Ireland - NLE Courses

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

As a follow-up up to Mark Rowlinson's "Great Britain - NLE Courses" in the "In My Opinion" section, here's a first draft of a list of Irish no-longer existing (NLE) courses. The list is mostly drawn from W.H. Gibson's "Early Irish Golf" and W.A. Menton's "The Golfing Union of Ireland 1891-1991".

Due to a lack of time, I have not gone through all the clubs mentioned in both books, so this is a work in progress. I have not delved into this very deeply, but where there is some doubt, or little info, I have consulted the relevant golf club's web-site (no guarantee of accuracy as experience shows us). I have been researching the Donegal courses, so in some cases I have been able to provide more accurate information that was given in Gibson's book.

As I said, the list is initial and incomplete, so I'll update it as often as possible. 

CO. ANTRIM

Carrickfergus (1892): Location and date when abandonded unknown [1]. Golf re-established at Barn Mills in 1926. Opened 28 May 1927 [5].

Craigs Park (1916?-1945?): [1]

Cullybrackey (1915-1927?): [1]

Glenariff (Cushendall) (1910-1912?): [1]

Lisburn (1891-1893? and 1905-1973): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Longstone Street in Lisburn Town [3]. The club claims a course was opened in 1890, but they also claim it was opened in the 1880s (and closed in 1885-86) and affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI). This is impossible as the GUI was not formed until 1891. Card of course (Hole, Yds., Bogey): 1-406 (4), 2-293 (4), 3-334 (4), 4-221 (4), 5-135 (3), 6-450 (5), 7-476 (5), 8-306 (4), 9-368 (4) [9]. Club moved to present site at Blaris Lodge where a FW Hawtree & Son layout was opened for play on 6 June 1973.

Markethill (1911-?): [1]

Shanes Park (Randalstown) (1891-1937?): Parkland. [1]

Toome (1896-1910?): Parkalnd. [1].

CO. ARMAGH

Bessbrook (1915?-1927?): [1]

Lurgan (1893-1898): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Brownlow Demesne. Course laid out by Mr. H.G. MacGeagh and consisted of nine holes, the longest being three hundred and fifty yards and the shortest ninety yards [15]. Home of Lurgan GC.

Lurgan (1898-1923): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Gracehall. Course laid out by H.G. MacGeagh and Major G.W. Greer. Due to difficulties with the landlord of Gracehill, the club returned to the Brownlow Demesne in 1923 and laid out a course on covering part of the former course. The club selected C.K. Cotton, Pennink & Associates to draw up plans for an extension of the Browlow course to 18 holes. The new course was opened in 1970 [15]. 

Woodville (1918-1928): Parkland. Location: Woodville, Lough Road [1]. Home of Woodville GC, but in 1928 the club amalgamated with Lurgan GC and moved to the Brownlow Demesne.

Newry: [1]

CO. CARLOW

Aghade (1910-?): Parkland. Location: Tullow. [21]

Bagenalstown (1910-?): Parkland. 9 holes. [12] [21]

Gotham (1899-1922): Parkland. 9 holes. Location: Gotham. Course designed by R. Larkin (Bray professional) for a fee of £2 3s 6d. Home of the Leinster Golf Club. The club changed its name to Carlow Golf Club in 1902 and moved in 1922 to its present location at Deer Park. The first course at Deer Park was designed by Cecil Barcroft. [21]

CO. CAVAN

Cavan (1894-1920): Parkland. 9 holes. Location: Killynebber. "The course, of nine holes, varying in length from 125 to 230 yards, is at Killynebber, about a mile from the station." [17] The course was designed by R.L. Murrow and had a par of 31. [18] The club moved to Drumelis in 1920. [18]

CO. CLARE

Ballyvaughan: 9 holes [12]

Killalloe: 9 holes [12]

Lisdoonvarna: 9 holes [12]

Miltown Malbay: 9 holes [12]

CO. CORK

Atlantic (Kilbrittain, Bandon)

Atlantic Fleet / Channel Fleet Club (Bere Island)

Bantry

Berehaven

Blackrock (Rochestown)

Blarney

Channel Fleet (Berehaven)

Charleville

Clonakilty

Courtmacsherry

Harbour Point (1991- May 2009): 18 holes. Parkland. Location: Clash, Little Island. Course designed by Paddy Merrigan. [23]

Queenstown/Rushbrooke (Cobh)

Rathconey

Royal Naval Club /  (Castletown) - Club formerly existed as Channel Fleet Club and had course on Bere Island.

