Lahinch golf club Clare

Members Achievements

The Ladies of Lahinch Golf Club retained the Irish Senior Cup on the Killeen Course at Killarney Golf Club on Saturday 24th August 2019 when they beat Laytown & Bettystown by 4-matches to 1-match in the Quarter Final and Woodbrook Golf Club by 4½-matches to ½-match in the Semi-Final.
They met the home Club in the All-Ireland Final and recorded a 3½-matches to 1½-matches win over the Kerry team.
They were led out by Chloe Ryan who beat Mairead Martin by 3 and 2, she was followed by Sinead Sexton who had a convincing 5 and 4 win over Kelly Brotherton, next on the tee was Aideen Walsh who lost her match against Tracy Eakin by 3 and 2, in the penultimate match Niamh O’Dwyer beat Mary Sheehy by 4 and 2, the bottom match of Sarah Cunningham against Corrina Griffin was halved when called-in.

Having won the Munster Final of the Irish Senior Cup at Thurles Golf Club on 19th May when they beat the Ladies of Tipperary Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match in the Quarter-Final and the Ladies of Douglas by a similar margin in the Semi-Final they met the Ladies from Killarney Golf Club in the Provincial Decider recording a 4½-matches to ½-match.
With a very strong team and defending Champions they were led out by Chloe Ryan (+3)  who beat Mairead Martin (+1.9) by 3 and 2, she was followed by Sinead Sexton (+3) who recorded a 3 and 2 win over Valerie Clancy (+0.9), the match of Aine Donegan (+1) against Kelly Brotherton (0.2) was halved, in the penultimate match Sarah Cunningham (1) beat Tracy Eakin (1) by 2 and 1, in the bottom match Aideen Walsh (1) recorded a 3 and 2 win against Corrina Griffin (5).

 

The Ladies of Lahinch Golf Club won the Irish Senior Cup for the first time at Knock Golf Club on 25th August 2018. They beat Royal Portrush Golf Club in the Quarter-Finals by 3½-matches to 1½-matches and had an even more convincing  4½-matches to ½-matche in the Semi-Final.
They met the Ladies of Elm Park in the All-Ireland Decider. They were lead out by Sinead Sexton who halve her match against Anna Foster, she was followed by Aine Donegan who beat Leah Temple Lang by 5 and 3, next on the tee was Sarah Cunningham who had a 4 and 3 win over Rachel McDonnell, in the penultimate match Aideen Walsh had a very comfortable 8 and 7 win over Fleming and in the bottom match Niamh O'Dwyer recorded a 5 and 4 win over Emma Thorne.

The Ladies Lahinch Golf Club won their Regional Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 2010 and made their way to Cork Golf Club to compete in the National deciders,  where they were drawn against Connaught Champions Claremorris Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals on Friday 13th August and recorded a result of 4-matches to 1-match victory.

 They were led by Sinead Sexton who beat Sarah Helly by 3 and 2, she was followed by Linda Toomey who beat Kate Gallagher by 3 and 2 next up was Olivia Hayes who halved with Sarah Gallagher when called-in, the penultimate match of Valerie Hassett who was a resounding 6 and 5 win over Kung Fanning,, in the bottom match Valerie Shannon recorded a halve with Emily McHugh when called-in.

They met Ulster Champions Royal Portrush Ladies Club and eventual green pennant winners in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and lost out by 4-matches to 1-match. They were led again by Sinead Sexton who halved her match against Gemma McClenaghan when called-in, she was followed by Linda Toomey who also recorded a halve with Charlene Reid when called-in, next up was Olivia Hayes who lost her match to Niamh Quigg by 2 and 1, in the penultimate match Valerie Hassett lost to Lucy Simpson by 3 and 2, in the bottom match Valerie Shannon lost out to Helen Jones by 7and 6. They were captained by Georgina Condon.

The Girls’ of Lahinch won the Munster Final of the Girls’ Inter-club Championship and were drawn against Leinster Champions Mannan Castle in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Mallow Golf Club on Tuesday 25th August 2009.

Captain Barbara Foley sent out Sinead Sexton to lead the team against Louise Hanratty and had a convincing 5 and 4 win over the Monaghan girl. She was followed by Chloe Duggan who lost out to Roison Brady by 3 and 2. The bottom match of Emma McInerney against Amy Boylan had a similar result.

