Cairndhu golf club Antrim

Members Achievements

Cairndhu Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Quarter Finals of the Jimmy Bruen Shield on Saturday 2st September 2023 at Dundalk Golf Club when they went down to Headfort Golf Club by 3-matches to  2-matches.
They were led out by Gordan Best with Bryan Magee who won their match by 1-hole against Terry Murphy with Vincent Keating, they were followed by John Hicks with Philip Carmichael who had a similar result against Joe Hannigan with Philip Stanley, next on the tee was Alex Kincaid with Brian Haveran who lost their match against Mark Howlin with Paul Coll by 5 and 4, in the penultimate match Ryan Garrett with David McKeegan lost out by 4 and 3 against Aidan Monaghan with Martin Redmond and in the bottom match Steven Gorman with Barry Lyness went down by 2 and 1 against Kevin Fagan with Kenny Smith.      
Cairndhu Golf Club won the Ulster North Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Ballymena Golf Club on Sunday 13th August 2023 when they beat Letterkenny Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match.
First on the tee was Gordon Best with Bryan Magee who had a 3 and 2 win against Shane Scanlon with Kevin McDonald, they were followed by John Hicks with Philip Carmichael who had to go up the 19th before securing the point against George Onofri with Karl Dempsey, next up were Alex Kincaid with Andrew Kyle who had a 3 and 2 win against Charlie Coughlan with Liam Sweeney, in the penultimate match of Paul McKenna with Brian Haveron against Shane Blake with Ciaran Harron was halved as was the bottom match of Ryan Garrett with David McKeegan against Eamon McGlinchey with Michael Nelis.

Cairndhu Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Junior Foursomes in 2007, and made the long journey to Westport Golf Club, to participate in the All-Ireland Finals on Thursday 28th August. They were drawn against an experienced Munster Champions West Waterford Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final in the morning matches. West Waterford had two of their 2005 winning team still eligible, in Spratt and Walsh.

First on the tee was Gareth Owen (4) with Ryan McKinstry (7) against Philip Walsh (6) with Jamie Glavin (10) they lost their match by 2-holes. They were followed by Matthew Hislop (6) with Nicholas McClay (5) who halved their match against Phillip Spratt (5) with Gary Hurley (10).  However it was not enough and the boys from Dungarvan went through to the All-Ireland decider against Leinster Champions South County, whom they beat by 3-holes in the decider.

Roma Conveney was selected for the Ulster Girls' team in the Smurfit Interprovincial Championship at Enniscrone Golf Club from the 18th to the 20th April 2001.

Prior to 2001:

Cairndhu Golf Club won the Ulster Championship of the Irish Club Youths in 1996, when the team was, S. Lyttle, G. Mann, S. Humphreys, D. McMullan, they were captained by J. McNeill.

They won the Ulster Championship of the Barton Shield in 1994, when the team was, D. McMullan, P. Stinson, J. McKinstry, and R. Mann, they were captained by I. Hill.

They were Ulster Champions of the Irish Junior Cup in 1990, when the team was, D. McGrillis, I. Hill, P. Martin, G. Dobbin, R. Mann and B. Galway, hey were captained by P. Stinson.

They were Coca-Cola Open Youths' Champions in 1989, when the team was, J. Clarke, R. Mann, B. Galway, D. Duncan, K. Lough and J. Hopkins, they were managed by D. Galway.

They won the Holt Shield in 1989, when the team was, W. Wilson, K. Lough, R. Mann, S. Watts and D. McGrillis, they were captained by R. Barton.

They won the Ulster Championship of the Fred Daly Trophy in 1988, when the team was, John Clark, Michael Boyd, Ricky Mann, Ian Hopkins, Kenneth Lough, Darren Taylor, Brian Galway and Declan Duncan, they were managed by Denis Galway.

They won the Aer Lingus Ulster Youths' in 1886, when the team was, G. Dobbin, J. McKinstry, M. Hopkins and they were managed by Dr. B. Glover.

They were Coca-Cola Open Youths' Champions in 1985, when the team was, R. Glover, G. Dobbin, D. McKinstry and M. Hopkins, they were captained by J. McKinstry.

They were Ulster Champions in the Fred Daly Trophy in 1984, when the team was, M. Glover, J. Magee, G. McKinstry, M. Bannon, R. Glover, M. Hopkins, C. Hopkins and D. McKinstry, they were captained by P. Stinson.

They won the Carlsberg Inter-Club Tournament in 1978, when the team was, D. McKinstry, W. Gillespie, S. McIlroy, P. Taylor, T. Bell and B. Montgomery.

Cairndhu Golf Club won its first pennant in 1974, when they won the Ulster Cup and the team was, R. Barton, W. McClean, W. Cunningham, W. Hill, N. Thompson, S. Loughlin, C. W. Kirkpatrick, and A. Cormack they were captained by D. McNeill. 

