Kilkenny Golf Club		18-Hole Parkland**
Founded: 1896		Designed by:
Membership: 913		Not open for membership
Societies are welcome and group rates are available (on request)

Address: Glendine, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny Telephone: 056-7765400 Public No.: 056-7765400 Fax: 056-7723593 E-mail: Click here to e-mail the Club Website: Click here for the Club Website

Card of the Course

Course Facts

Course Description

Kilkenny is a championship golf course set on 120 acres of parkland and measures 5,917 m with a par of 71.  It hosted the Carroll’s Irish Matchplay Professional Championship in 1973, which was won by Ryder Cup Hero Christy O’Connor Jnr.  In 1984 it was the venue for the All Ireland Mixed Foursomes finals and the following year hosted the All Ireland Cups and Shields finals.  It is a popular venue for various regional play-offs and finals for the Leinster area.  It is also the venue for the very popular annual Smithwick Senior Scratch Cup.  Former winners of this prestigious championship include notable International players such as Joe Carr, Brian Malone, Martin O’Brien, Mark Gannon, Liam McNamara, Padraig O’Rourke, Eddie Power and current leading Irish Professional Padraig Harrington.

The course now boasts 18 sand-based undulating greens and is constructed on free draining soil which means it is playable all year round.  Significant improvements have been carried out in recent years and the course now presents a serious challenge to golfers of all levels of skill.

Notable features of the course are the four very challenging par threes, the long tree lined par four eleventh, and the opening hole, a par four with a testing undulating green of some 40 m long.  There is also a fine practice putting green, adjacent to the clubhouse and to the first tee.

The club provides full bar and catering facilities all year round.  PGA Professional, Jimmy Bolger provides an excellent golf shop and buggies and trolleys are available for hire.

Visitors and Golf Societies are very welcome and will enjoy the convivial and relaxing atmosphere, which is fostered in the club.

Open & Major Fixtures 2008

Club History

Instituted 1896 affiliated 1910

Kilkenny Golf Club was founded on the 2nd April 1896, at Daly’s Hill, which is situated to the north west of the city. In 1902 the club moved to Richview, Castlecomer Road.

In 1905 the course was changed to Garranacreen, Hebron Road, adjacent to the present Nolan Park (GAA Grounds). Garranacreen was a 9-hole winter links and was flat terrain but interesting and very well bunkered. The game was played over stonewalls and hedges and Miss Maher’s residence was used as the clubhouse.

In 1908 Kilcreene was, opened by the Marchioness of Ormond before a distinguished gathering. Kilcreene was a much bigger venture as the course had to be maintained winter and summer. It was splendidly bunkered and was laid out by Cecil Barcroft, who was a well-known player of his period.

Kilcreene was kept rather exclusive and many applicants were unable to obtain membership. Times were now difficult but owing to the generous assistance of the then Guarantors, James Harte, Richard Duggan and Richard Smithwick the club managed to keep going. In 1923, Right Rev. G. Day, Church of Ireland Bishop of Ossory opened the present club. The original clubhouse is now the home of Mrs. O’Connor, whose late husband W. S. was, a former captain.

Following that the clubhouse was moved to Newtown Manor, which is situated near the present 11th tee. In 1962 the clubhouse was sited at its present location and in the intervening years has been refurbished and extended to the fine building it is today.

Location

Approximately one mile out the Castlecomer Road you will see a signpost past the New Park Hotel directing you to turn right, take a left and the course is up on the right.

Members Achievements

The Ladies of Kilkenny Golf Club won their Regional Final in the Suzuki Senior Cup and participated in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals at Milltown Golf Club on Friday 31^st August 2007; where they were drawn against Royal Portrush Golf Club.

First on the tee was Eileen Rose-Power who lost her match against Gemma Hegarty by 2 and 1, she was followed by Mary Dowling who won her match against Lisa McMeekin by 4 and 3. Next up was Mary Leahy-Browne who lost her match to Helen Jones on the 19^th. The penultimate match of Sinead Slater against Lucy Simpson saw the result go to the lady from North Antrim by 4 and 2. The bottom match of Evelyn Crotty against Roma English also went to Royal Portrush by 2-holes, giving Royal Portrush a 4 matches to 1 match result and a place in the All-Ireland Semi-Final the following morning.