Mark Ryan a member of Lahinch and Grange won the West of Ireland Championship at Co. Sligo in 2003.

P. Murphy qualified for the National Finals of the Irish Times-Mitsubishi Motors Women's Masters. She returned 35 points in the semi-final at Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club on the 23rd of August 2001. Then it was on to Galway Bay Golf & Country Club for the Final on13th September.

Prior to 2001:

Lahinch Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Senior Cup at Portmarnock G. C. in 1959, when the team was, G. McGlennon, A. Skerritt, G. A. Young, T. Ahern, P. J. Leyden and A. Slattery.

Lahinch Golf Club won the All-Ireland Barton Shield at home in 1955, when the team was, P. J. Leyden, A. Skerritt, A. Slattery and G. A. Young.

Lahinch Golf Club won the All-Ireland Barton Shield on their home course in 1947, when the team was, J. Bourke, A. Slattery, M. O'Loughlin and D. Torrens.

They won the All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup at Co. Sligo G. C. in 1963, when the team was, J. Wall, F. Lehane, J. O'Callaghan, B. Vaughan and M. Rush, they were captained by Justice J. G. Hurley.

They won the All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup on their home course in 1961, when the team was, J. Smyth, T. Rush, G. Barry, J. Keating, J. Wall and B. O'Brien, they were captained by Justice J. G. Hurley.

Lahinch Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Senior Cup and were beaten finalists in 1984, when the team was, Martin Barrett, Paul Barrett, Paul McInerney, Declan McInerney, Des Creedon, P. J. Queally, and they were captained by Gerry McGlennon.

They won the Munster Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 1971, when the team was, M. Barrett, B. O'Brien, G. A. Young, J. D. Smyth and P. J. Leyden.

They won the Munster Final of the Irish Junior Cup in 1941, when the team was, B. O'Farrell, Fr. E. Murphy, D. F. O'Loghlin, Fr. P. Garrahy and Fr. Madden.

S. Norton was elected to the council of the Munster Branch of the GUI for 2001.

The Ladies of Lahinch Golf Club won the ILGU Senior Cup in 1988, when the team was, J. O'Callaghan, K. Donworth, V. Hassett, P. Murphy and M. Daly, they were captained by O. Fitzpatrick.

They won the ILGU Munster Cup in 1992, with Geraldine Rush, Deirdre O'Brien and Maura Harvey.

They won the ILGU Junior League in 1996, when the team was, Anna Gleeson, Mary McDonnell, K. McDermott, Deirdre O'Brien, F. Chambers, E. Lyons, they were captained Frances Sarma.

They won the ILGU Junior League the previous year, when the team was, Jo de Courcy, Anna Gleeson, Sue Parnell, Ann Vaughan, Mary McDonnell, Margaret Morton, Eavan Foley and Oonagh Mee, they were captained by Frances Sarma.

They won the ILGU Intermediate League in 1984, when the team was, Mona Davis, Phenie Murphy, Deirdre O'Brien, Chris Meaney, Ann O'Sullivan and Frances Spelman, they were captained by Nancy Connole.

Lahinch was the home club of my late friend Mick Ryan, father of Mark and David, who have matured into two of the finest young golfers to watch, they were both selected to represent Leinster in 2003, have represented Ireland at underage level.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

John Burke played Walker Cup at Brooklyn Massachusetts in 1932, he represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1929 to 1949 playing 58-times won 23-matches halved nine and lost 26-matches accumulating 55-points. He represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1938 to 1939;

A. Slattery represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1948 to 1949 playing 8-times won 5-matches halved one and lost 2-matches accumulating 11-points;

D. McInerney represented Ireland at international Youths level in 1987 playing 2-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 0-points. He represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1983 to 1987 playing 16-times won 10-matches and lost 6-matches accumulating 20-points;

R. Culligan represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1980 playing 3-times won 1-match and lost 2-matches accumulating 2-points. He represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1981 to 1982 playing 8-times won 2-matches and lost 6-matches accumulating 4-points;

F. J. Hannan* represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1938 to 1939;

S. Loftus represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 2005 to 2010 playing 12-times won 2-matches halved two and lost 6-matches accumulating 6-points;

G. McGlennon* represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1958 to 1959 playing 12-times won 6-matches and lost 6-matches accumulating 12-points.