Skibbereen & West Carbery (Castlelands)

St. Anne's Hill (Blarney): 18 holes [12].

Trabolgan

CO. DERRY

Coleraine

CO. DONEGAL

Ardara (1897-post 1934?): 9 holes. Links. Located at Sandhills and connected to Nesbitt Arms Hotel. Designed by Musselburgh born school teacher George L. Baillie of Royal Belfast.
 
Ballyshannon (1908-post 1934?): 9 holes. Parkland. [2].

Burtonport (1926-post 1934?): 9 holes. Location: Arlands, NE of Burtonport. Rosses GC. Opened April 1926 by Major Myles [7].

Carrick (1897): 9 holes. Location: Carrick, Glencolmcille. Abandonded pre-1914? [1]. Connected to Glencolmcille Hotel?

Carrigart (1937-1950s?): 9 holes. Links. Location: Between Rosapenna and Carrigart. [2]. Tees and grass bunkers still visible today.

Castlegoland (1903-1917?): 18 holes. Links. Location: Connected to Portnoo Hotel. Designed by (Henry?) Hamill of Portrush. Located on much the same ground as present Nairn & Portnoo course.

Falcarragh (1927-1950s?): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Ballyness. Opened July 1927 [7].

Letterkenny (1890s): Parkland. Located on Ramelton Road in Letterkenny [1].

Letterkenny GC (1913-1968): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Crievesmith, Oldtown, Letterkenny. Club moved to Eddie Hackett designed course at Barnhill in 1968.

Loughside (pre 1906?): 9 holes. Location: Rosbeg. Connected to Dowros Bay Hotel. No club founded. The golf links was situated “about a mile away” from the hotel, and visitors had the right of play “for a small charge.” The course was reached “by rowing across Kiltoorish Lough” (Lough Kiltourish?). [6]

Milford (1908): [2].

Óstan & Cúrsa Gailf Ghleann Cholm Cille (Aug 2004-2010?): 9 holes. Moorland/Heathland. Location: Glencolmcille. Attached to Glen Hotel. Designed by Gaunt & Marnoch (G&M Ltd).

Hole      Length      Par
1st      395      4
2nd       125      3
3rd       365      4
4th       360      4
5th      330      4
6th      545      5
7th      490      5
8th      205      3
9th      355      4
Total      3170      36

Ramelton (1926): [2]

Rossnowlagh (pre 1909?-1960s?): 9 holes. Links. Location: Rossnowlagh [8]. Club founded in 1926 [2].

St. Columb’s (pre 1906): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Churchill. No club founded; connected to hotel.

St. Patrick's - Magheramagorgan (1994?-2005?): 18 holes. Links. Location: Maghermagorgan. Designed by Eddie Hackett.


The 15th green on the Eddie Hackett designed Magheramagorgan course at St. Patrick's (Photo shared from St. Patrick's GC web page).

St. Patrick's - Trá Mór (1994?-2005?): 18 holes. Links. Location: Magheramagorgan. Designed by Joanne O'Haire.


The 16th green on the Joanne O'Haire designed Trá Mór course at St. Patrick's (Photo shared from St. Patrick's GC web page).

Donegal GC (1930-1960s?): 9 holes. Location:  Tantallon, Mountcharles, Donegal Town. Club founded in 1930 [2]. Moved to Murvagh.

