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County Armagh golf club Armagh

County Armagh golf course Armagh

County Armagh Golf Course

County Armagh Club Crest

Co. Armagh is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland, founded in 1883. It was a 9-hole course until 1975 when it extended to 18-holes retaining only six of the original holes. In 1976 Christy O’Connor "Himself" played an exhibition match against the recently appointed professional Billy Todd who shot a 68 to beat the great man.

Co. Armagh was the victim of a terrorist firebomb attack on March 25th 1980, which destroyed the old clubhouse. The members showed great resilience and came up with some novel ideas to raise the necessary funds to build a new clubhouse. The most noteworthy, being an invitation to Victor Korchnoi a Russian chess grandmaster to take on three members in the wonderful game of chess. They were so successful that the new clubhouse was completed by Christmas 1981 and formally opened by the then President of the GUI, Fred Perry in May 1982.

The course is dominated by, the Obelisk, situated between the 10th and 13th greens. Built in 1782 by the protestant Archbishop of Armagh, to commemorate his friendship with his patron, the Duke of Northumberland, standing 114 feet and built with the same stone as used for the Episcopal Palace in 1770.

Co. Armagh Golf Club is a short but tough test of golf, measuring 6,212 yards Par 70 with a standard scratch of 69 off the white tees. The most difficult holes are the 403 yards 5th requiring accuracy off the tee and a steady nerve down an alley of mature trees. The 446 yard 16th is a tough hole with the green guarded by two lakes.

The visitors are extended a warm welcome and a memorable game of golf at this club with a wonderful tradition.

  • Golf Deals » County Armagh

  • Stay & Play @ Armagh City Hotel €110.00

    Offer valid from 01 Jul 2022 to 30 Nov 2023 Detail:

    Planning your next golfing trip? If rolling out of bed and getting straight onto a golf course located a stone’s throw away is your thing, then our 1 Night Golf Break is the perfect option. Enjoy Bed & Breakfast, £20 hotel dining voucher and a round of golf at County Armagh Golf Club, one of the most beautiful and accessible parkland golf courses in Ireland.


Green Fees Midweek: £35
Green Fees Weekends & B.H.: £40
Green Fees with a Member: £30/35
Green Fees for Opens: £20/25
Practice Area: Yes
Club Hire: Yes
Buggy Hire: Yes
Soft Spikes: No
Full Membership Available: Yes
Full Membership Fee: £710
Full 6-Day Membership Fee: £610
Full 5-Day Membership Fee: £510
Full Senior Membership 80+ Fee: £310
Full 25-35 Membership Fee: £510
Full 18-24 Membership Fee: £310
Full Country Membership Fee: £460
Full Junior 13-17 Membership Fee: £150
Full Junior 6-12 Membership Fee: £75
Course Type Parkland
No Holes 18
Members 989
Designer Nature
Founded 1893
Address

Newry Road,
Armagh,
Co. Armagh

Telephone 028-37-525861
Email info@golfarmagh.co.uk
Website County Armagh golf club website
Secretary/Manager: Elizabeth Allen
Captain:  Gerry Kelly
Lady Captain:  Lily McMullan
President: Paddy Burns
Vice-Captains': Neil Cromwell & Ellen Brady  
Hon. Secretary: John LoweGail Steed
Club Pro: Will Carey 028-37-52861 Ex1
Hon. Treasurer: Pat McAleavey & Bernie Harvey
Comp. Secretary: Nathan Grimley & Ellen Brady 
County Armagh Golf Course Layout Course Layout

Location Map

GPS Coord*
Lat:54.341198
Long:-6.646578
*Please check information before travelling

General Facts & Information

Course opening hours: Daylight hours Clubhouse opening hours: 9.30am to 11.30pm
Mobile phones: Not on course
Dress Code: Neat and casual, no denim
Catering: Full catering, facilities Days to Avoid: Tuesday pm & Thursdays
Green Fees and Societies Welcome: Other Days Pre-booking for open Tournaments:14 Days in advance

