| Course Description: |
Castle Golf Club is one of the finest and most mature Parkland golf courses to be found anywhere in the country, which is only to be expected from a course that has been in its present location since 1913. The course is festooned with strategically located mature trees, with water coming into play on the 177 yards 7th which club selection being imperative here.Castle has many challenging and memorable holes to confront the golfer of all standards, not least the 234 yard Par 3 10th which will require a driver if the wind is into your face and sometimes this is not enough.
One of the things that has always amassed me when playing the Castle was although the course is completely surrounded by housing yet you get the distinct impression that you are away from it all with spectacular views of the Dublin Mountains. In my case I could look over the garden walls of people I knew, as I lived within a Par 5 of the course, yet I always had the distinct impression I was out in the country and miles away from everything.
The club has a fine tradition in recent years of developing young golfers, this task fell to the Late Dick Roach one of golf's gentlemen and one of my regrets was he wasn't there to see Castle lift their first National Pennant in the Bulmers Jimmy Bruen at Lisburn in 2003, when one of the victorious team was only 14 years of age.
Castle is the venue of the most sough after Father & Son in the country played for every July, my son Shane and I tried several times with no success, alas we can never participate again as Shane has since signed his card and is plying his trade as an assistant professional at The Island.
Castle has completely upgraded all of their greens to USGA sand-based standards, under the watchful eye of Jeff Howes and completed refurbished the clubhouse in 2002 keeping pace with the high standards that are to be found throughout the country.
David Kinsella has been the resident profession at Castle as long as I can remember and maintains a superbly supplied shop. When asked to recommend a good professional for lessons in the greater Rathfarnham area I always tell them to go and talk to David as he is without doubt one of the best.
Voted the No. 78-ranked golf course in Ireland, by “Golf Digest Ireland” in 2008.
|
|
| Club History |
Instituted 1913 affiliated 1913The initial meeting of the Castle Golf Club took place on 21st February, 1913, in the Ivanhoe Hotel, Harcourt Street. The first committee was composed of five elected members and five nominated by Bailey and Gibson. The well-known building firm purchased the land at Rathfarnham Castle in 1912, with the intention of building a garden city, with a golf course in the centre of it. The land was sold to the members in December, 1917, and on 1st January, 1918, the Castle Golf Club Limited was formed.
|
| |
| Members Achievements |
The Ladies of Castle Golf Club won the Menolly Homes All-Ireland Fourball at Mount Juliet on 7th September 2007. They beat Northern District Champions Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club by 3 matches to 1 match in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.They won Southern Champions Waterford Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final. First up on the tee was Maria Beaton with Niamh Leonard who lost to Brenda Corcoran with Nellie Dunphy by 2 and 1. They were followed by Yvonne Managhan with Ann Vella who beat Bettina Jeffers with Bri Monaghan by one-hole.
Next up were Sally Lenehan with Martina Jones who had a comfortable 4 and 3 win over Susan Murphy with Carmel Walsh. The bottom match saw Sinead Heraty with Anne Tynan halved their match against Fiodna Cosgrove with Treasa Ryan, to deliver the vital halve-point and the Championship for the ladies from Rathfarnham.
Peggy Blehein with Ursula Hernon won the All-Ireland Australian Spoons at Coollattin Golf Club on Monday 4th September 2006 with an excellent 43-points. Donna McLoughlin with Elaine Smith from Ballina were three points further back to take 2nd place on a count-back from Carrick-on-Suir’s pair of Mary Fleming with Deirdre Battye.
Castle made a brave effort to retain the Irish Junior Cup in 2006, when they comfortably retained the Leinster Championship by beating Dun Laoghaire Golf Club by 4 and 1 at Enniscorthy Golf Club on Sunday 2nd July.
It was on to Enniscrone Golf Club for the National Finals, where they where drawn against Connaught Champions Westport Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Wednesday 13th September.
First on the tee was Simon Lynch against Colm Walsh who recorded a 5 band 4 victory against the man from the West. He was followed by Ronan Burke against Anto Browne who had a 2 and 1 win. Next up was Omar Bhamjee who beat Michael McGreal by 3 and 2. Ross Kinsella and Marc Dillon both halved their matches against Ronan Mahon and Tony Bree, giving Castle a 4 and 1 victory.