CO. DOWN

Bangor (1903-1933): Parkland. 9 holes designed by William Robinson and laid out and supervised by C. S. Butchart and club professional George Turnbull (originally from North Berwick). [25]

Belmont

Carnalea

Cuan (Strangford)

Knock (1895-1898): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Knock Railway Station [11].

Knock (1898-1920?): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: : Shandon Park. Club moved to Summerfield Estate at Dundonald in 1920 [11]?

Malone (1895-96): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Newforge Lane.



"Malone Himself" - Layout of the Malone course for the 1933 Irish Amateur Open Championship.

Malone (1896 - Oct 1919): 18 holes. Parkland. Location: Stranmillis [10]. Designed by Musselburgh born Alex Day (club professional at Royal Belfast), brother of the Malone club professional Christopher Day. In 1900, the course measured 4,086 yards in length and had a bogey score of 72.
Card of Course 1905 (Hole, Yds., Bogey):
1-325 (4), 2-350 (5), 3-418 (5),4-386 (5), 5-422 (5), 6-103 (3), 7-192 (4), 8-343 (5), 9-435 (5)
10-370 (5), 11-196 (3), 12-258 (4), 13-330 (4), 14-344 (5), 15-169 (3), 16-225 (4), 17-195 (4), 18-295 (5) [14]

Malone (Oct 1919 - May 1961): 18 holes. Parkland. Location: Harberton Park. Designed by Alister Mackenzie. He was comissioned to design a course for not more than £3000; his fee was £300. Club moved to Ballydrain Estate in 1961; the new course was designed by Commander John Harris of C.K. Cotton & Co and re-designed by Hawtree & Sons. in 1965. [14]

Newtownards (1606)

Royal Belfast (Kinnegar, Hollywood 1881-1892): Designed by George L. Baillie & Walter D. Day. The club moved to Carnalea in 1892. Walter D. Day originally came from Musselburgh and was the father of Alex Day (who would also become the club professional at Royal Belfast) and Christopher Day (the first club professional at Malone GC from 1896-1902). Walter later on became the club professional at Lurgan GC. [15]

Royal Belfast (Carnalea, 1892-1925): 9 hole course. Club moved to Craigavad in 1925.

Rostrevor (23 May 1892-1897): Parkland. 9 holes. Located in the grounds of Ballyedmond Castle. Officially opened on 6 June 1892. In September 1896, the estate changed ahnds and the new owner did not wish for golf to be played on the castle grounds. [24]

Saintfield

CO. DUBLIN

Castleknock - Parkland.

Claremont (Howth)

Dun Laoghaire (1909 - 2007): 18 holes. Parkland. Location: Tivoli Road. Course re-designed by H.S. Colt after WWI. The club (originally called Kingstown GC) moved to a new Martin Hawtree designed 27-hole course in the Ballyman Glen on the Dublin-Wickow border in August 2007.

Fonthill (Chapelizod): Parkland.

Grange (1909): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Kilmashogue. Laid out by Mr. J. O’Brien Butler [16].

Malahide (1892-1990): 9 holes. Parkland. Club moved to new 27-hole Eddie Hackett designed course at Beechwood, The Grange in 1990.

Phoenix Park (1884): Military club. Parkland.

Phoenix Park (1885-1888): 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Thistle Hollow. Home of Dublin GC (Royal Dublin). Club temporarily moved to Cush Point (site of present Sutton GC) in 1888 and then to Bull Island, Dollymount.

North Suburban / Finglas (1911-1916): 18 holes. Parkland.

Portmarnock (1858): Links. Appears to have been located on present Portmarnock Links (Langer) course.

Riverside (Portmarnock)

Stillorgan - Parkland.

Stillorgan Park - Parkland.

The Open Golf Centre (1993- Nov 2003): 18+9 holes. Parkland. Location: Newtown House, St. Margaret's. Pay-and-play with three nines (Yellow 3168 yds, par 36; Red 3313 yds, par 35; Blue 2470 yds, par 31). The recently constructed M2 Motorway runs through the western part of the former course.