County Armagh Golf Club Fixtures 2024 provisional*

Open & Major Fixtures 2023 (Confirmed)        
Event Start Finish Type Duration
Captains' Drive-In Sunday 1 January
  Closed 1
Professional's Prize Saturday 10 June   Closed 1
Professional's Prize to the Ladies
Thursday 15 June   Closed 1
Captain's Prize Saturday 8 July   Closed 1
Lady Captain's Prize Saturday 29 July   Closed
1
President's Prize Saturday 12 August   Closed 1
L. & G. Singles Stableford Friday 17 March   Open 1
L. & G. Singles Stableford Monday 1 May   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 3 May   Open 1
Ladies Singles Stableford Monday 8 May   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 10 May   Open 1
Ladies' Spring Open Monday 15 May   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 17 May   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 24 May   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 31 May   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 7 June
  Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 14 June   Open 1
Marie Curie Classic Fourball
Thursday 15 June   Open 1
Lonsdale Cup Strokes Saturday 17 June   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 21 June   Open 1
Senior Scratch Cup Saturday 24 June
  Open 1
Junior Scratch Cup Saturday 24 June   Open 1
Inter. Scratch Cup Saturday 24 June   Open 1
Minor Scratch Cup Saturday 24 June   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 28 June   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 5 July
  Open 1
L. & G. Singles Stableford Wednesday 12 July   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 19 July   Open 1
Fourball Classic
Sunday 23 July   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 26 July   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 2 August
  Open 1
Ulster AIG Inter-Club Area Finals (N&S) Sunday 6 August
  G.I.
Ladies 3-Ball Scramble
Monday 7 August   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 9 August   Open 1
Ladies Singles Stableford Thursday 10 August   Open 1
Boys' & Girls' Juvenile 11.30am to 1pm Friday 11 August   Open 1
Ulster Final Women's Junior Foursoms Sunday 13 August   G. I. 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 16 August   Open 1
Gerry Lenagh Singles Stableford Saturday 19 August   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 23 August   Open 1
Hary & Mary White Memorial Saturday 26 August   Open 1
Senior Scratch Cup (0 to 5) Sunday 27 August   Open 1
Junior Scratch Cup (6 to 9) Sunday 27 August   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 30 August   Open 1
Ladies Armaghdale Cup Singles Strokes Saturday 2 September   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 6 September
  Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 13 September   Open 1
L. & G. Singles Stableford Thursday 14 September   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 20 September   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 27 September   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 4 October
  Open 1
Play in Pink Singles Stableford Thursday 5 October   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 11 October   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 18 October   Open 1
Seniors Singles Stableford (50+) Wednesday 25 October   Open 1

*Please check information before travelling

Card of the Course

KeyData
White Par 70 SSS 69 6,212 yd's
Red Par 71 SSS 70 5,303 yd's
Green Par 70 SSS 68 6,018 yd's

Card

Hole Name Hole No. White Green Par Index Red Par Index
St. Brigid's Well 1 402 390 4 3 289 4 14
Lady Anne's Walk 2 360 350 4 10 324 4 6
Lonsdale 3 143 139 3 13 129 3 16
The Old Third 4 387 361 4 5 334 4 4
The Gap 5 403 390 4 2 348 4 8
Crossways 6 335 327 4 17 317 4 10
The Quarry 7 150 135 3 16 91 3 18
Old Coach Road 8 531 528 5 8 457 5 2
Plateau 9 188 173 3 11 150 3 12
  Out 2,899 2,793 34   2,439 34  
The Obelisk 10 506 500 5 4 407 5 7
The Shambles 11 175 170 3 12 166 3 11
Ballyheridan 12 497 469 5 18 460 5 9
Rokeby Green 13 180 176 3 15 174 3 15
Sequoias 14 376 366 4 9 337 4 1
Beresford 15 332 323 4 14 305 4 13
The Lakes 16 446 438 4 1 419 5 5
Fairy Thorn 17 392 382 4 7 280 4 17
Cathedrals 18 408 401 4 6 350 4 3
  In 3,313 3,225 36   2,898 37  
  Total 6,212 6,018 70   5,337 71  
  SSS 69 68     70    

Notable rounds

Men's Course Record: 63 Jonathan McMillen (2) 10/08/2005

Ladies Course Record: 70 Emma Oliver( 6) 29/07/2004

Members Achievements

The Ladies of Co. Armagh Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Quarter Finals of the Women’s Junior Cup on Sunday 3rd September 2023 at Lough Erne Golf Club when they lost out to Castlebar Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.
They were led out by Paula McCrory who lost her match by 4 and 3 against Sarah Pendergast, she was followed by Ellen Brady who won her match by 1-hole against Sheila Baynes in the next match of Lilian McMullen against Leah Kerr, in the penultimate match Mary Pollack lost out by 2-holes against Carmel Moran and in the bottom match Colette McSorley went down by 5 and 4 against Eimear Minogue.        
The Ladies of Co. Armagh Golf Club won the Ulster South Final of the Women’s Irish Junior Cup at Rossmore Golf Club on Sunday 20th August 2023 when they beat Royal Belfast Golf Club by 3½ -matches to 1½--matches.
First on the tee was Paula McCrory who lost her match by 4 and 2 against Julie Carr, she was followed by Ellen Brady who had a 4 and 3 win against Marilyn Henderson, next up was Lilian McMullan who had a very comfortable 7 and 6 win against Jane Thompson, the penultimate match of Jane Thompson against Patricia Boyd was halved and the bottom match of Colette McSorley was 5 and 4 against Ruth Roberts.