They met Ulster Champions Banbridge in the National Final the following day. Simon Lynch had “one of those days” loosing out to Neil Clydesdale by 7 and 6. Ronan Burke went all the way to the 19th against Trevor Woods before conceding the vital point. Omar Bhamjee lost out to Jonathan Burns by 6 and 5. Ross Kinsella and Marc Dillon both beat Ross McCandless and Rory Madeley by 2 and 1. So near to achieving what they failed to do at Rosslare Golf Club in 2005.
Castle Golf Club won the All-Ireland Fred Daly Trophy at Dungarvan Golf Club on 24th August 2005. Having won the Leinster Championship they were drawn against Ulster Champions Lurgan in the Semi-Final.
First up was S. Webster against G. Douglas who lost his match by 3 and 2. He was followed by D. Lernihan who beat A. Shaw by 3 and 2. Next on the tee was G. Lenehan who had a convincing 4 and 3 win over J. Horan. The penultimate match was between T. O’Connor and A. Gallery with the Castle player recording a 5 and 4 win. The final match was between A. Slaughter and A. McReynolds which ended in a half. With a 3 ½ matches to 1 ½ matches over the Ulster Champions they met the Munster Champions Killarney in the National Final.
S. Webster was first out against S. Gallivan who recorded a halve between them. D. Lernihan had a 2 and 1 win over S. O’Neill, he was followed by G. Lenehan who halved with P. O’Connor. Next on the tee was T. O’Connor who had a convincing 4 and 3 win over C. Healy. The last match saw K. Swaine pitted against L. Dunle, when the Castle player had a 3 and 1 win and recorded a 4 matches to 1 match to win their first All-Ireland Fred Daly Trophy.
Castle Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Irish Junior Cup and were drawn against Ulster Champions Fortwilliam Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Rosslare Golf Club on 14th September 2005.
James Hanby lead the Castle team and recorded a convincing 3 and 2 win over the Fortwilliam No. 1 Gary Brown. He was followed Karl Swaine who lost out to Conrad McLarnon by 3 and 1. Next on the tee was Stephen Webster who had a resounding 7 and 6 win over Paul Maguire. The penultimate match saw Omar Bhamjee (son of the ex Labour T. D. for Clare Dr. M. Bhamjee) loose his match on the 18th against Gary O’Hara. The bottom match saw Harry Gleeson loose out to Michael Tierney by 5 and 4.
Castle won the All-Ireland Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Lisburn Golf Club on 12th September 2003, when they beat Portumna in the Semi-Final by 4 1/2 matches to 1/2 match. They faced Ulster Champions Greenisland in the final and had another comfortable win by 4 matches to 1. The team on the day was Ross Kinsella with Karl Swaine, Brian Gleeson with Gary Moran, John Whooley with Brian Kane, Martin Wilson with Anthony Slaughter and John Bourke with Tadgh O'Connor.
The Girls' of Castle Golf Club won the All-Ireland Smurfit Junior Girls in 2003 when the team was Sally Anne Lenehan, Aisling O'Shea, Jennie White, they were managed by Mary Walsh.
Kyung Hae Lee was selected on the Leinster Girls' team for the Smurfit Interprovincial Championship at Enniscrone Golf Club from April the 18th to 20th 2001.
The Millennium Captains Declan Lenihan and Eileen Doyle won the Gilbey's Captains' Invitation Mixed Matchplay at Rathfarnham Golf Club, on 18th August, 2000. They beat their fellow club members Jim Bradley and Miriam Brien in the final 5 and 4.
Jimmy Mulready was on the Leinster Youths team that won the Interprovincial Championship at Waterford G. C., in April, 1999. and he finished 3rd in the Irish Youths Amateur Championship at Cork G. C., in 1999 shooting rounds of 77, 69, 73 and 72., Jimmy won the Gold Medal in the Sir John Lumsden Cup with rounds of 66, 69 and 71 off 2. He and Mark Campbell competed in the Canon European Under 21 Championship in Spain, in October, 1999.