CO. GALWAY

County Galway (1895-?): Renmore Barracks [27]
County Galway (?-1905): Gentian Hill [27]
County Galway (1905-1925): Barna [27]

Gort (Rockfield Club, 1924-1974/75): Glenbrack (Galway Road, L85311).

Gort (Laughtyshaughnessy, 1974/75 - 1996): 9 hole. Parkland. Location: Gort GGA fields, Ballybaun. Club moved to new Christy O'Connor Jnr. designed 18 hole layout located at Castlequarter.


Oughterard

Renvyle

CO. KERRY

Ardfert (Ardfert Abbey)

Ballybeggan (1997-2003): 9 hole. Parkland. Location: Ballybeggan Park, Tralee.

Carragh Lake (1895): 3/4 mile from Hotel. 18 holes laid out by Anthony Brown (Royal Dublin). Only 9 holes used.

Carragh & Dooks - Connected with Caragh Lake?

Castlegregory (1897): The second course for Tralee GC. 18 hole course.

The Kerries (1995): 9 holes. Parkland. Turned into a housing development?

Tralee (1896): 9 holes. Location: Close to present sports fields [4].

Tralee (1897) - 9 holes. Location: Fenit, south-western side of Barrow Harbour [4].

Tralee (c1920) - Parkland. Lionel Hewson designed a course at Oak Park Demesne [1].

Tralee (c1948) - Club moved to Lasseugh [1]. Club moved to Barrow where a Arnold Palmer/Ed Sea designed course was opened in October 1984 [4]. Is Mounthawk the same site as Lasseugh?

Valentia

CO. KILDARE

Athgarvan (Curragh, 1910) - Near Mallick's Hotel. 9-hole course. Abandonded 1922 [1].

County Kildare (1896-1903) - Halverstown

County Kildare (1903-12) - The Decoy. Nine hole course laid out by George Coburn (Portmarnock).

County Kildare (1912-22) - The Knocks. Nine hole course laid out by W.C. Pickeman (Portmarnock).

County Kildare (1922-40) - Monread. Nine hole course laid out by Cecil Barcroft (Hon. Sec. at Ryl. Dublin). The lengths of the holes, with the bogey in parentheses, are as follow: 1-350 (5). 2-190 (4). 3-450 (5). 4-110 (3). 5-384 (5). 6-342 (4). 7-317 (4). 8-280 (4). 9-343 (5). Club moved to Kerdiffstown in 1940 and became known as Naas Golf Club in 1966.

Curragh (1852) - D. Ritchie [1]

Curragh (1858) - J. Gourlay (Professional) [1]

CO. KILKENNY

Castlecomer - Parkland.

Thomastown - Parkland.

CO. LAOIS

Abbeyleix ("The Island", Portlaoise/Ballyroan Road) - Founded 1894-1895? Parkland. Moved to Ballymullen pre-1904/05.

Abbeyleix (Ballymullen) - Parkland. Moved to Heywood 1921.

Abbeyleix (Heywood, Ballinaskill) - Parkland. Moved to Rathmoyle House 1927. Moved back to Ballymullen 1932. Used Rathmoyle as winter links 1934-35 season.
 
CO. LEITRIM

Ardcarne - Parkland.

CO. LIMERICK

Limerick County Golf & County Club (-2011) - 18 holes. Parkland. Location: Crosgalla. Par 72, 5876 mtrs. Club entered liquidation in January 2011. [22]

CO. LOUTH

South Louth (1911) - 9-holes. Parkland. Location: Ardee town. Moved to present location at Ruxton Demesne in 1913 with course designed by Lionel Hewson. Now named Ardee GC.

CO. MAYO

Balla

Ballinrobe (1895-1995?) - Parkland. 9 holes, par 31 [17]. "The course, of nine holes, varying in length from 137 to 350 yards, is close to the railway station." [17] The club moved to a Eddie Hackett designed 18 holes layout at Cloonacastle in 1995 [19].