The Ladies of Co. Armagh Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland deciders of the Junior Cup at Limerick Golf Club on Friday 17th September 2021 by winning their Ulster Regional Finals and were drawn against Newlands Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals, they lost their match by 4-matche to 1-match.
First on the tee was Lily McMullen who lost her match by 2 and 1 against Margaret O’Connell, she was followed by Alexander Mawhinney who lost to Ann Hughes by 3 and 1, next up was Paula McCrory who lost out to Leonie Colgan by 3 and 2, the bottom two matches of June Humphries against Fiona Ryan and Mary Black against Pauline Curtis were both declared as halves when called-in.

The Ladies of County Armagh Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Ladies Junior Cup when they beat the Ladies of Galgorm Castle Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches at Ballyclare Club on Sunday 1st September 2019.
They were led out by Paula McCrory who beat Kerry Dunlop by 1-hole, she was followed by Lillian McMullan who lost her match against June Irvine by a similar margin, next on the tee was June Humphries who had a very comfortable 6 and 5 win against Bernie Daly, the penultimate match Alexandra Mawhinney beat Jacqui Galbraith by 2 and 1 and in the bottom match Teresa McVeigh lost he match against Anne Higgins by 5 and 3.

The Ladies of Co. Armagh Golf Club won  the Ulster Final of the Ladies Challenge Cup when they beat Donnaghadee Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches in the Ulster Final at Dungannon Golf Club on Sunday 28th August 2016.

They were led out by Anne O'Reilly who beat June Simpson by 5 and 3, she was followed by Jacqueline Kelly who lost her match by 6 and 4 against Brooke Stranaghan, she was followed by Eilish Grimes who beat Janet Adams by 3 and 1, the penultimate match of Sheila Stinson went 2-up to Angeline Gordon in the bottom match Sylvia Ashe had a 3 and 1 win over Fiona Hicks and with it a place in the All-Ireland deciders at Dundalk Golf Club.

They made their way to Dundalk Golf Club and drew Munster Champions Ballybunion Golf Club on Friday 23rd September in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. They were led out again by Anne O'Reilly who beat Mary Hickey Keane by 6 and 4 she was followed by Jacqueline Kelly who lost her match against Margaret McAuliffe by 3 and 2, next on the tee was Eilish Grimes who halved her match with Elva Clancy when called in, in the penultimate match Sheila Stinson lost out to Dori Cotter by 3 and 2, in the bottom match Sylvia Ashe lost her match against Tess Noonan by 3 and 2.

Ballybunion Golf Club went down to Headfort Golf Club by 4½-matches to ½-match in the All-Ireland Final the following day.

Co. Armagh beat Ennis in the final of the 2006 Cidona Inter-Club Championships at Balbriggan, Tuesday 29th August.

Earlier in the day, Co. Armagh saw off Co. Sligo in the second semi-final while Ennis beat the defending Champions Kilkenny in the first semi-final.

The Girls’ from Co. Armagh Golf Club won the All-Ireland Inter-Club Championship at Balbriggan Golf Club on Tuesday 29th August 2006. They beat Co. Sligo in the All-Ireland Semi-Final by 2 and halve matches to a halve match in the morning. They met Ennis in the afternoon when they won by 2 matches by 1 match.

Co. Armagh Golf Club were County Champions in the J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy in 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2004.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

P. Russell represented Ireland at international Youths level in 1989 playing 1-match, won 1-match accumulating 2-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 1986 to 1988 playing 14-times won 6-matches and lost 8-matches accumulating 12-points. He represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1989 playing 6-times won 4-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 8-points;

C. W. Wilson represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1905 playing 1-time won 0-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points;

L. Hamphries was selected on the ILGU Junior squad in November 2000;

History of County Armagh

Instituted 1893 affiliated 1893

Mr. Charles Burke introduced golf to Co. Armagh. He had his own private golf course at Ballinahon House, where he used to invite his friends to play. They decided to form a club, and asked Mr. George De La Poer Beresford for the use of his land, which included the Primate’s Palace. The club was founded on 15th September 1893.

The opening, ceremony was performed by Mr. Maynard Sinton, the High Sheriff of the county. It was a nine-hole course, playable only in the winter from 12th November to 12th May.