P. McInerney represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial in 1989 playing 6-times won 1-match and lost 5-matches accumulating 2-points;

A. Skerritt represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1958 to 1962 playing 22-times won 10-matches halved one and lost 11-matches accumulating 21-points;

M. Skerritt represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1962 to 1965 playing 18-times won 9-matches halved three and lost 6-matches accumulating 21-points;

Austin Skerritt* represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial in 1939;

J. D. Smyth represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1967 to 1976 playing 45-times won 22-matches halved eight and lost 15-matches accumulating 52-points. He represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1962 to 1967;

D. Torrens* represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1938 to 1939;

M. Culligan represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1973 to 1976 playing 7-times won 4-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 8-points;

J. McGlennon* represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1966 playing 2-times;

B. O’Brian* represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1963 playing 4-times;

D. O’Brian represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1975 playing 2-times won 1-match and lost 1-match accumulating 2-points;

W. O’Brian* represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1968 to 1971 playing 4-times won 1-match halved one and lost 0-matches accumulating 3-points;

M. Rush* represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1964 playing 2-times;

P. Slattery represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1974 to 1977 playing 8-times won 4-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 8-points;

Mark Power represented Munster in the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 1995 playing 6-times won 2-matches halved two and lost 2-matches accumulating 6-points;

Denise Doyle was selected to play for Ireland in the European Ladies Junior Championships at Oslo Golf Club, Norway in 1998 and at Nairn Golf Club Scotland in 1996 and played for Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals at Mosely Golf Club in 1993, at Helensburgh Golf Club in 1994 and at Gog Magog Golf Club in 1995.

History of Lahinch

Instituted 1892 affiliated 1895

The members of Limerick Golf Club set out to find a location to play their golf in the Summer months as Limerick racecourse was covered in long grass. On 26th March, 1882 Sir Alexander Shaw and Mr. Plummer the Hon. Secretary were driving from Ennistymon and passed what was then a dreary, desolate piece of land, a mass of sandhills, owned by Dan Slattery. They revisited the "sandhills" on 9th April and an eighteen-hole course was marked out. In 1894. Old Tom Morris laid out the course and declared it to be "one of the finest clubs in the United Kingdom".
The first South of Ireland was played in 1895 and the inaugural winner was Dr. G. S. Browning, who beat his fellow Lahinch clubman W. F. McDonnell, 2 and 1. In November that year, The Great Southern and Western Railway, announced a special offer for golfers, from Friday to Tuesday. For a guinea return they could travel from Kingsbridge to Lahinch to play this course. In 1886 Mr. Gerald Balfour, the Chief Secretary of Ireland, a good golfer, took rooms at the Royal Golf Hotel.
Sir Alexander Shaw together with others built the hotel and he was President of the club from 1893 to 1923, and Captain from 1893 to 1901. It would seem we owe a great deal to his vision, for seeing the possibility of the sandhills.
In the Autumn of 1906, Charles Gibson of Westward Ho, revised the layout of the links, which remained in play until 1927, when Dr. Alister Mackenzie was retained to make improvements. Mackenzie had completed Augusta National and Cypress Point at this time and was the most respected course architect at the time. His revisions were carried out at a cost of £2,000. The only remaining hole of "Old Toms" is the famous 6th "The Dell

Lahinch recently underwent an improvement development, (if that was possible,) at a cost of £1,000,000 (approx). The South of Ireland is still one of Major Championships held each year. The youngest player ever to win it was Mark Campbell of Stackstown, in 1999.

What the Club tells us:

In March 1892 Alexander Shaw, Richard Plummer and a number of officers from the Black Watch Regiment of the British Army went to the west coast of Clare in search of sand dunes that would be suitable for the development of a golf course. They discovered Lahinch and during a second visit in early April, laid out a links golf course.  The first game of golf was played at Lahinch on Good Friday 15th April 1892 between Lieutenant William McFarlane of the Black Watch Regiment and William F. McDonnell, a Limerick businessman. Feathers and sticks were used to mark out the course.

Earlier that day the first meeting of the Club took place in Sharry’s Hotel on Main St., Lahinch and ever since there has been a wonderful interaction between the village and the golf course.

The original course had nine holes on each side of the Liscannor Road.

In 1894 Alexander Shaw invited Old Tom Morris, the celebrated Scottish golfer, to design a new links golf course.  Old Tom Morris placed great emphasis on the sandhills side of the links. He said Lahinch was “the finest natural course he had ever seen”.

