Naas golf club Kildare

Members Achievements

Naas Club qualified for the Quarter-Finals of the All-Ireland of the Irish Senior Cup at Tramore Golf Club on Saturday 3rd September 2022.
They were drawn against near neighbours Carton House Golf Club and lost out by 4-matches to 1-match.
They were led out by David Marshall Jnr. Who halved his match against Marc Boucher, as was the second match of Robert Brazill against Darragh Flynn, he was followed by Rob Fitzpatrick who lost his match against Keith Egan by 4 and 3, in the penultimate match Luke Lynch had a similar result against Colin Cunningham in the bottom match of Michael Crowley against Paul O’Hanlon also went 4 and 3 to the club from Maynooth.   

The Boys of Naas Golf Club reached the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals at Ballina Golf Club on Tuesday 23rd August 2022.
They met near neighbours Carton House Golf Club and lost out by 4-matches to 1-match. They were lead out by James O’Rourke who lost his match by 1-hole against John Cunningham, he was followed by Colum Duane who lost out by 6 and 5 to Calum Ward, he was followed by Kyle Brady who lost his match against Nicholas McCormack by 4 and 3, the penultimate match of Conor Culhane against  Leon Giblin was halved when called-in, as was the penultimate match of Ethan Clifford against Thomas Lanigan.

Robert Brazill was, selected on the 2023 Golf Ireland Men’s High Performance Squad.

The Boys’ of Naas Golf Club were runners-up in the All-Ireland Final of the Fred Daly Trophy at Clontarf Golf Club when Roganstown Golf Club beat them by 3-matches to 2-matches on Wednesday 25th August 2021.
They played Killarney Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals the previous day and had a very convincing 4-matches to 1-match against the Kerry Club. They met Faithlegg Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on the Wednesday morning and recorded a 3½-matches to 1½-matches win against the Waterford Club.

In the All-Ireland Decider they were led out by Darragh Behan who got it easy when beating Patrick Keeling by 7 and 6, he was followed by Samuel Gammell who had a 1-hole win against Sean Keeling, next on the tee was Conor Culhane who went up the 19th before relinquishing the point to Charlie Kelly, in the penultimate match James O’Rourke lost out by 4 and 3 Padraig O’Dochartaigh and the bottom match of Kvle Brady against Aaron Murray went 5 and 4 to the North Dublin Club  

Naas Golf Club qualifies by winning their Leinster Regional Final of the Irish Junior Cup to reach the Quarter Finals at Limerick Golf Club on Saturday 18th September 2021 when they played Killarney Golf Club when they lost out by 3 -matches to 2-matches.
First on the tee was Eoin McCormack who lost his match against John Kerrisk by 1-hole, they were followed by Conor Culhane who won his match by 4 and 3 against Paud O’Donoghue, next up was Alan Rohan who had a 2 and 1 win against Dave O’Donoghue, in the penultimate match James O’Rourke lost out to Alan McSweeney by 3 and 1 and the bottom match of Samuel Gammell against Mark Tuite went all the way up the 20th before the Kerry club secured the point.

Go Golfing would like to congratulate Jonathon Yates on winning The West of Ireland in 2016. He beat Declan Reidy from the home club by 4 and 2 in Round 1 and Seamus Cullen from Slieve Russell by 1-hole in the second Round, he had a comfortable 5 and 4 win over Harry Duggan from Kilkenny in Round 3.
He accounted for Matthey Kane from Whitehead by 6 and 5 in the Quarter Final. He met regaining champion Dermot McElroy from Ballymena in the Semi Final and recorded a 1-hole win, and out gunned Daniel Holland from Castle by 2 and 1 in the decider.                  

Young Jack Hume won the West of Ireland Open Championship at Co. Sligo Golf Club on Tuesday 22nd April 2014, when he beat Robbie Cannon from Balbriggan Golf Club on the 18th-Hole.

Naas Golf Club won the Leinster Final of The Irish Junior Cup at Moate Golf Club on Sunday 4th July 2010 when they beat Elm Park Golf Club by 3½ matches to 1½ matches, having beaten Callan Golf Club by 3 matches to 2 matches in the semi-final.

They made their way to Castlebar Golf Club to participate in the National deciders where they were drawn against Munster Champions East Cork in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Wednesday 15th September . First on the tee was Ray Lynch against Eric Walsh who lost his match by the slender margin of 1-hole, he was followed by Gus Fitzpatrick who halved his match against Ross Williams. Next up was Mark Holmes who beat Stephen Buckley by 4 and 3. The penultimate match saw David Prendergast against Kevin Byrne gave Naas a 2 and 1 result, the bottom match was Conor O’Hehir against Kieran O’Brien clinched their place in the All-Ireland Final the following day.

They met Connacht Champions Portumna Golf Club in the decider, Mark Holmes lead the team this time against Ger Lynce who lost by 3 and 2, he was followed by D. Keane who had one-of-those days when losing out to Sean Cleary by 7 and 5, next up was Gus Fitzpatrick who had a convincing 5 and 4 win over John Cleary. The penultimate match Conor O’Hehir against Shane Ryan also went Naas’s way by 3 and 2. So it was all down to the bottom match of David Prendergast against Pat Quinlan to decide where the green pennant would go, however the Galway man prevailed and won his match by 3 and 2. 