Kilkenny Golf Club won the Leinster Club Youths' Championship at Beech Park Golf Club on the 3^rd August 2006, when they returned a score of 138 Craig Martin shot a new course record of 65 with 9-birdies on his card. The team on the day was Craig Martin, Richard Walsh, brother David, Paddy McKee. They went on to play in the All-Ireland finals at Kinsale Golf Club on 21^st August, where they finished a credible 2^nd. All credit must go to J. D. Murphy whom I have seen night after night coaching the young men and women at this famous club.

The Girls of Kilkenny Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Junior Girls Inter-Club Challenge at Forrest Little Golf Club on the 28^th July 2006, when the team was, Sinead Slater, Orla Dunphy and Katherine Teehan and Elaine Slater.

Young I. Keane had one hell of a round of golf when he won the Leinster Boys’ Under-15 Open Championship at Ashbourne Golf Club on Monday 17^th July 2006, he shot-the-lights out with a 66 to beat C. Curran from Dundalk Golf Club by 5-strokes, with Q. Carew from Edenderry and R. Pierse from Grange coming in joint 3^rd on 72.

Father and son Noel & Lee O'Sullivan won the Club Fourball and Foursomes at Kilkenny Golf Club on the 8th & 9th September 2006, something that has never happened in the history of the club and is unlikely to ever happen again.

Kilkenny Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Cidona Irish Junior Foursomes and were drawn against Ulster Champions City of Derry in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Dungarvan Golf Club on 24^th August 2005.

First on the tee was the pairing of Craig Martin & Gary Byrne against Ruadhri McGee & Sean Morrison who lost by the slimmest of margins. They were followed by David Walsh & Patrick McKee against Aaron Taylor & Shane O’Doherty who had a similar result against the Kilkenny duo, thus City of Derry went through to the final with a 2-hole victory over the Leinster Champions.

From what I’m reliable told by my good friend J. D. Murphy this is by no means the last we will see of this Kilkenny squad. J. D. has done a wonderful job developing junior golf at the club and he is very pleased with the development of his squads at all ages.

The Girls' of Kilkenny Golf Club won the All-Ireland in the Cidona Girls' Inter Club Challenge in 2005, when the team was Kathryn Teehan, Orla Dunphy, Sinead and Elaine Slater, they were managed by Nuala Crotty and Ann Smee. 

Kilkenny Ladies won the Midland District Championship of the Suzuki All-Ireland Senior Cup in 2004 but were beaten in the All-Ireland Final by Royal Portrush at Athlone Golf Club on 4th September. The team was Eileen Rose-Power, Mary Dowling, Ruth Lennon, Mary Leahy, Evelyn Crotty, Ann Smee and Orla Dunphy.

Kilkenny Golf Club were runners-up in the Leinster Final of the Bulmers Barton Shield in 2003, when the team was Alan O'Rourke, Stephen Galvin, Richard Guilfoyle, Graham Nugent and Paul O'Hara, they were managed by Jim Craddock and Carl Widger.

Kilkenny won the Brennan Cup in 2002, when the team was, P. Collins, P. Smee. M. Butler, A J. Burke, S. Rochford, J. Gibbons, J. Ryan, M. Mahony, L. Kelly, T. Butler, D. Shelley, J. Martin, A. Bolger, E. Guilfoyle and E. Crosse, they were selected by O. Cullen.

The Ladies of Kilkenny Golf Club won the Midlands Championship of the I.L.G.U. Senior Cup in 2002. They went to Balbriggan Golf Club on September 7th to play Claremorris in the quarter final. The team was Eileen Rose-Power, Ruth Lennon, Mary Leahy-Brown, Rita McGoldrick and Ann Smee. They were, captained by Mary Fennelly.

Kilkenny Golf Club won the Leinster Under-15 Championship in August 2002. The team was Aidan Boland, Colm Sheenan, Liam Ryan, Paul Brophy, Anthony White, Craig Martin and David Walsh. They were coached by Garry Murphy’s father J. D.  its nice to see J. D. still looking after the young lads at Kilkenny.

Kathleen Hession (22) and Maurice Mason (9) teamed up to compete in the Spar-Irish Independent National Mixed Pairs Challenge at Dungarvan on the 20th of June 2001. They returned 59 points, which saw them take first prize and booked their place in the National Final at Adare Manor Hotel & Country Club in August 2001.

P. Murray qualified for the National Finals of the Irish Times-Mitsubishi Motors Women's Masters. She returned 34 points in the semi-final at Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club on the 23rd of August 2001. Then it was on to Galway Bay Golf & Country Club for the Final on 13th September.