Belmullet
Westport (1908-1915) - Parkland. Horkan's Hill (Trafalgar Park) [28].
Westport (1915-1973) - Parkland. 9 holes. Old Carrowholly [28].

CO. MEATH

County Meath (1898-1905) - Parkland. Course located at Effernock and designed by Devereaux Emmett. [26]

County Meath (1905-1925, 1934-1937) - Parkland. Nine hole course located at Oakstown, Athboy Road. Wound up in 1925 and revived in 1934 at same location. [26]

County Meath (1937-1951) - Parkland. Course located at Dogstown, Longwood Road. Course designed by Co. Louth Professional, Mick McGuirk. Club wound up in 1951. Club revived in 1968 and located at Miss C. Regan’s farm. The new nine hole course was also designed by Mick McGuirk. [26]

Killua Castle (1922-42?) - Course was located "seven miles from Kells and three from Athboy.." [1]. 

Mornington (1886). Designed by Tom Gilroy. May have been located on northern end of present Laytown & Bettystown course.

CO. MONAGHAN

Carrickmacross - Parkland.

Castleblayney (Old) - Parkland. Location: Situated on west side of N18, just opposite the entrance to Concra Wood GC.

Dartrey - Parkland.

CO. OFFALY

Banagher (1894?-1910?) Parkland. "The course, of nine short holes, is close to the station." [17] Extinct in 1910? [1]

Birr (1893-1909) - Parkland, Barrone Court. Club moved to the Glenns on the Banagher Road in 1909. [20]   

CO. SLIGO

Collooney - 9 holes [12].

CO. TIPPERARY

Cahir - Parkland.

Cashel - Parkland.

Newport - Parkland.

Thurles (19??) - 6-holes. Parkland. Location: Loughtagalla.

Thurles (19??) - 9-hole. Parkland. Location: Leugh. Moved to Dovea 1929.

Thurles (1929-1943) - 9-hole. Parkland. Location: Dovea. Extended to 12-hole in 1932 by Lionel Hewson. Moved to present site at Turtulla 1944.

CO. TYRONE

Aughnacloy (24 Dec 1888-1918??) - 18 holes. Parkland. Location: "Three minutes walk of the Glencrew Station" [13]. The first 18-hole course in Ireland.

Clogher - Parkland.

Cookstown - Parkland.

Corick (Clogher) - Parkland.

Stewartstown - Parkland.

Strabane (1908-11) - 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Strabane Town. Club moved to Carricklee in 1911.

Strabane (1911-53) - 9 holes. Parkland. Location: Carricklee. Club moved to present site at Ballycolman in 1953.

CO. WATERFORD

Tramore (1894-) - 18 holes. Location: Burrow. Designed by David Herd of St. Andrews in 1896. Redesigned by Tom Hood of Royal Dublin in 1902?

Tramore (?-1936) - Designed by Willie Park [1].

CO. WEXFORD

Bunclody

Newtownbarry (Bunclody)

CO. WICKLOW

Bray (1752) - Seafield, near Bray.

REFERENCES

[1] W.H. Gibson, "Early Irish Golf", Oakleaf Publications (1988)
[2] W.A. Menton, "The Golfing Union of Ireland 1891-1991"
[3] Lisburn Golf Club 1905-2005 (Centenary Book 2005)
[4] Tralee GC web-site 2011
[5] Carrickfergus GC web-site 2011
[6] The Land of Lakes, Edgar S. Shrubsole, 1906.
[7] The Old Sinner – The Letterkenny and Burtonport Railway Extension, Frank Sweeney, 2006.
[8] Through Guides – Ireland (Part 1), Northern Counties including Dublin and Neighbourhood, M.J.B. Baddeley, 1909.
[9] Lisburn Golf Club Official Handbook, Lisburn GC web-site 2011
[10] Malone GC web-site 2011
[11] Knock GC web-site 2011
[12] Ireland: Official Publication of the Irish Tourist Association, 1934
[13] Irish Times, 27 December 1888
[14] Malone GC 1895-1995, John Hannah, 1995.
[15] Lurgan GC 1893-1993, Larry Magee, 1993.
[16] Grange GC web-site 2011
[17] The Golfing Annual 1899-1900, Vol. XIII, Horace Cox (1900), Edited by D.S. Duncan
[18] County Cavan GC web-site 2011
[19] Ballinrobe GC web-site 2011
[20] Birr GC web-site 2011
[21] The Captain's Table, Carlow Golf Club (1899-2004), Séamus Connellan, Vousden Press, 2004.
[22] The Limerick Leader, 25 February 2011
[23] Irish Independent, 9 April 2008
[24] Warrenpoint Golf Club, A History 1893-1993,Tom McAteer & Bob Carey, 1993
[25] Bangor Golf Club, One Hundred Years 1903-2003, Jeremy Stanley & Paula Campbell, 2003
[26] Co. Meath Golf Club
[27] Galway Golf Club web-site
[28] Westport Golf Club web-site
CONTRIBUTORS

