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Tralee Golf Club. County Kerry. (1896 - 1980s) 

The club was founded in October 1896.

The first nine-hole course, was at Mounthawk, believed to be where the sports field is nowadays. It appeared to play on up to three courses in the early years.

In 1897 they opened a 9-hole course at fenit on the south west side of Barrow Harbour. Membership was 120, subs 10/-.  Visitors were allowed one week's free play as an introduction.

Below a report on the Fenit course and mention of an earlier course for Castlegregory in February 1897, which also seemed to play under the name of Tralee Golf Club. The Catlegregory course was located along the northern shores of Lough Gill. 

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Report on the Fenit golf course in February 1897.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday 3rd February 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

A mixed foursome was played on the 7th January 1897. In the final Mr Waters and Mrs Hickson defeated Captain Rogers and Mrs Leahy by one-up. 

The club held their monthly medal competition in March 1897. Miss Hawson of Trubrid, won the ladies medal. Following are the leading scores for the gent's medal; Gerald White, 98-12-86; Captain Boger, 95-6-89; Mr Waters, 96-6-90.

A report on the two Tralee golf courses in March 1897.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Report on the two courses of the Tralee club in March 1897.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday 17th March 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Train excursion to Castlegregory in May 1897.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Train excursion to Castlegregory in May 1897.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday 5th May 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

It was reported that a competition for two very handsome prizes given by Lord Ventry would be played on the Castlegregory course on the 14th July 1897. A special train was to leave Tralee 10.30 am.

Competition played on the Sports Field in January 1898.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Report on a competition played on the Sports Field in January 1898.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday 5th January 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

In March 1902 Mr C F Downing, hon. secretary of the Tralee Golf Club, stated that the portion of the Town Field which the golf club had the use of until April 1st, was to be cultivated for crops. 

The Castlegregory course was in a remote location and the course was eventually abandoned.

It was reported in March 1903 that golf links were about to be laid out within two miles of Tralee, and a club is being started, everyone was invited to join. Full particulars were available from Mr M Barnes, Strand House, Tralee.

The first annual meeting held in April 1904.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Report on the annual meeting held in April 1904.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday 13th April 1904. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The following is from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1903 (suggesting the new club); 18-holes; Station - Tralee, two miles; Membership of 50; Hon. secretary - J C Barry, National Provincial Bank, Tralee; Captain - F R Bateman J.P; Entrance fee 10s and Subs £1/1s; Green-keeper - M O'Brien; Terms for visitors, free for 14 days, A difficult, short, and sporting course.

A stroke competition was played on the Listellick course in May 1905 for a prize presented by the secretary J J O'Loghlen. The winner was V J Turner, 73 net; runner-up, P O'Brien; third, T J Liston.

In an advert in August 1906 Listelliick House, Tralee, was available for rent. The Tralee Golf Club played on the land of the house.

Report on the "New Golf Club for Tralee" in February 1907.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Report on a "New Golf Club" in February 1907.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday 13 February 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The finals of the Oak Park Cup, prizes presented by F Collis-Sandes (Gent's) and Colonel Quill (Ladies) were played in October 1907; Gent's Final (36-holes) - H C Hardy beat C McC Downing by 4 and 3; Ladies' Final - Miss H Downing beat Mrs C F Downing by 3 and 2.

Result of the April 1908 monthly medal; Gent's - Class 1; J Kenny, 93-18-75; Rev. C V Rooke, 85-8-77; A B West, 97-12-85; M Brick, M.D., 105-18-87; J P Slattery, 107-18-89. 20 competed; Class 2; W Harte Maxwell, 89-24-65; G W Geddes, 97-20-77; V J Turner, 104-22-82; R N McClure, 105-20-85; W J Brett, 112-25-87; J O'Loghlen, 110-20-90; Colonel Quill, 111-20-91. 16 competed; Ladies - Mrs Roche, 114-23-91; Mrs Huggard, 125-27-98; Mrs Leahy, 130-30-100. Seven competed.

At the general meeting in February 1910 a presentation of a pair of silver lamps was made to the secretary, Charles Downing. 

Results of matches played at Little Island Golf Club, Cork, in May 1911.

Ladies' four-ball match.