Prior to 2001:

Kilkenny Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Mixed Foursomes at Royal Tara G. C. in 1988, when the team was Sean O'Neill with Joan Spratt, Eddie Guilfoyle with Adlienne Walsh, Padraic O'Rourke with Brenda Cowley, David McDonald with Brenda Burke, Richard Daly with Joan Norris, they were managed by Michael Barry and Kitty Nolan.

Kilkenny Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Barton Shield in 1992 and were bronz medallists at Killarney Golf Club when the team was Pat O'Rourke, Ed Browne, Gary Murphy, Noel Leahy, John Madden, Ger Hogan, Richard Duggan and Gus Tobin, They were captained by Eamonn Goulding.

They were runners-up in the Pierce Purcell Shield All-Ireland in 1990, when the team was Jimmy Spratt, Mick Maurice, Eamon Goulding, Noel O'Connor, John O'Leary, Mick Kelly, Jim Meredith, Paddy Smee, Tom Deegan, Dom Murphy, Pat Coonan, Albert Bolger and Eamonn Crosse.

They won the Duggan Cup at Edenderry in 1995, when the team was J. Craddock, J. Rhatigan, F. Byrne, J. McCarthy, A. Bolger, E. Crosse, Christy Power, Andy Hughes, M. Barry and Sean O'Neill,. they were managed by Jack Lowry assisted by P. J. O'Reilly    

They won the Barton Cup in 1977 when the team was G. Deloughry, S. O'Neill, J. Holohan, E. Gouglding, T. Deegan Snr, T. Duggan, D. Murphy, C. Rainey, D. Deloughry, T. O'Connor, B. Hurley and G. Stewart, they were captained by T. McDonald.

They won it prior to that in 1966, when the team was T. Riordan, K. Hunt, K. O'Neill, T. J. Mahon, L. Reidy, J. Butler, P. Fennelly, L. Renehan, G. Stewart, T. M. Duggan, W. S. O'Connor, N. Godwin and A. Duffin.

They won it for the first time in 1953 when they beat Delgany Golf Club in the final, when the team was Paddy Kennedy, Joe Dunphy, Milo Kennedy, Niall Godwin, Jim Short, Denis Clohosey, John Mitchell, Frank Harrison and Liam Reidy.

The Ladies of Kilkenny Golf Club won The Ulster Bank Ladies Fourball Championship in 1995, when the team was Pat Walsh, Margaret Stewart, Maisie Lamb, Yvonne Morgan, Brenda Crowley, Joe Lawlor and they were captained by Anne Skelly.

They won the ILGU Midland District Senior Cup in 2002, 1999, 1996, 1995 1994 and 1993, when the team was Mary Leahy, Rita McGoldrick, Eileen Rose-Power, Brenda Bourke, Yvonne Morgan and they were managed by Elaine Bradshaw.

They won it in 1987 when the team was Maisie Lambe, Adrienne Walsh, Joan Norris, Joan Spratt, Rita Walsh, Frances Long and Susan Reidy.

They won the Finn Trophy in 1989, when the team was Joan Spratt, Helen Dwan, Maureen McDonald, Pat Walshe, Aileen Hehir, Liz Cleere, Angela Keoghan, Kitty Nolan, Phil Cooke and Ann Widger. They won it prior to that in 1978, when the team was Joan Norris, H. Richardson, T. Hayes, M. Dowley, A. Reynolds, B. Sloyan, M. Riordan, P. Walsh, E. Ryan, J. Mullen, D. O'Regan and F. Jones.

They won the Midland Trophy 1976 with B. Crowley, M. Prendergast, H. Richardson, D. O'Driscoll and J. Mullen. They won it prior to that in 1974 with D. O'Driscoll, H. Richardson, M. Prendergast, B. Crowley, A. Walsh, P. Walsh and Joan Norris.

They were Midland League winners in 1978, with Joan Norris, B. Crowley, P. Walsh, D. O'Regan and H. Richardson.

They won the Cullen Cup with Margaret Renehan, Tim Hickey, Brenda Crowley, Paddy Johnston, A. Reynolds, Gus Carey, Eamonn Cross, Ann Skelly, Sean O'Neill, Mary Riordan, Gus Murray and Fanny Quinlan.

They won the Leinster Final of the Smurfit Juvenile Girls in 1981.

They won the McLoughlin Trophy in 1987, when the team was Mayreen McDonald, Kitty Nolan, Joan Norris, Brenda Crowley, Adrienne Walsh, Brenda Burke, Mary Hughes and Toni Hayes.