Kyung-Hae Lee was selected on the ILGU Junior squad in November 2000, when she was a 12-year old, she won the Under 19 category in the finals of the Chequita Longest Drive Challenge at Milltown G. C. in 1999, when she drove 191 yd's.
Caoimhin Mangan won the over 50 section with a drive of 268 yd's.
Maria Beaton went from 16 to 12 in the space of 2 weeks in August, 1999, when she hit a purple patch winning everything she entered.
B. Meaney participated in the Boys Home International matches in 1985.
Maurice Wallace participated in the Boys Home International matches in 1994, having played Leinster Boys in 1993
J. Pender played Leinster Youths in 1981.
Mary Kenny played for the Irish Girls in 1979. Simone Kenny for the Irish Girls in 1979.
Jane Leavy played for the Irish Girls in 1980, now the coach for the Irish team.
|
| Holes-in-One |
| Person |
Date |
Hole No. |
Club Used |
Distance |
| Mark Byrne |
18 May 2008 |
10th |
|
190 yd's |
| Gary Moran |
06 April 2008 |
3rd |
7-iron |
149 yd's |
| N. Kenny |
01 August 2000 |
13th |
|
132 yd's |
| A. McKeever |
01 August 2000 |
3rd |
|
149 yd's |
| Frank Anderson |
3 December 1997 |
3rd |
|
149 yd's |
| Terry McNulty |
5 April 1997 |
15th |
|
187 yd's |
| V. Wallis |
13 June 1999 |
13th |
|
132 yd's |
| P. Williams |
13 August 1997 |
15th |
|
187 yd's |
| Ken O'Reilly |
14 February 1998 |
13th |
|
132 yd's |
| G. Molloy |
15 April 2001 |
7th |
|
157 yd's |
| D. Leavy |
16 December 2001 |
13th |
|
122 yd's |
| Mrs E M Grant |
24 June 1997 |
13th |
|
132 yd's |
| Pauline Martin |
28 August 1999 |
13th |
8-iron |
117 yd's |
|
| Card of the Course (yards) |
| |
| Hole No |
White |
Green |
Par |
Index |
Red |
Par |
Index |
| 1 |
492 |
482 |
5 |
9 |
429 |
5 |
7 |
| 2 |
433 |
420 |
4 |
5 |
359 |
4 |
3 |
| 3 |
149 |
130 |
3 |
17 |
119 |
3 |
17 |
| 4 |
317 |
307 |
4 |
13 |
300 |
4 |
13 |
| 5 |
372 |
362 |
4 |
7 |
318 |
4 |
5 |
| 6 |
418 |
401 |
4 |
1 |
383 |
4 |
1 |
| 7 |
177 |
157 |
3 |
15 |
146 |
3 |
15 |
| 8 |
347 |
326 |
4 |
11 |
307 |
4 |
11 |
| 9 |
452 |
440 |
4 |
3 |
416 |
5 |
9 |
| Out |
3,157 |
3,025 |
35 |
|
2,777 |
36 |
|
| 10 |
190 |
175 |
3 |
6 |
172 |
3 |
12 |
| 11 |
401 |
391 |
4 |
2 |
330 |
4 |
6 |
| 12 |
348 |
333 |
4 |
14 |
313 |
4 |
10 |
| 13 |
132 |
122 |
3 |
18 |
117 |
3 |
18 |
| 14 |
391 |
378 |
4 |
8 |
347 |
4 |
4 |
| 15 |
187 |
180 |
3 |
16 |
170 |
3 |
14 |
| 16 |
529 |
509 |
5 |
10 |
488 |
5 |
2 |
| 17 |
500 |
487 |
5 |
12 |
467 |
5 |
8 |
| 18 |
411 |
403 |
4 |
4 |
401 |
5 |
16 |
| In |
3,089 |
2,805 |
35 |
|
2,805 |
36 |
|
| Total |
6,246 |
6,003 |
70 |
|
5,582 |
72 |
|
| SSS |
70 |
69 |
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
|
