27 Hole Links
Course Facts: Address
Ballyconneely
Clifden
Co. GalwaySecretary/Manager: Richard Flaherty Captain: Peter Veldon Lady Captain: Bernie Ward Telephone: 095-23502 President: Eddie P. Foyle Public No: 095-23602 Vice-Captain: Tom Vaughan & Catherine Pryce Fax: 095-23662 Hon. Secretary: Pat O' Rourke & Frances Killilea E-mail: links@iol.ie Club Pro: Hugh O'Neill 086-8037655 Website: www.connemaragolflinks.com Hon. Treasurer: David Beecher & Kathleen Wallace Founded: 1973 Designed by: Eddie Hackett & Tom Craddock Membership: 1000 Course opening hours: Daylight hours Green Fees Midweek: €60 Clubhouse opening hours: 8.00am to 11.00pm Green Fees Weekends & B.H.: €70 Mobile phones: Not on course or in clubhouse Green Fees With a Member: €60/70 Dress Code: Neat casual, no denim Green Fees For Opens: €30/45 Catering: Full catering facilities Practice Area: Yes Days to Avoid: 24th & 25th September Club Hire: Yes Green Fees and Societies Welcome: Midweek & Weekends Buggy Hire: Yes Pre-booking for open tournaments: 14 Days in advance Soft spikes: No
Course Description:
The Eddie Hackett designed Connemara Golf Links is situated between the Twelve Bens Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. There are only 150 links golf courses in the world, and Connemara is acknowledged to be one of the finest examples. This links is located in one of the most splendid settings in the world. Golfers who discover Connemara invariably return to its charm and challenge again and again. If you like seafood don’t pass up the opportunity of eating in the restaurant." If there was a course like this on the west coast of England it would surely host the British Open". Peter Alliss, Ryder Cup player, renowned golf writer and BBC golf commentator." Classic links land was in evidence at the fourth, where one could hear the sea breeze whistling through the reeds surrounding a lake to the left.
And we went on to retrace Hackett’s steps along the fifth and sixth, to the sound of a lone lark singing it’s little heart out overhead". Dermot Gilleece, when Irish Times Golf Editor. Connemara comprises of 27 of the best links you will find anywhere and has a fine tradition of producing top amateur golfers. The visitor is assured of the warmest of welcomes and a memorable round of golf at Ballyconneely. Tom Watson visited Connemara Golf Club in the millennium, the year he was captain of Ballybunion where he recorded a score of 69 around this tough golf course.
Voted the No. 58-ranked golf course in Ireland, by “Golf Digest Ireland” in 2008.Connemara was voted No. 18 Links/Shoreline Course in Ireland by "Backspin" Irelands leading Golf magazine in 2008, the panel comprised of a selection of 52 Professional and amateur golfers throughout Ireland.
Open & Major fixtures 2008: Event
Start
Finish
Type
Duration
No fixtures until 2009.
Club History
Connemara Championship Golf Links was opened on 7th June 1973. The first professional Tournament held by the club was the Carroll’s Irish Matchplay Championship in 1980, which was a great success. The annual Connemara Pro/Am held in September is now a well-established fixture on the Irish PGA calendar. The Championship Links Par of 72 were designed, by the late Eddie Hackett.
The recently, developed New Nine holes were also designed by Eddie Hackett and his successor Tom Craddock. The integration of the third nine into the original course is an example of the foresight that a well-established club like Connemara has! The reputation that Connemara Championship Links has built over its 30-year existence can be attributed to the members who support it and the staff that maintain and administer it.
Location
11 km. from Clifden Town take the coast road to, Ballyconneely keep right at the V-junction and the golf club is signposted to your right.
Members Achievements
Kenneth Fahey was selected on the Connacht team for the Interprovincial Matches played at Portmarnock Golf Club from 11th to 13th August 2004.Connemara Golf Club won the Connaught final of the Barton Shield and were drawn against Ulster Champions Banbridge in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals at Lisburn Golf Club on 11th September 2003. The team on the day was Derek McNamara with Ger O'Donnell and David Scully with David Stapleton. Banbridge went on to win the All-Ireland pennant by beating Stackstown by one-hole in a griping final.