In 1895 Lahinch Golf Club launched the first South of Ireland Championship which took place in September. The Championship followed the Irish Open Championship which took place at Royal Portrush the previous week. The prize for the winner was a Silver Challenge Cup and a Gold Medal. The first “South” final was contested between two Limerick members – Dr. G.S. Browning and Mr. M. Gavin (Browning won by 9/8).  In the years preceding the 1st World War the Championship was dominated by golfers from England and Scotland.

Willie MacNamara was the Golf Professional and Greenkeeper at the Club from 1899 to 1927. The Studdert family from Corofin sent Willie to Westward Ho to learn the art of greenkeeping. Willie lived in Avondale, on Lahinch’s Main St.  A typical newspaper report from that era states: “The Lahinch links is in beautiful condition just now and reflects much credit on the care and diligent attention bestowed on it by Willie MacNamara, the Club Professional and Greenkeeper”.

The Golf Links Hotel, a magnificent building overlooking the village, was a great boost to the growth of golf at Lahinch. It opened its doors on 5th May 1896 and was the brainchild of Alexander W. Shaw. Golfers from all over the world came to stay at the top quality hotel.

The fact that the West Clare Railway came into the village was a further boost to the development of golf tourism at Lahinch. A golfer could leave Euston Station, London at 6 a.m. and arrive in Lahinch for lunch the following day. Sadly the Golf Links Hotel and West Clare Railway did not survive into modern times.

1921 -1950

n 1926 the services of world renowned Golf Course Architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie were sought and plans for a new 18 hole course were agreed. In his report to the Committee, Dr. MacKenzie stated that, “Lahinch will make the finest and most popular golf course that I, or I believe anyone else, ever constructed.”   The cost of the development was set at £2,000.

In 1927 William McCavery made the long journey from Newcastle in Co. Down to take up the appointment as Golf Professional at the Club. His first job was to assist in the layout of the new golf links course. He went on to serve as Golf Professional at the Club for the next sixty years.

In 1928 John Burke arrived as a golfer and won the South of Ireland Championship for the first time.  He went on to win four-in-a-row and eleven titles in all. He won his first Irish Close Championship at Lahinch in 1930 and also won that title four times-in-a-row. A contemporary newspaper account stated: “Much water will have flown through the river Fergus before Ireland produces a player capable of taking the championship from Sean Burke.” He won his place on the British and Irish Walker Cup team in 1932 which was held at Brookline Country Club in Boston.

Another famous Lahinch golfing personality from the period was Mick O’Loughlin. His sharp wit and turn of phrase brought great enjoyment to many. He won the South of Ireland Championship in 1937 and 1938.

A new Clubhouse was built in the 1940s’.  The 2nd World War also saw a drop in the number of visitors coming to the Club but, once again, the Club survived.  Careful nurturing of the links golf course ensured the enduring attraction of Lahinch to its members and visiting golfers. The 1946 South of Ireland Championship Final between John Burke and Joe Carr was perhaps the most famous “South” final. It ended with Burke winning on the 39th green. It was his eleventh and final “South” success.

1950 – 1984

This era saw the arrival of Brud Slattery to the administration of the Club. He was Honorary Secretary/Secretary Manager at Lahinch from 1954 to 1984.  He presided over enormous changes at the Club including the construction of the 1st 9 holes on the Castle Course and major renovations on the clubhouse.

There was huge growth in the number of visitors coming to play Lahinch, in particular overseas visitors.

The Club crest embracing the thistle and the goat was approved by the Committee in the early 1950’s. The thistle represented the Scottish element in the founding of the Club and the goat symbolised the weather. The barometer at the Club was not functioning properly and a sign over the barometer simply said; “See Goats”. When the weather was wet and the forecast poor, the goats were usually seen hovering around the clubhouse – in fine weather they made their way out to the far regions of the golf links.

John D. Harris, a renowned golf architect developed the plans for a new Castle Course in 1961. In his report to the Committee he stated; “the 9 hole course was constructed in 1963. After a lull of thirty five years, golf was back on the Corcass”. It was extended to an 18 hole golf links course in 1975.

