18 Hole Parkland
Course Facts: Address
8A Downview Avenue
Belfast
Co. Antrim BT15 4EZSecretary/Manager: Pat Toal Captain: Michael Graham Lady Captain: Oonagh McCann Telephone: 028-90-370770 President: Dan McGrady Public No: 028-90-776798 Vice-Captain: Maurice Mullan & Vera McClenaghan Fax: 028-90-781891 Hon. Secretary: Pat Toal & Nuala Moore E-mail: administrator@fortwilliam.co.uk Club Pro: Peter Hanna 048-90-770980 Website: www.fortwilliam.co.uk Hon. Treasurer: Kieran Smyth & Eleanor Boswell Founded: 1891 Designed by: Harry Colt Membership: 915 Course opening hours: Daylight hours Green Fees Midweek: £22 Clubhouse opening hours: 11.30am to 11.00pm Green Fees Weekends & B.H.: £29 Mobile phones: Not on course or in clubhouse Green Fees With a Member: £12/£14 Dress Code: Neat casual, no denim Green Fees For Opens: £10/13 Catering: Full catering facilities Practice Area: Yes Days to Avoid: Sundays & Bank Holidays Club Hire: Yes Green Fees and Societies Welcome: Other days Buggy Hire: No Pre-booking for open tournaments: 14 Days in advance Soft spikes: No
Course Description:
Founded in 1891 and originally designed by Harry Colt, measuring 6,030 yards off the white tees with a Par 70 and a standard scratch of 69. Fortwilliam Golf Club is divided by Gray's Lane and is dominated by Cave Hill, which is in excess of 1,000 ft above sea level. Although relatively hilly the spectacular backdrop of Cave Hill will take your mind of the climes you will encounter on some of the holes.
Its feature hole is "The Burn" at 474 yards will test the best of golfers and a par here seems like a birdie. A warm Ulster hand of welcome awaits the visitor in the clubhouse, where he or she can relax with a drink and full catering facilities are available.
Open & Major fixtures 2008: Event
Start
Finish
Type
Duration
No fixtures until 2009.
Club History
Instituted 1891 affiliated 1895. According to the club records, the club was "first" founded on the 16th October; 1891, they read "Eleven gentlemen of the Antrim Road area met in No. 1, Custom House Square, on the inaugural date, and the chair was occupied by Mr. J. T. Reade. Initially, nine holes were laid out on land between Fortwilliam Park and Parkmount, but this course was only playable in the winter months."
The club went into decline, and was not revived until 1903. The first meeting took place on 10th January, that year, and in February C. S. Butchart, the professional at Royal Co. Down Golf Club, laid out a nine-hole course. Before 1924, the club had extended to eighteen-holes, and opened a new clubhouse.
Location
Off the Antrim Road to Belfast.
Members Achievements
Fortwilliam Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Junior Foursomes in 2006. It was on to Balbriggan Golf Club in North Dublin on 29th August, where they were drawn against Connaught Champions Portumna Golf Club in the Semi-Final.First on the tee were Conor McLarnon with Mark Fitzgerald, against Tristan O’Rourke with Peter Dillon, they had a comfortable 5-hole win over the Galway pair. They were followed by Chris Crangle with Eoin McComb, who lost out to Paul Carty with Shane Ryan by 3-holes, however their 2-hole win was enough to put them through to the All-Ireland final against Leinster Champions The Island Golf Club in the afternoon.
In a trilling final that went all the way to the 2nd play-off hole, Conor McLarnon with Mark Fitzgerald were pitched against James Monaghan with Darragh Rodgers when they lost by 2-holes. They were followed by Chris Crangle with Eoin McComb against Simon Arthur with David Weldon, they won their match by 2-holes, leading to an exiting play-off, however it was not to be for the Ulster Champions.
Fortwilliam Golf Club won the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Junior Cup, having been crowned Ulster Champions they were drawn against Leinster Champions Castle Golf Club in the National deciders at Rosslare Golf Club on 14th September 2005.
In the Semi-Final Gary Brown was first up against James Hanby when James had a 3 and 2 win. Next up was Conan McLarnon who had a 4 and 3 win over Karl Swaine, he was followed by Paul Maguire who had an off day against Stephen Webster when he lost by 7 and 3. The penultimate match saw Gary O’Hara beat Omer Bhamjee by 1-hole. The bottom match saw Michael Tierney have a convincing 5 and 4 win over Harry Gleeson.
Having reached the All-Ireland Final they met Connacht Champions Galway Golf Club in the decider. Gary Brown lead the way with a win on the 19th over Jonathan Hehir, he was followed by Conan McLarnon who had an off day against Gary Scott when losing by 5 and 4. Next on the tee Paul Maguire who lost by 5 and 3 to Joe Costello. Gary O’Hara had a vital 3 and 2 win over Michael Hennelly. The bottom match saw Michael Tierney beat Eddie Mulholland by the narrowest of margins on the 18th hole, which delivered the green pennant in an exciting final.
