North West golf club Donegal

Members Achievements

North West Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Barton Shield in 2015 when they beat Rosapenna Golf Club in a play-off in the Quarter Final, followed by Dunmurry Golf Club by 5-holes in the Semi-Final and accounted for Warrenpoint Golf Club in the decider by 4-holes to book their place in the All-Ireland Finals at Carton House O’Meara Course on Wednesday 16th September.

They were drawn against Connaught Champions Galway Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. They were led out by Kealan Quigg with Ryan Gribben who lost their match against Joe Lyons with Stephen Brady in the second match Garrett Mallon with Kyle McCarron had a 1-hole win over Ronan Mullarney with Colm Hughes, so it was not to be for the men from Donegal.   

North West Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Barton Shield in 2006 when they beat Cairndhu Golf Club by 2-holes at Kirkstown Castle Golf Club on 13th August.

It was on to Enniscrone Golf Club for the National Finals, where they where drawn against Connaught Champions Co. Sligo Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Wednesday 13th September.

First on the tee were Garrett Mallon with David McGeough against David Dunne with Serryth Heavey, the mach was halved. Next up were Pauric Og O’Flaherty with Cathal McElhinney against the strong pairing of Ken Kearney with Keith O‘Neill, they lost out to the Co. Sligo pair. Sligo went on to win the All-Ireland against Limerick by 7-holes.

North West Golf Club won a historic first All-Ireland Irish Senior Cup at Rosslare Golf Club on Saturday 17th September 2005, when they beat Leinster Champions Hermitage Golf Club in a thrilling final under team captains Vincent Grant and Frank Friel.

On the Friday morning they were up against Connacht Champions Galway Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final when Padraig MacLochlainn was drawn against John Neary in the top match he lost out to the Galway man by 2 and 1. Brian McElhinney was drawn against Eddie McCormack in the 2nd match and had a convincing win by 3 and 1. Michael McGeady was drawn against fellow International Mark O'Sullivan and delivered North West's second point with a 3 and 2 victory. Pauric OgO'Flaherty was drawn against Joe Lyons and lost by 3 and 2. Garrett Mallon delivered the 3rd point with a 2-hole win over Tom Nolan.

On the Saturday morning there was one change to the team when Paul Van Dessell was sent out in the top match against Hermitage's Brian O'Connor but lost out by 2 and 1. He was followed by Walker Cup player Brian McElhinney against Greg Bowden who delivered the first point with a 3 and 2 victory. Michel McGeady had a convincing 5 and 4 win over Greg Massey. Pauric OgO'Flaherty met an in form Alan Dowling who won his match 3 and 1. It was all down to he hero of the day with Garrett Mallon against Sean O'Flaherty in the bottom match. Garrett played a fantastic chip off the 17th green to bring to all-square and then sank a 10 foot pressure putt on the 18th to deliver the required 3rd point.

According to our research this is the 3rd All-Ireland pennant ever won in the whole of Donegal and the first Blue Riband of Irish Golf but with a star studded team including Brian McElhinney the reigning British Amateur Champion, Ireland's only selection on the 2005 Walker Cup, the Irish Close Champion and past winner of he European Individual winner. Whit Michael McGeady a fellow Irish International I must admit that they were always my fancy to take the Bulmers Senior Cup. A fantastic achievement by this club, one of the nine founding members of the GUI with a relative small membership, Well done North West Golf Club.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

A. B. Babington* represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1903 to 1913. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1903 to 1906 playing 3-times won 0-matches halved one and lost 2-matches accumulating ½ -point;

F. G. Dickson* represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1903 to 1906. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1902 to 1905 playing 4-times won 2-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 4-points;

Brian McElhinney represented Ireland as a Senior International from 2003 to 2005 playing 26-times won 14-matches halved six and lost 6-matches accumulating 34-points. He represented Ireland at international Youths level from 2002 to 2003 playing 9-matches, won 5-matches halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 11-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 2000 playing  4-times won 0-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 0-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 2003 to 2004 playing 6-times won 4-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 8-points. He represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 1999 playing 5-times won 0-matches halved two and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points.  He was selected for the World Junior Championship at Hyogo, Japan from June 15th to the 18th 2001. He was selected on the Boys' Home International team at Portmarnock G. C. on 9th to 11th September 2000. Brian McElhinney won the Willie Gill Order of Merit Award in 2004 having finished with 115 points tied with Mark Campbell of Stackstown but won the coveted award by virtue of winning the Irish Close at Donegal Golf Club in June. There was a little bit of poetic justice with Brian receiving the award as he finished tied with Noel Fox of Portmarnock in 2003 with the same points but Noel was award it by virtue of winning the Irish Amateur Open Championship at The Royal Dublin. Brian is a member of the Walker Cup squad and won the European Individual Championship in 2003.

E. M. Munn* represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1913 to 1924;

L. O. Munn* represented Ireland as a Senior International in1913. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1906 playing 1-time won 0-matches halved one and lost 0-matches accumulating ½ -points;

E. F. Spiller* represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1924 to 1929;

Michael McGeady represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 200 0to 2005 playing 36-times won 22-matches halved three and lost 11-matches accumulating 47-points;

J. McKenna* represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1938 to 1939;

H. Williams represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1899 playing 1-time won 0-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points;

C. Mallon represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1997 playing 4-times won 2-matches halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 5-points;

G. Mallon represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 2000 playing 5-times won 3-matches halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 7-points;

B. McCarroll represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1970 playing 3-times won 2-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 4-points;

Dwayne Mallon represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 2009 playing 5-times won 1-match halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 3-points;

Julie Bradley played for the Girls' Home International Team at Gog Magog in 1994, and at Northop Golf Club in 1995;

F. E. McCarroll represented Ireland from 1968 to 1969 and was runner-up in the Irish Amateur Close Championship in 1968;

History of North West

Instituted 1891 affiliated 1891

This famous club has the distinction and honour of being one of the group of nine clubs of the GUI, in November, 1891. The preliminary meeting was held in the Guildhall Derry "For the purpose of starting a golf club in the neighbourhood of Derry". The meeting was informed of inquiries made by the Lough Swilly Hotel Company about use of land but the tenants had refused to sign agreements and "asked for an increase in rent" The meeting was adjourned for a fortnight.
The Derry Journal on the 3rd July reports "The course at Buncrana, having being carefully surveyed and laid out by Thompson, the professional at the County Club, Portrush, is now open for play." Ladies were connected with the club from its inauguration, and has their own nine-hole course immediately adjacent to the railway station. North West has the distinction of being one of the first clubs to have a separate course for the ladies. The fame of the course spread, and in 1936, the course, as we know it today, was laid out.
The first Captain was Mr. Thomas Hayes, Chief Inspector R. I. C, the Vice-President was G. H. Mitchell, J. P., and there were joint-Hon. Secretaries, G. V. Craig, and R. L. Hogg.