On the playing front, Lahinch Golf Club achieved some notable victories during this period. The Club won the All-Ireland Barton Shield in 1947 and 1955 and won the Irish Senior Cup in 1959 with Brud Slattery, Secretary/Manager, a key member of the three winning teams. During that period Paddy Leyden won four South of Ireland Championships and represented Ireland on several occasions.  Lahinch Golf Club won the All-Ireland Junior Cup in 1961 and 1963.  Brian O’Brien won six Boys’ Championships in the early 1960’s before turning Professional. John D Smyth won the South of Ireland Championship in 1968 – the last local player to win the “South”.

Lahinch hosted the Irish Professional Championship in 1961, where Christy O’Connor Senior won following rounds of 67 and 68 on the first day. In 1975 Lahinch hosted the Carroll’s Irish Match Play Championship and his nephew, Christy O’Connor Junior, defeated Peter Townsend by 3/2 in the final.

Dr. Patrick Hillery served as Captain, President and Trustee of the Club.  He served as President of Ireland from 1976 to 1990.

Since the 80’s

Lahinch hosted the Home International Amateur Championships in September 1987 with the Irish team recording their first Triple Crown success at the event.

In 1992 the Club celebrated the centenary of its foundation with a special Centenary Dinner. Guest of honour was Joe Carr, Captain of the R&A and one of the legendary figures of Irish amateur golf.

The Junior Golf Programme was reorganised in 1995 and the Castle Course has introduced a new generation of Lahinch golfers to the game. The first Junior Golf competition (Harley Cup) took place in 1964 and there is currently a full programme of competitions for boys and girls scheduled throughout the year.

In January 1997 the death took place of one of the Club’s most famous personalities, Brud Slattery. He was an outstanding golfer and administrator. The words of John Betjeman in his poem “The Hon. Sec.” echoed at his funeral Mass: “The flag that hung half mast today seemed animate with being as if it knew for whom it flew and would no more be seeing”.

In the last decade of the 20th century new challenges faced Lahinch Golf Club. With major advances in golf technology and equipment and the unprecedented increase in golf tourism playing the course on a year round basis, Lahinch Golf Club decided to enlist the services of Golf Course Architect, Dr. Martin Hawtree in 1999. Dr. Hawtree’s plan modernised the links golf course at Lahinch providing a top class championship golf course.  In the new layout, the sand dunes closer to the Atlantic Ocean were utilised and, in all, 14 greens were redesigned introducing wonderful undulations making putting a fine art.  The redesigned course has met with wide acclaim and is consistently ranked in the World Top 50 courses.

The vision of Alexander Shaw in 1892 to develop Lahinch into a top class golf links course has inspired people in every generation to work tirelessly for the advancement of the Club.  A love of Lahinch has drawn people from all parts of the world and from all walks of life to ply their skills on the great golf links course.

The Ladies of Lahinch

Ladies were to the forefront of golf at Lahinch since the foundation of the Club. Weekend’s of competitive golf in the 1890’s featured special competitions for the ladies. Miss E. McDonnell was the most skilled lady golfer at the Club in the early years while Miss Walker Leigh was elected as the first Lady Captain of the Club.

In 1904 Lahinch Golf Club hosted the Irish Ladies’ Championship for the first time. The Clare Journal of 7th June 1904 described the championship in the following manner: “The links now are at their best. There was brilliant sunshine as play opened on Monday. The three Miss Hezlets from Portrush were a great attraction”.  That championship was won by Miss May Hezlet whose handicap at one stage was plus 6.  Lahinch has remained at the forefront of Irish Ladies golf ever since and has hosted the Irish Ladies’ Championship on eleven occasions.

Nancy Connole from Parliament St., Ennistymon was Honorary Secretary of the Ladies Section from 1947 to 2007. She was a wonderful administrator and made a marvellous contribution to the promotion of ladies golf at Lahinch.  Two other Ennistymon ladies, Nan Ahern and Eileen Roughan, were great competitors at the Club from the 1940’s through to the 1960’s.

On the playing front, the ladies won the Munster Senior Cup on eight occasions.  Their first success came in 1946 with their most recent victory in 2015. Down through the years, Eithne O’Brien (nee McCarron) was a member of a number of the successful teams, winning in six different decades at the Club.

In 1990, following an invitation from the Men’s Committee, lady golfers became full members of the Club and the Club is now governed by a Council with representation from both the Men’s and Ladies’ Committees.

The Ladies section attracts members from all parts of Ireland and from overseas. The common bond is a love of Lahinch Golf Club and lady members’ return, year after year, to enjoy the wonderful facilities at the Club.