A site at Kilrush was perused by the officers of the Scottish Black Watch Regiment when seeking a place to build a golf course in the late 1880s.
Sites in Doonbeg and Lahinch were also considered, with the latter being chosen based on its proximity to the West Clare Railway and the extensive sand dunes in the area.
In 1921, an agreement was reached between Joshue S. Dowling Cappagh House, Charles E Glynn Merchant’s Quay with shopkeeper Thomas Reidy to
rent land for the playing of golf at Pella outside Kilrush. This agreement was to be a temporary letting for ten years.
Kilrush Golf and Sports Club was formed in 1934 by Dr Tom Daly, Mr W. Ogrady and Mr J Francis. This had the support of the business people in the
town. However, the nationalist spirit of the times ensured that the word ‘Sports’ was included in the title of the club. Golf, though welcome in Kilrush, was viewed as an ascendency pursuit. There is also evidence that tennis was once played on the front lawn.
At that time the land was owned and farmed by the Sheedy family. The land had been used for cross country, pony racing and football. Some quarrying
was done on the land and it had a gravel pit.
The land was leased to the golf club for Summer Golf at a price of £8 per year. The Chambers family of Henry Street were allowed to graze the land,
sheep only, from September to June. The course was a tight 9 Holes with narrow fairways. There was not a bunker or a tree in the layout, however there
was a profusion of gorse or furze bushes to catch wayward shots. Though going for most mortals!
The club used a small stone walled shed to the right of the present 4th green as a locker-room. The farmhouse acted as a clubhouse.
In the early 1960s the club bought the land from the Sheedy family for £1,100. The sale included the Sheedy farmhouse and 30 acres of land. The
money was raised from the members, with 5 trustees and the current governance system adopted.
The Sheedy farmhouse, which was situated in front and to the right of the current clubhouse, became the first clubhouse. The old entrance road still
survives in front of the current men’s 1st tee. A car-park was provided at the rear of the clubhouse. The first two bunkers on the course were built on the
7th and 8th holes.
Originally the course was treeless and bare except for a few saplings planted by our first greenkeeper Paddy Crotty at the back of the current 5th green.
In the 1970s, the club embarked on a tree planting campaign which has continued to the present day. The architect of this arboriculture was T J Lyons who was very ably assisted by Murt Collins and Tim Clune in these endeavours.
In this period a number of scratch golfers played out of Kilrush with distinction. Donal Kenny, DF Nagle, Joe McDermott, JD Smith and Greg Young Jnr,
all competed regularly in the South of Ireland Championship.
However, the doyen of Kilrush golfers in this era was Greg Young Snr. Greg was South of Ireland runner-up in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972 and Irish
Close Runner-Up in 1958. He won several Scratch Cups and was capped 4 times for Ireland. Apart from his golfing achievements, Greg was an
exemplary sportsman who made friends everywhere he went. He was at all times a great ambassador for Kilrush Golf Club.
In 1990, some more land was acquired and the club went to a 14-hole layout with 4 holes being played twice in a round. Later, in 1994, extra land was
purchased which allowed course architect Dr Arthur Spring to design the 18-hole course we have today. The old 9-holes were seamlessly integrated into
the new layout.
In 1993, a very young Pat King made his first appearance at the South of Ireland championship. Pat had come through the juvenile golf coaching
system in the club which still prevails to this day.
In 1998, Joe McDermott won the AIB Irish Seniors Open at Woodbrook. Joe had first learned his golf in
Kilrush and spent his working life as a golf club professional in the USA.
In 2001, the current clubhouse was built and the old farmhouse was demolished. Two members, Tom Cleary and Paddy Carmody were to the forefront
in this development. Tom handled the architectural design process while Paddy was the building contractor.
From its humble beginnings as a seasonal 9-hole course, Kilrush Golf Club has grown into a well-regarded 18-hole parkland course. The club continues to foster a strong community spirit, with a thriving junior program and ongoing course development.
While it may not have been selected as the home of golf in the late 19th century, Kilrush has since carved out its own place in Irish golfing history, maintaining a proud tradition that continues to this day.
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