The squad was Len McCauley, Mark McKenna, Michael Graham, Michael Tierney, Gareth Tierney, Ryan McLarnon, Paul Maguire, Kris Krangle, Gary Brown, Eoin McComb, Conan McLarnon and Gary O’Hara, they were captained by Tony Campbell.
Simon Doherty was selected to represent Ireland at the Boys Home Internationals played at Woodhall Spa, Lioncolnshire from 2nd to 4th August 2005.
Brenda McLarnon a student at the Ledbetter Golf Academy in Florida was selected on the Ulster Senior team for the Inter Provincials at Mount Wolseley Golf Club on August 7th and 8th 2002. She played for the Ulster Girls' team in the Smurfit Interprovincial Championship at Enniscrone Golf Club from the 18th to the 20th of April 2001. She was on the ILGU Junior squad in November 2000 and was on the Irish Girls' team for the Home Internationals, at Downfield Golf Club, Dundee from the 15th to the 17th, March 2000.
P. Adare participated in the Boys' Home International matches in 1990.
Stephen Hood participated in the Boys' Home Internationals from 1996 to 1998, playing Ulster Boys' in 1994 and 1995, winning the Ulster Boys' in 1994.
Maeve McConnell played for the Irish Girls' against Wales, in 1965, and won the Irish Girls' Close Championship, in 1966, and 1967.
Caitriona Hinds played for the Irish Girls' in 1981.
Card of the Course (yards)
Name Hole No White Green Par Index Red Par Index Carmoney 1 421 412 4 7 403 5 11 Soulby's Plateau 2 329 298 4 9 255 4 7 Loughview 3 437 418 4 5 412 4 5 Coffey's Corner 4 330 330 4 17 304 4 15 The Burn 5 474 442 5 1 401 5 1 Cedar Lodge 6 186 153 3 15 137 3 17 The Dam 7 311 292 4 11 282 4 9 The Poplars 8 421 402 4 3 393 4 3 Cambell's Burn 9 272 260 4 13 253 4 13 Out 3,181 2,983 36 2,840 37 Buchart's First 10 195 188 3 10 183 3 16 Craig's Drive 11 381 362 4 8 356 4 4 Dunbeg 12 146 120 3 18 130 3 18 Castle Hill 13 377 358 4 2 369 5 6 Downview 14 502 491 5 12 445 5 8 Flax Field 15 321 315 4 14 309 4 2 Ben Madigan 16 345 331 4 4 340 5 12 Brady's Punch 17 150 140 3 16 142 3 14 Shaftsbury 18 432 404 4 6 423 5 10 In 2,849 2,709 34 2,697 37 Total 6,030 5,692 70 5,537 74 SSS 69 68 72
Men's Course Record:
Ladies Course Record:
Roll of Honour C. C. Brady 1990 Ladies Captain S. J. McMichael 1990 Men's Captain James Wilson 1990 President S. W. Lynch 1991 Ladies Captain Gerry Mulvenna 1991 Men's Captain Tom Lowry 1991 President P. Callen 1992 Ladies Captain D. H. Macrae 1992 Men's Captain Tom Lowry 1992 President C. McCrory 1993 Ladies Captain Dan McGrady 1993 Men's Captain Edward Bannon 1993 President S. McCann 1994 Ladies Captain Dr. Joe Lewis 1994 Men's Captain Edward Bannon 1994 President F. McNulty 1995 Ladies Captain Brendan Henry 1995 Men's Captain W. A. Macauley 1995 President J. M. Campbell 1996 Ladies Captain Howard Hillis 1996 Men's Captain W. A. Macauley 1996 President E. Thompson 1997 Ladies Captain Brendan Lowry 1997 Men's Captain Dr. Ian Loughridge 1997 President Dr. M. Drew 1998 Ladies Captain Wesley Morrow 1998 Men's Captain Harry D'arcy 1998 President M. P. Bleakley 1999 Ladies Captain John Campbell 1999 Men's Captain D. G. Cook 1999 President Ms. V. Rodgers 2000 Ladies Captain Jack Campbell 2000 Men's Captain Mr. D. G. Cook 2000 President Mrs. M. Marquess 2001 Ladies Captain Mr. Harry McCambridge 2001 Men's Captain R. Gillespie 2001 President Sandra Whiteside 2002 Ladies Captain Ivan McMichael 2002 Men's Captain R. Gillespie 2002 President Mrs. S. McPhillips 2003 Ladies Captain Peter Smith 2003 Men's Captain R. Gillespie 2003 President M. McMenamin 2004 Ladies Captain John White 2004 Men's Captain Charles O'Neill 2004 President Patrice Gillespie 2005 Ladies Captain Brian McCann Snr. 2005 Men's Captain Charles O'Neill 2005 President Patricia Graham 2006 Ladies Captain Tony Campbell 2006 Men's Captain Charles O'Neill 2006 President Anne McGrath 2007 Ladies Captain Patsy McKenna 2007 Men's Captain Charlie O'Neill 2007 President Gavin McKenna 2008 Lowest Men's Handicap