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Bray Golf Club, Ravenswell Course, County Wicklow. (1897 - 2003)

Evidence that a course was in existence in the early 1770s on common land, now the seafront promenade area.

The current club laid out a nine-hole course at Ravenswell in 1897.

The club moved to its current course at Greystones Road in 2003.

Club Professionals prior to WW2; Richard Larkin, 1898 - 1913; William Hanna, 1913 - 1915; A Wrenne, 1915 - 1919; J Sullivan, 1920 - WW2.

Report on the new club in July 1897.

Freeman’s Journal Saturday 17 July 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The new links of the Bray Golf Club at Ravenswell were opened in January 1898.

It was reported in 1898 that the competition for the cup presented by Sir Henry Cochrane J.P., D.L., would take place on the Ravenswell course on Monday 1 August.

Wicklow News-Letter and County Advertiser Saturday 24 December 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Description of the course in March 1899.

Bray and South Dublin Herald Saturday 11 March 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Wicklow News-Letter and County Advertiser Saturday 24 May 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competitions played in September 1902.

Dublin Daily Express Monday 15 September 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1898; Number of members 212, ladies 103; Station at Bray 5 minutes; Hon. Sec. - George Price, Torca Lodge, Dalkey, Co. Dublin; Captain B Leslie Smith; Entrance fee, £3/£3s, Ladies, £2/2s; Subs £1/1s; Nine-holes; Professional, Larkin; Professional record - Larkin, 33 (1894); Amateur record - F Stuart King, 69 - 18-holes (1894); Terms for visitors at either of the three Bethel Hotels - (Station, Marine and Bray Head), 1s/6d a day, 6s a week; other visitors, 2s/6d a day. The course is an inland one, prettily situated close to the sea shore, amid the beautiful scenery of County Wicklow. The course is a fairly easy one, the longest hole being 475 yards. There are tennis and croquet grounds open to visitors.   

Results of competitions in May 1906; Bethell Hotel's Cup - W Toomey; Sir Henry Cochrane Challenge Cup - L R Oswald-Sealey; Ladies' Challenge Cup - Mrs Rambaut.

Report on the annual meeting and a move to a new course in December 1910.

Wicklow News-Letter and County Advertiser Saturday 24 December 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In June 1921, playing an "Aero" 1.62 ball,  Jack Sullivan, professional at Bray, created a new course record of 68.

From the 1928 Golfers' Handbook; Membership, 320; Secretary, Geo. Price, LL. D; Professional, J Sullivan; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; Weekends an Bank Holidays, 3s/6d; Sunday play with caddies.

Wicklow People Saturday 28 January 1928. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Wicklow People Saturday 26 December 1931. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1933; Membership, 300; Secretary - T P Watts, Aravon, Bray; Professional, J Sullivan; 9-holes; Course records;  Amateur - C W Huet, 72; Professional - C W Hunt, 67; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; Weekends an Bank Holidays, 5 shillings; Sunday play with caddies.

Wicklow People Saturday 4 January 1936. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1937; Membership, 320; Secretary - H R Flude, The Cottage, Bray; Professional, J Sullivan; 9-holes, Par 74, SSS 72; Course records;  Amateur - C W Huet, 72; Professional - C W Hunt, 67; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; 10s a week, 20s a month Weekends an Bank Holidays, 5 shillings; Sunday play with caddies; Licensed.

Golfer's Handbook 1947; Membership, 330; Secretary, A N Murphy; Professional, N C Wilson; 9-holes, Par 74, SSS 72; Course records;  Amateur - C W Huet, 72; Professional - J Sullivan, 67; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; 10s a week, 20s a month; Sunday play.

Golfer's Handbook 1951 to 1966; Membership, 340; Secretary, A N Murphy; Professional, N C Wilson; 9-holes, Par 74, SSS 72; Course records;  Amateur - F Knott, 71; Professional - J Sullivan, 67; Visitors (introduced), 3s/6d a day; 15s a week, 40s a week; Sunday play. 

Wicklow People Saturday 30 April 1955. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Wicklow People Saturday 5 November 1960. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1972; Membership, 400; Secretary, T J McNamee; M Walby; 9-holes, 6,318 yards, SSS 70; Amateur course record - T G Lloyd, 65.

Wicklow People Friday 3 March 1972. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Club officers for 1975; President A Byrne; Vice-presidents - C Quinn, B O'Brien, H Denver; Trustees - G O'Carroll, F Knatt, T Hyland; Captain, Ken Robins0n; Vice-captain, Cyril Dunne; Council - J McLoughlin, G Galvin, P O'Toole, P O'Carroll, T Brennan, E Pigot, H Hogan, G Downer, G Harvey and J McKenna.

From the Wicklow People Friday 7 March 1975 - "An innovation was introduced at Bray Golf Club recently, and by all accounts, it was a great success. For the second nine-holes, players played from a set of second set of tee boxes. This change enabled the green and handicap committee to change the second and eighth holes from par fives to very difficult par fours."

Golfer's Handbook 1982; Membership, 270; Secretary, J Hannigan; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 6,049 yards, SSS 68; Visitors, £2. 

Golfer's Handbook 1988 to 1991; Membership, 272 (15 Associates); Secretary, J M McStravick; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,230 metres, SSS 70; Visitors, £8.

Bray People Friday 3 March 1989.Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1994; Ravenswell Road, Bray; Membership, 272; Secretary, T Brennan; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,230 metres, SSS 70; Visitors, £15.

Golfer's Handbook 1998; Ravenswell Road, Bray; Membership, 275; Secretary/Manager, T Brennan; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,230 metres, SSS 70; Amateur course record - K Nolan, 65 (1994); Visitors, £17.

Competition results from June 2001; Vice-Presidents Prize; Des Hitchin (6), 65 points; John McManus (16), 66 points; Eric O'Shaughnessy (120) and Ian Ring (10), 67 points; Best gross, Brendan Fitzpatrick (2), 70; Ladies' medal, Sighle Prunty (13), 71 points; Best gross, Kathleen Fahy (9), 81. 

Golfer's Handbook 2002; Membership, 530; Secretary/Manager, G Montgomery; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,642 metres, Par 70, SSS 69; Visitors £20.

Sunday Tribune 27 October 2002. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Picture of the Ravenswell Road course in October 2002.

Bray People Thursday 31 October 2002. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Course scorecard for the nine-hole Ravenshall course.

Report on the move to the present course in December 2003.

Irish Independent Monday 22 December 2003. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Google Map below shows the location of the former course.