Hassett named President Elect of ILGU
Valerie Hassett competing in the semi final of the plate at the 2013 Irish Seniors Women's Close Amateur Championship at Woodenbridge. Picture by Pat Cashman www.cashmanphotography.ie
Valerie Hassett has been appointed President Elect of the ILGU with her Presidential term of office starting in January 2015.
After being introduced to the game by her parents on summer holidays in Skerries, her love for the game grew under the expert tuition of Bill Kinsella Snr.
She was a regular on the nationwide tour of Ladies’ Championships and Scratch Cups and went on to represent Munster at Interprovincial level for 25 years, retiring in 1999.
She made her Senior Ladies’ International debut in 2003 and represented Ireland for a further seven years. A past Team Captain of the Irish International Girls’ team in the late 80’s, she managed the Irish Women’s Team in the late 90’s and stepped in at short notice once again as Team Captain at the European Team Championships in Spain in 2010.
In 2007 she was a key member of the Ennis Ladies team who defeated Royal Portrush at Milltown to capture their first Irish Senior Cup pennant in the Club’s Centenary Year.
Arguably one of her most memorable moments on the golf course was in 1998 when she was beaten in the final if the US Seniors in Virginia. She had already captured the British Seniors title at Pyle & Kenfig in 1996 and was runner up three times through to 1999.
She has served as National Junior Convenor and currently sits on the ILGU’s National Course Rating Committee having held the role of National Assessor for almost two decades.
A past Captain of Lahinch and Ennis Golf Clubs, she is currently Lady President of Lahinch Golf Club.
She is well known for valued insight into developing the game at all levels and is never short of an encouraging word for her fellow competitors, in particular talented juniors. In 2004, she presented the Valerie Hassett Cup – the holy grail for which the girl golfers of Clare and Limerick do battle each summertime.
She will take up the presidential reigns in January 2015 when the current ILGU President Mary McKenna MBE (Donabate) completes her two year term.
