Club History |
Liam Kelly tells us golf could have begun at Balbriggan as far back as 1895 as land was obtained at Bremore, Balbriggan. The founding members went as far as purchasing a pavilion, which was later sold on to the Balbriggan Cricket Club. The proposed golf club ran into legal technicalities, the granting of the relevant lease ran into difficulties and the project was abandoned.
Further efforts were made in 1933 and again in 1939 to establish golf in the area, but it wasn’t until 1945 that the aspirations became a reality. In 1945, G. A. McGowan became aware that the lands right opposite his front door was coming on the market. The lands comprised, 48-acres at the present location and was leased from Colonel Scriven for £150 per annum.
It was an 18-year lease and when it expired there was a question about the clubs future. By happy coincidence, the Captain in 1963 was Dr. Edward Caraher, who was a former comrade of Colonel Scriven. When the good doctor approached the colonel about the possibility of selling the lease. The colonel replied "The money I’ve been getting from you doesn’t keep me in cigarettes. Of course I’ll sell".
Further lands were acquired over the following years, in 1971 an additional seven acres known as "Maguire’s Field" was purchased for £7,000, this was followed by the acquisition of "Fox’s Land" in 1982. By September 1988 an additional 31 acres known as "Hoare’s Land" was added thereby enabling the club to extend to the desired 18-holes.
On 27th April 1991 the new clubhouse and course were officially opened, something the founding members could hardly have envisaged. Indicative of the progressive committee and members, Balbriggan were not content to let matters lie and additional "fine-tuning" of the course continues to this day. Pat Ruddy was retained in 1999 to redesign the 7th and 12th holes and plans have been drawn up for further improvements of certain holes on the course. |
Members Achievements |
Balbriggan Golf Club won their first Leinster Final in the Irish Junior Cup in 2007 when they beat Killiney by 3 matches to 2 matches on Sunday 8th July at Tulfarris Golf Club.
It was off to Shandon Park Golf Club to compete in the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Munster Champions Muskerry Golf Club on Wednesday 12th September.
First on the tee was Gerald Gallen who lost out to Eoin O'Callaghan by 4 and 3, he was followed by Ian Reynolds who won his match by 2 and 1. Next on the tee was John Fitzpatrick against Dave Lane who lost out to the Belfast man by 4 and 3. The penultimate match saw Peter Slevin have a convincing 4 and 3 win over Gordian Barry, but it was to late as the as the anchor mach of Liam Rooney against Ger O'Shea was decidedly over with a 6 and 4 win to the Belvoir Park team to win their place in the All-Ireland Final against Munster Champions Muskerry, the eventual winners on the Thursday.
Balbriggan Golf Club were Dublin County winners in the Holmpatrick Cup in 2005.
Balbriggan Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Dundalk Golf Club when they beat The Castle by 3.5 matches to 1.5 matches. The squad was Brian Cannon, Martin McInerney, Tom Dwyer, Pat Philips, Peter Sullivan, Damien Leagh, David Brabazon, Mick McNamee, John Behan, Pat Boshell, John O'Shea, Tom Walsh, Kieran, Joey Hughes, Tom Regan, Ray Nugent, Peter Slevin, Martin Reilly, Freddy Healy and Peter Callaghan. They were Captained by Frank Bissette and were drawn against Thurles in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Newlands Golf Club on the 21st September 2001. They lost to Thurles the All-Ireland Champions who beat Holywood in the final.
Ciaran McAleavey was selected on the Irish Boys' team for the Home Internationals at Moortown, Leeds in August 2001.
Balbriggan member and 1997 Lady Captain Mary O'Meara teamed up with her son Maurice (9) playing his golf out of the Island, in the final regional qualifiers of the Spar-Irish Independent Mixed Pairs Challenge at Westmanstown Golf Club in early August 2001. They were runners-up with a score of 56 points, which say them safely through to the National Finals at Adare Manor Golf & Country Club on the 25th of August.
Now here is one young lady to watch. 15-year old Dearbhla Behan started playing golf in May 2000, she was given the usual handicap of 45 by August 2001 she was down to 21 and dropping. In July she shot an 87 gross off 29, to return 52pts. A record for a juvenile. She returned 43pts. In the Captain's Prize to the Juniors and lost 8-shots in the month of July.
Prior to 2001:
Robert Cannon won the Thorsman Trophy at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club in 1997.
Balbriggan Golf Club were Semi-Finalists in the Senior Cup in 1992 when the team was Ray Nugent, Joe O'Loughlin, D. Callaghan, S. McKenna, D. Noone and P. Morrissey.
Balbriggan Golf Club won the Squire Ennis Trophy in 1995 when the team was Barry O'Reilly, Brian Boshell, Scott Lewis, Robert Gannon, Patrick McGowan and Gerald Gallen. They also won it in 1979, 1999 and 2000.