Naas Golf Club won the Leinster Final of The Irish Junior Cup in 2008. It was on to Monkstown Golf Club outside of Cork City where the met Ulster Champions Ballycastle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Wednesday 17th September 2008.

Ray Lynch lead against Tony McConville in the top match and recorded 2 and 1 win over the Co. Antrim man, he was followed by Dermot Keane who lost out to Liam Quinn by 3 and 2. Next up was Gus Fitzpatrick against Donal McCormick who won his match by 3 and 2, David Prendergast had a 3 and 2 win over Colum Egan, the bottom match finished all-square with Conor O’Rourke and Hugh Sayers, the 3 ½ matches to 1 ½ matches was enough to put Naas through to the All-Ireland Final against Connacht Champions Ballina the following morning.

First on the tee again was Ray Lynch who narrowly lost his match by 1-hole to Bryan Cox, Eoin McCormack was brought into the team and went all-the-way to the 19th-hole before loosing out to Pat Howley. Next up was Gus Fitzpatrick against Stephen Lydon who lost out by 3 and 2. David Prendergast won his match by 3 and 2 with Jonathan Kelly and Conor O’Rourke had a 2 and 1 win over Paul McLoughlin, but alas it was too-late and the Irish Junior Cup pennant went west of the Shannon.

Moira Morris was selected on the Leinster Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial’s at the Island Golf Club from the 8th to the 10th August 2001.

Michael McGinley was elected to the council of the Leinster Branch of the GUI for 2001.

Prior to 2001:

Naas Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Barton Shield in 1985, when the team was, S. Rohan, A. Pierce, T. Boylan, M. McGinley and G. O'Connor.

Naas Golf Club won the Barton Cup in 1959, when the team was, J. Kerin, A. Kelly, J. A. O'Brien, J. H. McDermott, J. Grehan, L. J. Malone, N. Sheridan, D. McDermott, J. Murray, Rev. R. Kelly and B. Gannon.

They won it prior to that in 1934, when the team was, P. Gorey, M. Gorey, Jas Lawlor, E. Kennedy, L. J. Malone, D. J. Lambe, M. Clarson, D. McGuirk, S. Cullen, and J. Rourke.

They first won it first in 1933, when the team was, M. Gorey, M. Clarson, J. Langan, B. Nix, J. Rourke, S. Cullen, P. Gorey, D. McGuirk, M. Quinn and P. Smith.

They won the Duggan Cup in 1981, when the team was, Remy Fullam, Brian Colivet, Mick Moynihan, Des Potter, Noel Sheridan, Joe Bermingham, John Casey, Dessie McDermott, Asutin Murphy and Jim Grehan, they were captained by Joe Lyons.

They won the Metropolitan Cup in 1993, when the team was, M. Moran, B. Kennedy, B. Griffin, E. Prendergast, J. Creaney, C. Callanan, D. Leavy, D. Cully, J. Keane, V. Murray, L. O'Brien, they were captained by K. Whelan. 

They won the County Championship of the J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy in 1999, 2000 and 2004.

They won the Kildare Mixed Shield in 1990, when the team was, John O'Dwyer, Larry O'Brien, Gertrude Conway and Nigel Swan.

The Ladies of Naas Golf Club won the Finn Trophy in 1998, when the team was, Maura Moran, Katie Holmes, Catherine Bardon, Marie Flynn, Margaret Kelleher, Sian O'Neill, Mary Flahavan, Pam O'Neill, they were captained by Alice Gibson.

They won it in 1987, when the team was, A. Downes, H. Magee, N. Kennedy, M. Maguire, J. Lyons, C. Harrington, A. Leavy, A. Begley, A. Carbery, M. O'Connor and J. O'Houlihan.

They won it prior to that in 1980, \when the team was, A. Begley, H. O'Connor, J. Lyons, J. O'Houlihan, M. O'Connor, A. Downes, M. Maguire, A. Carbery, A. Gibson and M. Casey.

The Ladies won the Kildare Shield in 1998, when the team was, Paula Murray, Anne Stapleton, Teresa Conway, Marie Morbin, Mona Clarke, Patricia Doyle, Norah Kennedy, Ann Swan, June Greely, Ray Colivat, Mary Ryan and Geraldine Kehoe.

They won it prior to that in 1996, when the team was, Monica O'Connor, Paula Murphy, Helen Magee, Eileen Mullen, Margaret Kelleher, Cait Harrington, Patricia Doyle, Marie Flynn and Mary Ryan.

They first won it in 1977, when the team was, G. Gough, B. McGlinchey, A. Carbery, H. O'Connor, R. Colivet, C. Lawlow, J. Mullane and M. Kavanagh.

The Juniors' of Naas Golf Club won the Leinster Championship and were All-Ireland Finalists in the Junior Foursomes in 1992, when the team was, Gavin Lunny, G. Gibson, D. Keane and D. Cully, they were managed by Pat Coughlin.