They won it prior to that in 1982, when the team was A. Hehir, Phil Walsh, Joan Spratt, Susan Reidy, H. Richardson, Maureen McDonald, Joan Norris and R. Hayes.

Gary Murphy Kilkenny Golf Club most famous son won the Co. Louth Boy's in 1986, 1987 and 1988, he won the Leinster under-15 championship in 1987 at The Island and got to the semi-finals of the Connacht Boys in 1988. The following year he was runner-up in the Ulster Boys. 1990 saw Gary win the Leinster Youths at Greystones, and was runner-up in the Irish and Leinster Boys', the following year saw him being selected on the Irish Boys for the Home Internationals and finishing 3rd in the Irish Youths. Gary won the Irish Close Championship in 1992 at Portstewart Golf Club when he beat J. P. Fitzgerald from Co. Louth 2 & 1, prior to that he won the Cork Senior Scratch Cup when beating Dennis O'Sullivan on the final hole. The same year he had to withdraw from the Quarter Finals of the South of Ireland at Lahinch due to illness.

Gary participated in the European Championships in the Czechoslovakia Republic winning 3 out of 4 matches in 1993 and represented G. B. & Ireland V Europe at Royal Troon. In January 1993 he went to Augusta University and had a distinguished carrier and represented the American University against Asia in Japan and returned home in December 1994 and became a full time armature during 1995 and represented Ireland in Holland winning the Mullingar Scratch Cup and the East Cork Scratch Cup for the second time. He was narrowly beaten in the West of Ireland Championship at Co. Sligo in 1995 when Eamon Brady of The Royal Dublin finished the match on the 23rd.

Gary participated in the Home International matches from 1992 to 1995, playing 22 matches. He was number 1 for Ireland at Prtestwick when winning 5 1/2 points out of 6 points a feat never achieved before, or since. Gary (in the Boys from 1988 to 1990, he represented Leinster from 1992 to 1995, played 10 matches and played Leinster Youths from 1990 to 1991, playing 11 matches.

Gary turning Professional together with Padraig Harrington and Liam Higgins after the Home Internationals at Royal Portrush in September 1995. He was unsuccessful at the Tour School in 1995 and headed for Canada in 1996 where he finished 3rd at the Tour School. In 1997 he went on the Asian Tour School and finished 1^st that year, he continued playing the Asian Tour School for another year 1999 saw Gary finish 5th on the European Tour School but did not retain his Card.

He spent 2000 and 2001 on the Challenge Tour Gary regained his Tour Card in 2002 when he finished 5th on 23-Under.2003 saw Gary playing the European Tour and finished 59th in the Order of Merit. I for one expect to see Gary improve his statistics this year as I am reliably informed that he has sorted his putting by going back to the grip he had as a child, when he and his father J.D. won 4 National Father & Son's together.

Gary married in December 2003, having turned Professional in 1995 playing off +2 however he got his handicap to +4 when playing for Augusta University, it is no beyond reason to see Gary play in The Ryder Cup in 2004 and 2006.

Eddie Power represented Ireland in the Home Internationals at Royal Portrush G. C. on 22nd-24th September 1999. Eddie Power represented Munster from 1986 to 1998, having played over 70 matches.

Eileen Rose Power was selected to represent Ireland in the European Ladies Team Championship at Royal Haagsche, Holland in 1993, at Golf Club Milano, Monza in 1995 and at Nordcentre Golf and Country Club, Finland in 1997. She played in the Ladies Home Internationals at Royal Dornoch in August 1999, and at Lahinch in 1997, at Longriddry in 1996 and at Wrexham in 1995. She won the Senior Scratch Cup at Cork G. C. Shooting a wonderful round of 67 to be a whopping 13 shots ahead of the field after 36 holes.

Paraic O'Rourke participated in the Home Internationals from 1980 to 1985, playing 24 matches, he represented Leinster from 1977 to 1987, playing 56 matches. 

David McDonald represented Leinster from 1982 to 1987, playing 25 matches. 

Jimmy Leahy played Leinster Youths in 1984.  Nano Brennan played Irish Seniors, Leinster Seniors and for the Irish Girls in 1974. 

Vivienne Hogan played for the Irish Girls in 1977, as did Rita Walsh.

Card of the Course in metres

Men's Course Record Am: 64 G. Stewart, (7) Pro: 68 B. Todd

Ladies Course Record: 66 Rita Walsh (3) 

Roll of Honour

Holes-in-One

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"Willis' Rule of Golf: You can't lose an old golf ball."
John Willis.