Ally Mcintosh
Brian Sheehy
Dónal Ó Ceallaigh
Jack Marr
Padraig Dooley
Rory Connaughton
Tony Muldoon

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks Donal I will com back to this.


Bray Co Wicklow?  Was there a course?

and isn't the current Curragh on a different site to the original?   (IS that Arthgarvan. Co Kildare?)

John Hanna regular writes on such things in Through the Green.  http://www.britgolfcollectors.wyenet.co.uk/TTGreen.htm   


Great start.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Thanks Donal I will com back to this.


Bray Co Wicklow?  Was there a course?

and isn't the current Curragh on a different site to the original?   (IS that Arthgarvan. Co Kildare?)

John Hanna regular writes on such things in Through the Green.  http://www.britgolfcollectors.wyenet.co.uk/TTGreen.htm   


Great start.

Bray currently has a 2003 Declan Branigan designed course which replaced the little nine holer within the town which was handy and quite enjoyable... This still may be pay and play because the inevitable shopping centre / apartments idea fell through... That in turn replaced the original common course from centuries ago...

You could include the Harry Colt Dun Laoghaire which NLE as of 2006...

Do we include clubs that have just changed sites on these lists?... They'd go on and on if so...

[Tom MacWood]

Donal
That is quite a list. Were any of them well regarded?

[Ally Mcintosh]

Donal
That is quite a list. Were any of them well regarded?

I suspect we will see it grow by 20 or 30 in the next few years too...

Limerick County just shut its doors three weeks ago...

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Thanks Donal I will com back to this.


Bray Co Wicklow?  Was there a course?

and isn't the current Curragh on a different site to the original?   (IS that Arthgarvan. Co Kildare?)

John Hanna regular writes on such things in Through the Green.  http://www.britgolfcollectors.wyenet.co.uk/TTGreen.htm   


Great start.

Bray currently has a 2003 Declan Branigan designed course which replaced the little nine holer within the town which was handy and quite enjoyable... This still may be pay and play because the inevitable shopping centre / apartments idea fell through... That in turn replaced the original common course from centuries ago...

You could include the Harry Colt Dun Laoghaire which NLE as of 2006...

Do we include clubs that have just changed sites on these lists?... They'd go on and on if so...

Thanks for the info Ally.

My approach is to compile a list of courses (i.e. where golf has been played), not clubs, so if a club moved to another site, I will include the older sites in the list (e.g. Malone and Royal Belfast). If a club changes name or amalgamates with another club, then it's not going on the list.

There are a few that may be removed. For example I believe Nairn & Portnoo is loacted on roughly the same site as the old Castlegoland course, but I'm not 100% sure, so I'll leave it on the list for now. The same goes for Mornington/Laytown & Bettystown and maybe Royal Belfast/Hollywood, Portmarnock (1858)/Portmarnock Links.

Tony,

According to Gibson's book, Athgarvan was also at the Curragh.

Thanks Brian,

It's unusual to see two course from the 1990s (and not the 1890s) being abandonded, especially in the same town.