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

John W. Clark represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 1989 to 1990 playing 5-times won 1-match halved two and lost 2-matches accumulating 4-points;

Brian Galway represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1988 playing 2-times halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 1-point;

David McMullan represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1994 playing 2-times won 0-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 0-points. He represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships from in 1994 playing 5-times won 0-matches halved two and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points;

R. Houston represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1976 playing 3-times won 1-match and lost 2-matches accumulating 2-points;

John McKinstry represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1987 playing 2-times won 0-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 0-points;

Ryan McKinstry represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 2010 playing 5-times won 1-match halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 3-points;

Neil McKinstry represented Ulster at the inaugural Boys Under-15 Interprovincial Championships in 2010 playing 3-times won 1-match halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 3-points;

Stephen Watts represented Ulster at the inaugural Boys Under-15 Interprovincial Championships in 2010 playing 3-times won 2-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 4-points;

Roma Convery was selected on the ILGU Junior squad in November 2000;

Laura Webb was selected to represent Ireland in the European Ladies Team Championship at Golf Club Milano, Monza in 1995 and played in the Ladies Home Internationals at Wrexham the same year. Laura won the Irish Ladies' Close Championship and Ulster Ladies' Scratch Cup in 1994;

Laura Bolton was selected to play for Ireland in the European Ladies Team Championship at Pals, Spain in 1989, having played for the Ireland in the Girls Home Internationals, in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980. She was Irish Girls' Champion in 1979, Ulster Girls' Champion in 1978, 1979 and 1980. Irish Ladies' Close Champion in 1988 and 1994, she won the North West Scratch Cup in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984, she won the Ulster Scratch Cup in 1989, 1991 and 1994. She won the Stroke Play Foursomes together with Jane Allen, of Royal Portrush, in 1986; 

Paula McKinstry played for the Irish Girls' Home Internationals in 1986 and 1987;

Ms Lilian Malone won the Scratch Match Play Foursomes together with Miss Claire Nesbitt, of Knock, in 1976. She played in the European Team Cup in 1977 and was on the Irish Team for the Home Internationals in 1975 and 1976 and again in 1981. Lilian played for Ulster in the Interprovincial's from 1973 to 1981. She won the Ulster Scratch Cup in 1975 and 1981, the North West Scratch Cup in 1973 and 1975 together with the Midlands Scratch Cup in 1975;

History of Cairndhu

Founded

Larne Town Golf Club was founded in May 1928 by local business men. They purchased fifty acres of land at the top of The Roddens in Larne and here a nine hole course was designed and constructed by golf course architect Major CA MacKenzie. Amazingly the course was open for play the same year and competition began for two splendid trophies presented by Sir William Brown and Mr David Baine, trophies that are still played for today.

The Golf Club grew quickly in stature and membership and in 1930 a clubhouse was built and opened. This growth continued for several years necessitating the appointment of various employees, most notably in 1947 the appointment of a Club Professional, one Bob Walker from Donaghadee. One of the social high points of the age came in 1950 when the then Governor of Northern Ireland, the Earl of Granville and Lady Granville (sister of the late Queen Mother) visited the club.

However, changes were afoot and in 1954, due to the industrial development of Larne, the Golf Club was forced to relocate to a more suitable site. The East Antrim Hospital Authority agreed to lease the club the land next to Cairndhu Hospital. This land was duly surveyed, the report was found to be favourable and a 99 year lease was signed with the existing course being sold to the Borough Council for£19,500. The new land was originally owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon who took a great interest in botany this would explain the great variety of trees and shrubs throughout the course.

Mr John SF Morrison was commissioned to design the new course and work commenced in 1956. The exact date of the move from the Roddens is not recorded but the old clubhouse closed on 12th October 1957. The new course was declared a great success and was opened in May 1958.

The sport of golf was growing quickly and soon it was decided that nine holes were not enough. A further 49 acres to the west of the clubhouse were leased for a period of twenty five years and Mr John SF Morrison was re-employed to construct another nine holes. Work again went well and the second nine holes were ready in 1961 and opened in 1963.

Throughout the transition from Larne Town Golf Club to Cairndhu Golf Club many members gave freely of their time and services, none more so than Mr WK Harbinson who provided men, machinery and materials for the benefit of the club. The Golfing Union of Ireland surveyed the course in 1964 and assessed it to be 6,071 yards long, par 70, Standard Scratch Score 69.

As the course matured the membership grew. It is recorded that in 1968 a record number of members played in Captains Day – 121. Other projects also took place such as the extension of the clubhouse with the addition of the function room in 1971.

Cairndhu was now fielding teams in most GUI competitions and in 1974 won its first major trophy, the prestigious Ulster Cup, sparking some serious celebrations that went on for days. In the same year the club hosted its first GUI qualifying event in the Pierce Purcell Foursomes.

1976 saw the club’s first tentative steps into the world of the Pro Am, an event we now host every year. This first Pro Am, however, was to be the catalyst for the biggest event in the club’s history. The three-day Pro Am in 1981 drew a field from all over the world including Nick Price and Ian Woosnam, Major champions, and European Tour winners Roger Davis, Mark McNulty, Simon Owen, John O’Leary, Des Smyth and Christy O’Connor (Jnr).

Additions and improvement continued to the course with the installation of a watering system in 1986. Improvements were also carried out to the clubhouse with panoramic windows put in the bar area to maximise our stunning views.

Cairndhu established itself as a Championship venue in 1990 when it hosted the Ulster Boys, a very successful event won by Gerry Sproul from Rosses Point.

Over the years much has changed, we now own the entire course having bought the front nine from the Health Authorities and the rest from the Borough Council. Many alterations have been made to the course, clubhouse and storage facilities over the years Most recently the restructuring and refurbishment of the Professional Shop, the office and the whole bar and television room area.

There are however some things that have not changed and never will - the warm welcome afforded to visitors, the stunning views and a first class golf course.