Little Island Ladies' Golf Club   Tralee Ladies' Golf Club  
Miss Gubbins and Miss Barry 0 Mrs Roche and Miss McCowen 1
Miss Waggett and Miss K Nash 0 Mrs Hickson and Mrs Slattery 1
Miss F Ashlin and Miss G Nash 1 Mrs Barrett and Mrs Downing 0
Mrs Gibbings and Miss Cronin Coltsman 0 Mrs McCowen and Mrs Murphy 1
  1   3

Gent's four-ball match. All the games were halved.

Little Island Golf Club   Tralee Golf Club  
T Jennings and F J Murphy 0 J Considine and Rev. C V Rooke 0
H S Watson and H Maudsley 0 W Huggard and Charles Downing 0
Captain Leckie Ewing and F S Thackeray 0 Colonel Quill and M Brick 0
P J Cox and J O'Connell 0 T Murray and O Moriarty 0

Result of a competition for a prize given by Miss H Blennerhassett in April 1912.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Competition result from April 1912.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday 3rd April 1912. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

In January 1914 the club appointed Joseph Keogh as professional.  

In March 1915 the members of the club made a presentation of a silver casket to Mr G T Stone, Bank of Ireland, as recognition of his service as treasurer for several years. The presentation was made by Dr M Brick, captain of the club, who was accompanied by several members. Mr Stone was leaving to take up a position at Mountmellick.  

Competitions played in July 1917.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Competition result from July 1917.

 

Tralee Golf Club, County Kerry. Competition result from July 1917.

Kerry Evening Post Wednesday Wednesday 1st August 1917.

 

In the 1920s a new course was in the process of being designed at Oakpark, Tralee, by Captain Lionel Hewson. It was a difficult time in Ireland following WW1 and into the early 1920s.   

During the 'Troubles', in the 1920's, a Captain Lionel Hewson was hired to design a new course in Oakpark, Tralee. He was suspicious of the men who sat around  watching him while he carried out his work measuring and making notes on the course. He wrote later that "bullets used to fly in those days on little provocation." A Major McKinnon in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary was shot dead on the course in March, 1921, while playing golf.

From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Hon. secretary - C J Downing, 22 Denny Street, Tralee; membership of 200; professional, William Daly; nine-holes (being extended to eighteen); station at Tralee half mile; visitors on introduction, 2s/6d a day, 5s at weekend, 12s/6d a week, 22s/6d a month.

In the 1940s and early 1950s the address was Tralee Golf Club, Oak Park; hon. secretary - J Lawlor, Princes Street, Tralee; professional, W Neill; green-keeper, J Foley; membership of 170; amateur record, W M O'Sullivan, 70; nine-holes with a par and SSS of 70; visitors on introduction, 2s/6d a day, 10s a week, £1 a month. Sunday play allowed. 

In the mid 1950s the secretary was J J Quinlan, 15 Boherbee, Tralee; membership of 125. Rest as 1940s. 

In the 1961 Golfer's Handbook it was listed as Mount Hawke Golf Club, Tralee; membership of 130; hon. secretary, J G O'Neill; green-keeper, J Foley; amateur course record, W M O'Sullivan, 71; nine-holes measured 6,060 yards with par and SSS of 72; visitors on introduction, 3s/6d a day, 10s a week and £1 a month.

From the Golfer's Handbook 1965/6; Tralee Golf Club, Mount Hawke; membership of 150; hon. secretary, M J Hennesbery; green-keeper, B Ryan; course records - amateur, W M O'Sullivan, 71; nine-holes measuring 5,901 yards with a par of 71 and a SSS of 68; station Tralee one mile; visitors, 6s a day, £1 a week, £2/10s a month.

From the mid 1970s the secretary at the Mounthawk course was P J Carey. The club had a membership of about 500 in the early 1980s. Total yardage for the nine-hole course was 6,197 yards with a SSS of 68. The amateur course record was held by M Morris, 69. 

The club continued to play its golf on a nine-hole course at Mounthawk until the early 1980s.

The current Tralee Golf Club course at Barrow West, designed by Arnold Palmer, was opened for play in 1984.

The Google Map below pinpoints the Racecourse & Golf Course at Oakpark.