Tom,

I'd say most of these courses were pretty rudimentary. The newspapers at the time, generally described these courses as "excellent", but I'm sure thay weren't that good.

The one exception may have been Mackenzie's design at Malone (Harberton Estate), but I haven't seen any photos of this course and I have no idea how involved he was with this project. This was the course where they demanded he pay back some of his fee, as they were very unhappy with the results.

[Tony_Muldoon]

At least one survives in spirit.

 

The course at Portmarnock Links claims 4 holes from a private course belonging to the Jameson family.  They are nothing to do with the famous club?


Am I imagining it but wasn’t there also a private course for the Londonderry’s on their estate near Strangford lough?  Simpson?

How did I forget Dunloghaire the first course I ever was on?

[Ally Mcintosh]

The Jamesons had their private 9-hole course on the same land as the Portmarnock Hotel & Links course alright. It was created in 1858 but I'm not sure how long it lasted. Of course, it's stretching it to say the current course utilised 4 of those holes - going for the history angle there.

The Jameson's actually owned the whole peninsula and rented land to the newly formed Portmarnock Golf Club at the southern end in 1894. Early in the 1920's, they leased Portmarnock another 30 acres which prompted the creation of the most famous hole, the par-3 15th, still the only entirely new hole to be created since the routing was first set at 18 holes in 1896...

[Rory Connaughton]

I believe that Belmullet Golf Club played over a small course prior to Carne that is NLE.
Also, is the McEvoy course Newforest in Westmeath still there?

[Ally Mcintosh]

I believe that Belmullet Golf Club played over a small course prior to Carne that is NLE.
Also, is the McEvoy course Newforest in Westmeath still there?

Still there Rory.... In receivership along with quite a few others at the moment...

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

I believe that Belmullet Golf Club played over a small course prior to Carne that is NLE.
Also, is the McEvoy course Newforest in Westmeath still there?

Rory,

You may be right. I recall also reading about a course opening in Achill just before 1900. I have an article on it somewhere.

Tony,

I think there is also a pitch and putt course at Ardara (Sandhills).

[Padraig Dooley]

Donal

You can include

Harbour Point and Blarney both in Cork.

The Blarney GC is a more recent NLE and I think it's different to the St. Anne's Hill course you mention.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Donal

You can include

Harbour Point and Blarney both in Cork.

The Blarney GC is a more recent NLE and I think it's different to the St. Anne's Hill course you mention.

Thanks Padraig.

Are both these courses closed. Is Blarney GC also called Blarney Hotel & Golf Resort?

[Padraig Dooley]

Donal

You can include

Harbour Point and Blarney both in Cork.

The Blarney GC is a more recent NLE and I think it's different to the St. Anne's Hill course you mention.

Thanks Padraig.

Are both these courses closed. Is Blarney GC also called Blarney Hotel & Golf Resort?

Yes Donal both are closed, Blarney Hotel & Golf Resort is another course, Mel Flanagan design with John Daly's name on it.

[Thomas McQuillan]

''South Louth - Ardee Town. 9-holes. Moved to present location at Ruxton Demesne in 1913 with course designed by Lionel Hewson. Now named Ardee GC.''

I dont think ardee was ever NLE. It purchased additional land and expanded to 18 holes and then in the early 1990's purchased even more land and had another redesign.

www.ardeegolfclub.com

[mike_malone]

 If it is not too much trouble, I would be interested in those NLE's that were coastline courses that weren't replaced.

[Rory Connaughton]

From the Carne website

Belmullet Golf Club was founded in 1925. Up until 1992 the Club played on a nine hole course at Cross near Binghamstown. At the invitation of Turasoireacht Iorrais, the club became the resident club at Carne Golf Links.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

''South Louth - Ardee Town. 9-holes. Moved to present location at Ruxton Demesne in 1913 with course designed by Lionel Hewson. Now named Ardee GC.''