Connemara won the Connaught final of the Barton Shield when they beat Athenry. They went on to meet Shandon Park in the All-Ireland semi-finals at Lahinch on 21st September 2000. The squad was Derek McNamara, Kenneth Fahey, David Mortimer, Ger O'Donnell, Dave Scully, David Collins and David Stapleton. They went down by only one hole to a very b Shandon Park in the Semi-Finals. The team was D. McNamara with K. Fahey and D. Mortimer with G. O'Donnell.
Connemara Golf Club won the Connaught Irish Senior Cup in 1998 when the team was, David Mortimer, Derek McNamara, Kenny Fahey, Michael Galvin, David Collins, Ciaran Smyth, Ger O’Donnell, John McLaughlin and Nigel Howley.
Derek McNamara was runner-up in the West of Ireland Championship at Co. Sligo on the 2nd April 2002 and was selected on the Irish team that played Wales at Ashburnham on the 27th April 2001. Derek McNamara won the Irish Boys' Amateur Close Championship, by five shots at Strandhill on 25th August 2000. He finished with a fine score of 268 shooting a course record 61 in the process. Derek was selected on the Irish team for the World Junior Championship in Hyogo, Japan, in June, 1999 and played in the European Amateur Team Championship at Uppsala, Sweden, in July, 1999, and represented Ireland in the Boys' Home Internationals at Conwy G. C., Wales, in August, 1999.
Tara de Courcey was selected on the Connaught Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial Championships at Mount Wolseley Golf Club from August 7-9 2002.
Kenny Fahy was selected on the Irish Boys team for the Home Internationals at Moortown, Leeds in August 2001. Kenneth Fahey and Derek McNamara were selected on the Boys' Home International at Portmarnock G. C. on August 9th to 11th 2000. Kenneth Fahey played Connaught Boys in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
They won the Connaught Shield in 1981.
Connemara won the Connaught Senior Cup in 1998, beating Co. Sligo in the final at Athlone G. C.
David Mortimer was selected to represent Ireland at the Maidstone Club in New York on 13-14 October, 1999, and he represented Connaught from 1994 to 1999, having played 28 matches. David Mortimer played Connaught Youths from 1994 to 1996, playing 15 matches.
Hugh O'Neill represented Connaught from 1987 to 1993, having played 28 matches. Hugh played Connaught Youths from 1987 to 1989, playing 15 matches.
Paddy O'Looney represented Connaught from 1974 to 1986, playing 51 matches.
Card of the A & B Course (yards)
Hole No Blue White Winter Par Index Red Par Index 1 381 369 357 4 6 299 4 4 2 413 401 380 4 8 304 4 6 3 164 158 148 3 18 128 3 18 4 382 355 342 4 12 297 4 8 5 381 361 339 4 14 297 4 14 6 203 187 173 3 10 145 3 16 7 572 523 489 5 16 441 5 12 8 465 449 404 4 2 357 4 2 9 436 374 366 4 4 308 4 10 Out 3,397 3,177 2,998 35 2,576 35 10 427 418 407 4 9 337 4 9 11 193 174 157 3 17 124 3 17 12 445 429 381 4 1 337 4 1 13 212 200 176 3 5 121 3 15 14 513 498 455 5 15 388 5 13 15 412 389 376 4 7 319 4 7 16 431 394 361 4 3 354 4 3 17 499 475 447 5 11 361 5 11 18 526 512 477 5 13 453 5 5 In 3,658 3,489 3,237 37 2,794 37 Total 7,055 6,666 6,235 72 5,370 72 SSS 75 73 71 72
Men's Course Record: Am. 66 David Mortimer (+1) 10/9/2000 Pro 64 Leslie Walker 22/09/2003
Ladies Course Record:
Card of the A & C Course (yards)
Hole No Blue White Par Index Red Par Index 1 381 369 4 6 299 4 4 2 413 401 4 8 304 4 6 3 164 158 3 18 128 3 18 4 382 355 4 12 297 4 8 5 381 361 4 14 297 4 14 6 203 187 3 10 145 3 16 7 572 523 5 16 441 5 12 8 465 449 4 2 357 4 2 9 436 374 4 4 308 4 10 Out 3,397 3,177 35 2,576 35 10 365 347 4 8 298 4 9 11 222 152 3 4 110 3 17 12 322 252 4 14 299 4 1 13 389 347 4 16 313 4 15 14 176 164 3 18 147 3 13 15 380 367 4 6 312 4 7 16 441 425 4 2 352 4 3 17 372 333 4 12 269 4 11 18 478 463 5 1O 395 5 5 In 3,145 2,850 35 2,495 35 Total 6,542 6,027 70 5,071 70 SSS 72 71 70
Card of the B & C Course (yards)
Hole No Blue White Par Index Red Par Index 1 427 418 4 9 337 4 9 2 193 174 3 17 124 3 17 3 445 429 4 1 337 4 1 4 212 200 3 5 121 3 15 5 513 498 5 15 388 5 13 6 412 389 4 7 319 4 7 7 431 394 4 3 354 4 3 8 499 475 5 11 361 5 11 9 526 512 5 13 453 5 5 Out 3,658 3,489 37 2,794 37 10 365 347 4 8 298 4 10 11 222 152 3 4 110 3 18 12 322 252 4 14 299 4 2 13 389 347 4 16 313 4 6 14 176 164 3 18 147 3 16 15 380 367 4 6 312 4 8 16 441 425 4 2 352 4 4 17 372 333 4 12 269 4 14 18 478 463 5 1O 395 5 12 In 3,145 2,850 35 2,495 35 Total 6,803 6,339 72 5,289 72 SSS 74 72 72
Roll of Honour Una Walsh 1989 Ladies Captain Tom Connolly 1989 Men's Captain Dr. Michael Casey 1989 President Kathleen Griffin 1990 Ladies Captain Jack Cosgrave 1990 Men's Captain Dr. Michael Casey 1990 President Mary Joyce 1991 Ladies Captain Pat O'Rourke 1991 Men's Captain Dr. Michael Casey 1991 President S. Stanley 1992 Ladies Captain John O'Brien 1992 Men's Captain Sean Kelly 1992 President Catherine Pryce 1993 Ladies Captain Billy Foyle 1993 Men's Captain Sean Kelly 1993 President B. Ward 1994 Ladies Captain Sean Birmingham 1994 Men's Captain Tom Walsh 1994 President Frances Killilea 1995 Ladies Captain David Griffin 1995 Men's Captain Michael J. Ruddy 1995 President D. Murphy 1996 Ladies Captain John Byrne 1996 Men's Captain John O'Neill 1996 President Agnes Stokes 1997 Ladies Captain Michael J. Ruddy 1997 Men's Captain John O'Neill 1997 President S. King 1998 Ladies Captain Francis Mannion 1998 Men's Captain Hubert Delappe 1998 President S. King 1999 Ladies Captain D. Beecher 1999 Men's Captain D. Murphy 1999 President Carmel Gaughan 2000 Ladies Captain Matt O'Sullivan 2000 Men's Captain Paddy Flaherty 2000 President Josephine O'Neill 2001 Ladies Captain John Kelly 2001 Men's Captain Paddy Flaherty 2001 President Frances Killilea 2002 Ladies Captain Lorcan Geoghegan 2002 Men's Captain Una Walsh 2002 President Lynne Mather 2003 Ladies Captain Lorcan Geoghegan 2003 Men's Captain Francis Mannion 2003 President Kathleen Wallace 2004 Ladies Captain Paddy Aspell 2004 Men's Captain Francis Mannion 2004 President Julie Donnellan 2005 Ladies Captain John King 2005 Men's Captain Francis Mannion 2005 President Bridie Conneely 2006 Ladies Captain Peter Higgins 2006 Men's Captain Mary Joyce 2006 President Tricia Willder 2007 Ladies Captain Paddy Flaherty 2007 Men's Captain Eddie P. Foyle 2007 President Tara DeCourcey (6.8) 2008 Lowest Ladies Handicap Derek McNamara 2008 Lowest Men's Handicap David Mortimer (+2) 2008 Lowest Men's Handicap
Holes-in-One Person Date Hole No. Club Used Distance Pat O'Connell 7 September 1998 11th 159 m