The Boys' won the Midland Junior Trophy at Kilkenny Golf Club in 2000, when the team was, Ciaran O'Leary, Killian Jones, Paul O'Callaghan, David Prendergast, Niall Sherlock, Michael Kelly, B. J. Rafferty, James Fennell, Art McCoy and Tom Frayne.

Soccer star Kevin Harrington won the Druid's Glen-Irish Independent "Golfer of the Month" for May 2000. He shot 50 pts. On, May Day followed by a 64 net on 20th of May. His prize was a beautiful limited-edition painting by Robert Ballagh, I, for one, would like to see more of this type of prize appearing on our prize tables.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

A. O’Connor represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1967 to1972 playing 30-times won 19-matches halved one and lost 10-matches accumulating 39-points. He represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1964 to 1972 playing 42-times won 24-matches halved five and lost 13-matches accumulating 53-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 1964 playing 2-times;

Gavin Lunny represented Ireland at Irish Boys' level in 1995 playing 7-times won 1-match and lost 6-matches accumulating 2-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1996 to 1999 playing 7-times won 3-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 6-points. He represented Leinster at Boys  Interprovincial level from 1993 to 1994 playing 12-times won 7-matches and lost 5-matches accumulating 14-points;

P. Coyne represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 1964 playing 2-times; 

Moira Morris was the reserve on the Irish team in the European Ladies Junior Championships at Oslo Golf Club in 1998. She was selected on the Irish Panel for 1999;

History of Naas

There is some confusion as to the foundation date of Naas Golf Club. However, a letter in the "Irish Field" on 3rd October, 1908, by Mr. E. I. Gray, records "Your correspondent states that Messrs Gray and McCann were chiefly responsible for the forming of the club in 1896. Neither McCann nor myself had anything to do with it. It was first put on foot by a great enthusiast, Mr. Mansfield, D. L., our President, who was ably assisted by Mr. J. S. Shannon now manager of the Hibernian Bank at Loughrea. They got together a very small club at Halverston, that existed only on sufferance and despite the fact that the rent was only something like £6 a year, it was with great difficulty raised."

It was known as the Co. Kildare Golf Club until 1966, when it changed its name to Naas.

The club moved from Halverston to Decoy in 1903 George Coburn, the professional at Portmarnock, laid out the new nine-hole course. Then, in 1912, it moved again to the Knocks and W. C. Pickman of Portmarnock laid out this new nine-hole course. Then, in 1922, yet another move took place, this time to Monread, before locating at its present home at Kerdiffstown, which was officially opened on the 8th June 1941.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Arthur Spring redesigned the course, which included an additional nine-holes. In 1999, Naas opened its fine new clubhouse.

What the Club tells us:

Naas Golf Club, or Co.Kildare Golf Club as it was known up to 1966, had four homes before finally arriving at the present site at Kerdiffstown. It was founded in 1896 when four local gentlemen, Mr.G.Mansfield, Mr J.S.Shannon, Mr E.J.Grey and Mr.P.J.McCann, got together and leased land at Halverstown. The lease was a short one and the rent was £6 per year. Mr.Shannon was elected Secretary and also acted as Greenkeeper.

In 1900 the club moved to the lands of Decoy Farm near Osberstown. The course (in which the landowner would not permit bunkering) was laid out by George Coburn. It was 3,170 yards in length (considered a long course at the time) and the bogey (par) was 42. A Clubhouse was provided and the services of a Professional (McGlue from Portmarnock) were acquired.

In 1911, as the lease at Decoy was expiring, a new course (or links as it was known) was acquired at Oldtown Naas. It was known as ‘The Knocks‘. The course was laid out by Mr. Pickeman (founder and Hon Sec of Portmarnock Golf Club). It measured 2,700 yards and the bogey was 38. The services of a club Professional (Holley from Portmarnock) were secured. Annual Subscriptions were fixed at 30 Shillings for men and 10 shillings for ladies. In 1912 the ladies formed a branch of their own.

In 1922, as the lease of The Knocks was coming to an end, land for a new course was acquired at Monread on a 21 year lease. The course was laid out by Mr Cecil Barcroft and was very highly rated (‘course review’ done by The Irish Times - 30-11-1922). The Clubhouse, built of galvanised metal and lined with wood, was transferred from ’The Knocks’. During the ‘Monread’ period membership greatly increased and with the advent of motor cars members were joining from as far afield as Dublin. It was during this time also that the club first engaged in G.U.I.Competitions. In 1933 the Club took part for the first time in the Barton Cup and won it in 1933, 1934, and 1959.

In 1940 the Club purchased about 67 acres of land at Kerdiffstown from the Land Commission and the layout and construction of a nine hole course (now essentially the second nine of the present course) was carried out by Mr.John Rourke (County Surveyer). The course was officially opened on 8th of June 1941 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the best nine hole courses in the Country. In 1989 further land at Kerdiffstown (approx 50 acres) was purchased from the Frederick Ozanam Trust Incl. This enabled the course, designed by Mr.Arthur Spring, to be extended to a full eighteen holes. It was officially opened by Mr Liam Reidy (President, Golfing Union of Ireland) on Saturday 20th June 1992.