I dont think ardee was ever NLE. It purchased additional land and expanded to 18 holes and then in the early 1990's purchased even more land and had another redesign.

www.ardeegolfclub.com

Thomas,

This is the entry for Ardee in Gibson's book:

Later in The Irish Field 8th February 1913 Lionel Hewson wrote: "I was this week assisting the Committee of the Ardee club to lay out a new course in the Ruxton Demesne beautifully situated a few minutes walk from the centre of the town. For some three years past, the club has had a small course at the opposite end of town."

So, it looks like they moved or were preparing to move sometime in 1913.

Mike,

I'll try to specify if they were parkland or links, when known. As the location of many of these courses has long been forgotten, it's very difficult to know if they were links or not.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Excellent stuff, Donal. I'll keep out of Ireland and leave it all to you!

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Excellent stuff, Donal. I'll keep out of Ireland and leave it all to you!

Thanks Mark.

Is there any other info you want attached to each course entry? I think it would be nice to add yardage and par details if known. It will take me a few more weeks to dig through some archive material (books, newspapers, etc.) and then I'll hand it over to you. The Gibson and Menton books are superb resources.

I read in the American Golfer (November 1908, p. 26), that there were 949 courses in Scotland in 1908. If you include the courses that were opened and then closed in the following years, that becomes a huge number; maybe 300-400. How many NLE courses did you list for Scotland?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Donal,

There are hundreds of Scottish courses which I am bound to have missed. But guys like Niall Carlton are wonderful sleuths.

I congratulate you if you can find the information as quickly as you hope. There is a huge number of dead ends. I'm often surprised that local history groups have no records of a long deceased course or club in their parish.

Mark.

[Niall C]

Donal,

Fantastic stuff. You're certainly way ahead of me in looging NLE's. Interested in that you've listed the Malone MacKenzie course. I thought that the present Malone course was largely the MacKenzie design with some more recent revisions.

I recall being told by a prominent member of another nearby club that I wouldn'y enjoy it and that the members at Malone thought more highly of their own course than other golfers, but personally I loved the course. Along with Belvoir, Belfast has some top courses. Indeed that might be a good idea for a thread, the best golf courses of each major city around the UK. We often concentrate on links and forget about the other top courses out there.

Niall

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Donal,

Fantastic stuff. You're certainly way ahead of me in looging NLE's. Interested in that you've listed the Malone MacKenzie course. I thought that the present Malone course was largely the MacKenzie design with some more recent revisions.

I recall being told by a prominent member of another nearby club that I wouldn'y enjoy it and that the members at Malone thought more highly of their own course than other golfers, but personally I loved the course. Along with Belvoir, Belfast has some top courses. Indeed that might be a good idea for a thread, the best golf courses of each major city around the UK. We often concentrate on links and forget about the other top courses out there.

Niall

Niall,

I cannot claim any credit for this list. Most if the info is taken from the Gibson and Menton books, plus some consulting of golf club web-sites. I have spent quite a bit of time researching the Donegal courses and have managed to unearth a bit more info than was known previously.

I've just updated the info for Malone. The present course was opened in 1961. The Malone website has a very good history section. I was fortunate to be a Queen's University member there for two years. I used head up there on Tuesdays (Ladies Day) and have the course pretty much to myself. It was and is a wonderful setting only a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Belfast.

Mark,

Yes, many of these courses were forgotten very quickly. A few weeks back I mentioned to my father that there once was a course in Burtonport. This was a surprise to my father as he spent over 20 years driving the backroads of Donegal. My father mentioned the Burtonport course to a former colleague of his who is now about 80 years of age, and has lived in the area all his life; he hadn't heard of it either.

[Jack_Marr]

Tramore Golf Club used to be on linksland, but I think some flooding and other reasons forced them to their current parkland site. I could be wrong about this, of course.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Tramore Golf Club used to be on linksland, but I think some flooding and other reasons forced them to their current parkland site. I could be wrong about this, of course.

Thanks Jack, I'll look into that. I believe Tom Hood (pro at Royal Dublin) and Wille Park Jnr. may have been involved in the original design.