing when she was 18 years of age and officiated at all levels of competition for Schools, Clubs, National Leagues and most memorably Special Olympics when it was held in Ireland in 2003.
Her introduction to golf began seven years ago when her husband brought home a flyer for the first ”Get Into Golf” at the Heath. “I thought I would give it a go and thanks to Helen Kelly and Roisin Adams whose encouragement and support along with the other golfing ladies of the Heath made the experience wonderful. And the rest as they say is history“.
Rovena has served as the Handicap Secretary and last year as Vice-Captain she ran the “Get Into Golf programme” which was very successful. She says she is very honoured to hold the position of Captain of the Women’s section of The Heath Golf Club and looking forward to the year ahead.
Paddy Fitzpatrick is 16 years old and is a transition year pupil in Portlaoise CBS. He joined the club three years ago and now plays off a handicap of 7.
As well as his siblings he is a talented sports person, playing soccer, basketball, hurling and football.
He is a member of the Laois Minor Football team and started in their win over Longford last week.
During his TY year he got involved in coaching 1st year basketball and the team has just won the Midlands A final.
He is also following his sister Chloe’s footsteps as she was the first Junior Captain of the Club. Paddy is delighted to be Junior Captain and looking forward to the year ahead.
SEE ALSO – Portlaoise man recently appointed as Commissioner for Oaths
