Castlerock golf club Derry

Members Achievements

The Ladies of Castlerock Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals of the Intermediate Cup at Knightsbrook Golf Club on Thursday 15th September 2022 where they were drawn against the Ladies from East Cork Golf Club and lost their match by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.
Ita O’Connor led them out and won her match by 4 and 2 against Marie O’Brien, she was followed Valerie Reid who lost her match by 4 and 3 against Kate Daly, next on the tee was Phil McKenna who lost out by 7 and 5 against Mary Walsh, in the penultimate match Rosaleen McGuinness against Claire O’Brien went 4 and 3 to the Midleton Club and the bottom match of Kathryn Mark against Orla Evans was halved when called-in.    

The Ladies of Castlerock Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Ladies Intermediate Cup when they beat the Ladies of Dunmurry Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches at Ballycastle Golf Club on Sunday 1st September 2019.
They were led out by Kathryn Mark who won her match by 4 and 3 against Ethel McNeill, she was followed by Ita O’Connor who lost her match against Moira Quail by 2 and 1, next on the tee was Valerie Reid who had a 2 and 1 win over Hilary Brady, in the penultimate match Rosaleen McGuinness won her match against Trish Rockett by 4 and 3 and the bottom match of Phil McKenna against Chris Simpson was recorded as a halve when called-in.

Castlerock Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 2009 and were drawn against Munster Champions West Waterford Golf Club at Tullamore Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final in September.

First on the tee was David Mulholland who came up against Mark Shanahan at his best and lost out by 6 and 5. Next up was Dan Beattie who lost out to Gary Hurley by 2-holes. They were followed by Gordon Forbes against Philip Spratt who also lost his match by 2 and 1. The following two matches of Aaron Kearney against David Curran and Donal Mulholland against Philip Walsh were halved. So the Munster Champions went on to play Galway Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final, the eventual winners of the green-pennant.

Castlerock Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Junior Cup in 2003.

They won the Ulster Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 2002.

They won the Ulster Final of the Irish Junior Cup in 1997.

They won the Ulster Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1977.

They were Ulster Champions in the J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy in 2002 and county champions in 1998.

They won the county Shield in 1996 and again in 1999.

The Ladies won the Black Bush Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament in 1991 and 1994.

They won the ILGU Smurfit Ulster Juvenile Girls in 1991.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

W. Meharg represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1957 playing 6-times, won 3-matchs halved two and lost 1-matches accumulating 8-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1956 to 1957 playing 12-times won 7-matches halved two and lost 3-matches accumulating 16-points;

D. Mulholland represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1988 playing 5-times, won 3-matchs halved one and lost 1-matches accumulating 7-points. He represented Ireland at international Youths level in 1986 playing 2-matches, won 2-matches accumulating 4-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1988 to 1993 playing 21-times won 10-matches and lost 11-matches accumulating 20-points. He represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in1986 playing 6-times won 6-matches and lost 0-matches accumulating 12-points;

S. Parkhill represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1989 playing 4-times won 1-match and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1983 to 1992 playing 12-times won 7-matches and lost 5-matches accumulating 14-points;

C. Buller represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1977 playing 3-times won 2-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 4-points;

C. McCarter* represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1965 playing 2-times;

History of Castlerock

Instituted 1900 affiliated 1902

The first meeting of the inaugural members of Castlerock Golf Club was held on the 4^th May 1900, in the Pavilion Castlerock. At the meeting, it was agreed to ask the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Co. to send Mr. Baillie, a golfing expert, to survey the land and report on the probable expenditure required to layout the golf course. The Rev. Mr. Beckett was elected Hon. Secretary.

There were two ladies on the first committee, which had an expert from St. Andrews lay out a nine-hole course, which was opened in 1900. The Belfast Newsletter on 17^th January records a professional match over the new links and that the official opening would take place at Easter that year.

It was not too long before it was extended to eighteen-holes this was achieved in 1908, under energetic Mr. J. G McVicker the Hon. Secretary.

In the summer of 1913, a catastrophe struck when the clubhouse burned down. The members were not long about overcoming the setback and a new clubhouse was built before July 1914.

On May 4th 1900 a public meeting was held in the Pavilion, Castlerock for the purpose of considering the advisability of laying down golf links at the resort and of making the preliminary arrangements.

The inauguration meeting of this prosperous club took place in the Pavilion on Tuesday afternoon of 16th April 1901, the Rev. William Irwin, D.D., occupying the chair, when a large body of members met together to appoint a council for the season.

It was also agreed "That the best thanks of the members be tendered to Sir H. Hervey Bruce and Colonel Bruce for their kindness and generosity in placing such a large tract of ground at the disposal of the club for the purposes of golf."

By this time the trustees had erected a handsome and commodious clubhouse on the ground, and the links had been carefully and satisfactorily laid out.

What is now described as the formal inauguration of the new links of Castlerock took place on Saturday June 22nd 1901, in the afternoon with an open stroke competition for prizes valued ?3, ?2, and ?1-0-0. The event evoked much interest and there was a large attendance of the general public as well as golfers. The winner was J. Hunter Steen - Cheltenham G.C. Gross 84, H. 5, Nett 79 but unfortunately, however, the weather turned out disagreeable for all.

In 1906 the A.G.M. empowered the Council to enter negotiations for the leasing of extra land sufficient to provide an additional nine holes, thus making the course one of eighteen holes.

It was subsequently reported at the following Annual General Meeting on 8th May 1909 that the Council had entered into negotiations with the tenants adjoining the 9 hole course, and succeeded in arranging with Mr. James Dugan and Mr. Robert Dugan for sufficient ground to make an additional nine holes at an increased rent of ?24 and ?18-10s respectively for a thirty-eight years' lease. Sir H.J.L. Bruce, who took a keen interest and gave great assistance in all the proceedings connected with the extension, extended the lease of the ground held under him for a like period at the nominal rent of 5s per year for which the Club tendered its heartiest thanks.

The Formal Opening of the New Eighteen Hole Course was carried out by Sir Hervey and Lady Bruce on 15th July 1909 when the former drove the first ball from the first tee, in the presence of a large number of ladies and gentlemen, and declared the new course open for play.

The Captain of the Club, Mr. David Craig, when the ceremony was performed, said - "On behalf of the Council and the members of the Castlerock Golf Club, I beg to offer you, Sir Hervey, the heartiest thanks for the generous support and the constant interest you have taken in the Club and for the kindness of Lady Bruce and yourself in coming here today to perform the ceremony in opening the new course for general play."

The opening competition then took place with 18 holes medal play under handicap with an entry of over 30 players, but only four cards were returned.