What the Club tells us:

In the last decade of the nineteenth century Mr. Charles Burke of the Folly House, returned from holiday as a most enthusiastic convert to the game of golf.

He proceeded to have a nine-hole course laid out his grounds. To ensure having play every day Mr. Burke made out a list in which he set out in rotaintion the names of those who were to come each day. On one fateful day an officer from the military depot did not appear nor did he send an apology for his non-appearance. Mr. Burke's indignation had its sequel in a notice, which appeared on the entrance gate to his home:

"TRESSPASSERS PROSECUTED - OFFICERS AND DOGS SHOT ON SIGHT"

Mr. Burke's enthusiasm encouraged others who formed the opinion that Armagh should have a proper course. Mr. J. C. Murphy of the Belfast Bank and Mr. C. W. Bower of the Northern Bank took it on themselves to inspect every possible site. They agreed that the most suitable location was the Demesne. Mr. George de la Prev. Beresford gave the use of the land from November to May, rent free, if a club was formed. The members of the Armagh Archery and Lawn Tennis Club called a meeting in the Courthouse, September, 1893, and it was decided to form a club.

Logan, the Belfast professional, came to lay out the course, and Mr. N. L. Townshend, R.M., collected money and built the first clubhouse. Co. Armagh's oldest trophy, the Lonsdale Cup, was presented in that year by Mr. Dunbar Barton, M.D., and Mr. J. B. Lonsdale, afterwards Lord Armaghdale.

From such beginnings emerged Co. Armagh Golf Club, which by 1931 had 103 gentlemen members and 91 ladies. Early Councils had the task of caring for demesne land in an appropriate fashion so Council reports of the period are pitted with notices such as (April '28) "that the cost of grazing for all cattle except milch cows for the coming season shall be as follows: Yearling to 2 yr. olds 35/- 2 yr. olds plus, two pounds fifteen shillings and sheep 2/- per month." The audited accounts for May, 1931, list as assets 48 sheep, 2 rams, 60 lambs and 1 horse. A dynamic tenure of captaincy (1931-32) by Capt. Noel Smith served to rescue the club from a shaky financial position and placed it in credit for years to come. A remarkable ballot for an Austin 7 H.P. Saloon realised the princely sum of five hundred and fifty pounds plus and erased all debts.

Such was the Captain's popularity that personal subscriptions from members bought the Smith Cup as a perpetual reminder of his success. This period also saw the association of many familiar names with Co. Armagh golf, names such as Hirsch, Cowdy, Woods, Emerson and Forbes.

Co. Armagh continued to gather enthusiasts and the work of S. G. McVitty, N. R. Anderson, T. McKenna, W. McCartney, D. S. Hyndman and others ensured by the late 1950's, that Co. Armagh was established with leased land, open twelve months of the year, and possessing a creditable nine-hole course.

In February, 1971, a special meeting of the Club agreed to the most imaginative development programme undertaken since the Club was formed. Prime movers at the debate were two men, P. G. Toner and F. McAvinchey, who linked the club of the 70's with three decades of club history. A development committee of P. D. Corrigan, J. F. Maxwell (Hon. Sec.), J. H. O'Rorke and later Ian Donaldson carried the plan to a successful conclusion. A twenty six thousand pound "temporary" clubhouse providing all modern amenities, not least of which was a dining room capable of seating 200, was erected. An 18-hole golf course, some 6,043 yds., par 70,s.s. 69,with watered grounds, strategic bunkers and situated in one of the most pleasant scenic areas of Mid-Ulster, was opened on 3rd May, 1975.

Tragedy struck Co. Armagh Golf Club when, on the night of March 25th 1980 the clubhouse was reduced to ashes by a series of bombs - another statistic in the troubled period of Northern Ireland's history.

A new development Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. J Maxwell set about planning a replacement building and in 1982 the re-designed Clubhouse was officially opened. Since then the building has been further enhanced with better facilities added and refurbished to a very high standard.

The Club, amongst the oldest in Ireland, celebrated its Centenary in 1993. A detailed, illustrated book on the history of the Club, tracing its development alongside that of the City of Armagh itself over the past century has been produced and a few copies are still available from the Secretary's office , priced £10 plus postage.