They won the Uden Cup in 1995 when the team was N. Dunne, J. Callaghan, M. Lynch, T. Dwyer, B. O'Connor, S. Halligan, D. O'Connor, E. Reilly, D. Kearns, K. Nulty, B. Casey, F. Whelan, G. Whelan, F. Healy, C. Headford, E. Martin, T. Walsh, B. Corcoran, P. Williams, F. Bissette and M. Sheeran.
Balbriggan won the Sony-Evening Herald Medal Championship at the Golf Del Sur, Tenerife in October 1992, when they beat the other three finalists, Coollattin, Royal Dublin and Thurles by 13 points, the team was John McKenna, Declan Dunne, Damien Lenagh and they were captained by Padraig Faughnan.
They won the Uden Cup in 198 0 when the team was D. Kelly, G. Penny, M. Tobin, P. Williams, J. Courtney, L. Dean, C. Mulvey, H. McKenna, S. McNally, F. Dervine, K. Gamble, E. Mulvey, F. McKenna, M, Sheeran, M. McCarthy, A. Fynes and J. White. They also won it in 1982.
Balbriggan were Uden Cup Finalists in 1974 when the team was Ken Gamble, Owen Nolan John Kenna, Eddie Mulvey, Michael Sheeran, Joe McGowan, Leslie Cashell, Kevin Cahill, Conor Mulvey, Michael Smyth and Jimmy Ennis.
The Ladies of Balbriggan Golf Club won the Ulster Bank All-Ireland Ladies Fourball in 1999 when the team was
They won the I.L.G.U. Eastern District in 1994 when the team was Olive Downes, Muriel Ennis, Vanessa Hartford, Anne White, Fiona Flanigan and they were captained by Brid Taylor.
They won it again in 1999 when the team was Francis Monahan, Rita Murphy, Evelyn Flood, Margaret Campbell, Ann Griffin and they were captained by Helen Fullam.
They last won it in 2001 when the team was Joan Tully, Vera Cagney, Anne McEvoy, Mary McGoff, Sandra Cumisky and they were captained by Rita Murphy.
Ian Griffin played Leinster Youths in 1997 winning 4 of his 6 matches and played Leinster Boys in 1996.
Balbriggan won the Leinster Final of the Bulmers Jimmy Bruen Shield at Dundalk Golf Club when they beat The Castle by 3.5 matches to 1.5 matches. The squad was Brian Cannon, Martin McInerney, Tom Dwyer, Pat Philips, Peter Sullivan, Damien Leagh, David Brabazon, Mick McNamee, John Behan, Pat Boshall, John O'Shea, Tom Walsh, Kieran, Joey Hughes, Tom Regan, Ray Nugent, Peter Slevin, Martin Reilly, Freddy Healy and Peter Callaghan. They were Captained by Frank Bissette and were drawn against Thurles in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Newlands Golf Club on the 21st September 2001. They lost to Thurles the All-Ireland Champions who beat Holywood in the final.
Ciaran McAleavey was selected on the Irish Boys' team for the Home Internationals at Moortown, Leeds in August 2001.
Balbriggan member and 1997 Lady Captain Mary O'Meara teamed up with her son Maurice (9) playing his golf out of the Island, in the final regional qualifiers of the Spar-Irish Independent Mixed Pairs Challenge at Westmanstown Golf Club in early August 2001. They were runners-up with a score of 56 points, which say them safely through to the National Finals at Adare Manor Golf & Country Club on the 25th of August.
Now here is one young lady to watch. 15-year old Dearbhla Behan started playing golf in May 2000, she was given the usual handicap of 45 by August 2001 she was down to 21 and dropping. In July she shot an 87 gross off 29, to return 52pts. A record for a juvenile. She returned 43pts. In the Captain's Prize to the Juniors and lost 8-shots in the month of July.
Ian Griffin played Leinster Youths in 1997 winning 4 of his 6 matches and played Leinster Boys in 1996.
|
Holes-in-One |
Person |
Date |
Hole No. |
|
Distance |
Michael Monaghan |
3 August 1997 |
6th |
|
155 m |
Mick McCauley |
6 August 2000 |
8th |
|
165 m |
Brendan Griffin |
28 May 2000 |
6th |
|
155 m |
Joe O'Rourke |
13 May 2000 |
11th |
|
171 m |
Gerry Tallon |
23 May 1999 |
11th |
|
171 m |
David Noone |
27 March 1999 |
6th |
|
155 m |
Nick Ennis |
14 March 1999 |
8th |
|
165 m |
T. Murtagh |
1 August 2002 |
11th |
|
171 m |
Sean Reid |
7 June 2002 |
6th |
|
155 m |
Patrick Roban |
19 April 2003 |
16th |
|
121 m |
William Beare |
31 May 2003 |
8th |
|
165 m |
John F. K. Flannery |
1 August 2003 |
16th |
|
121 m |
Patrick Darcy |
8 May 2004 |
16th |
|
121 m |
Padraig Faughnan |
4 December 2004 |
11th |
|
171 m |
Karl Mulvey |
24 April 2005 |
6th |
|
155 m |
Myles Fleming |
20 August 2005 |
8th |
|
171 m |
|