Roll of Honour

Member Year Hon. Position
Mrs. M. McIlrath 1989 Ladies Captain
J. McC. Moore 1989 Men's Captain
W. H. Kenny 1989 President
Mrs. M. F. Gordan 1990 Ladies Captain
J. Kirk 1990 Men's Captain
J. J. Murray 1990 President
Mrs. N. Corrigan 1991 Ladies Captain
H. D. Somerville 1991 Men's Captain
J. J. Murray 1991 President
Mrs. C. Toner 1992 Ladies Captain
Dr. C. V. O'Reilly 1992 Men's Captain
I. Donaldson 1992 President
Mrs. E. M. Steenson 1993 Ladies Captain
I. D. Dawson 1993 Men's Captain
I. Donaldson 1993 President
Mrs. B. Johnston 1994 Ladies Captain
P. J. Collins 1994 Men's Captain
M. F. Joyce 1994 President
Mrs. G. Joyce 1995 Ladies Captain
J. W. White 1995 Men's Captain
M. F. Joyce 1995 President
Mrs. M. Smith 1996 Ladies Captain
P. P. Loughran 1996 Men's Captain
W. Adair 1996 President
Mrs. D. Brown 1997 Ladies Captain
W. I. Marshall 1997 Men's Captain
W. Adair 1997 President
Mrs. E. Attwell 1998 Ladies Captain
D. McAneney 1998 Men's Captain
J. L. O'Hare 1998 President
Mrs. B. Loughran 1999 Ladies Captain
W. A. Neville 1999 Men's Captain
J. L. O'Hare 1999 President
Mrs. C. M. Woods 2000 Ladies Captain
S. R. Coyle 2000 Men's Captain
W. G. Compston 2000 President
Mrs. B. Hamilton 2001 Ladies Captain
F. W. Edgar 2001 Men's Captain
Mr. G. Compston 2001 President
Miss. N. Leathem 2002 Ladies Captain
D. Murphy 2002 Men's Captain
H. McElvanna 2002 President
R. McSorley 2003 Ladies Captain
S. Swift 2003 Men's Captain
H. McElvanna 2003 President
E. Fitzsimons 2004 Ladies Captain
Pat McNaney 2004 Men's Captain
Dougie Somerville 2004 President
Audrey Kellett 2005 Ladies Captain
David Baird 2005 Men's Captain
Dougie Somerville 2005 President
Ruth Beckett 2006 Ladies Captain
Paddy Burns 2006 Men's Captain
Pierce McBride 2006 President
Catherine McAnerney 2007 Ladies Captain
Jack McGowan 2007 Men's Captain
Pearse McBride 2007 President
Veronica Toal 2008 Ladies Captain
Charles Vernon 2008 Men's Captain
J. White 2008 President
Flo McCall 2009 Ladies Captain
E. Hamilton 2009 Men's Captain
J. White 2009 President
June Humpries 2010 Ladies Captain
Michael Grant 2010 Men's Captain
P. J. Collins 2010 President
Barbara Gartland 2011 Ladies Captain
Tom Calvert 2011 Men's Captain
P. J. Collins 2011 President
Paula McCrory 2012 Ladies Captain
Brendan Smyth 2012 Men's Captain
Jack Moore 2012 President
Hilary Johnston 2013 Ladies Captain
John Flack 2013 Men's Captain
Jack Moore 2013 President
Irene Lutton 2014 Ladies Captain
Pat McAleavey 2014 Men's Captain
Oliver Woods 2014 President
Margaret Marjoram 2015 Ladies Captain
Richard Black 2015 Men's Captain
Oliver Woods 2015 President
Una Cullinane 2016 Ladies Captain
Martin Oliver 2016 Men's Captain
Walter Neville 2016 President
Gail Steed 2017 Ladies Captain
Richard Stewart 2017 Men's Captain
Walter Neville 2017 President
Elizabeth Mawhinney 2018 Ladies Captain
Colm Shannon 2018 Men's Captain
Gerard McCreesh 2018 President
Moya Brady 2019 Ladies Captain
Kenny Edger 2019 Men's Captain
Gerard McCreesh 2019 President
Anne McDonald 2020 Ladies Captain
Declan McReynolds 2020 Men's Captain
Ton Calvert 2020 President
Anne McDonald 
2021 Ladies Captain
Declan McReynolds 2021 Men's Captain
Ton Calvert
2021 President
Karen Edger 2022 Ladies Captain
Michael Calvert 2022 Men's Captain
Paddy Burns 2022 President
Lily McMullan 2023 Ladies Captain
Gerry Kelly 2023 Men's Captain
Paddy Burns 2023 President
(7) 2023 Lowest Ladies Handicap
Adam Cromwell 2023 Lowest Men's Handicap

Holes in One at County Armagh

Member Date Hole No. Club Used Distance
Tom Mason 3 September 1997 11th   170 yd's
June Humphries 6 September 2003 13th 5-Wood 168 yd's
Michael Calvert 27 July 2022