Please consider supporting our efforts.
| 
| Hits: 1935
Dublin Golf Club, Phoenix Park Course. (1885 -1889)
Founded in 1885.
The first course was at Fifteen Acres, Phoenix Park. It moved to its current location in 1889.
The following report is from the Dublin Daily Express Saturday 16 May 1885. “A meeting was held yesterday in Grafton Street for the purpose of concerting measures for the establishment of a Dublin Golf Club. A number of gentlemen attended in response to an invitation, and the chair was occupied by Mr Lamsden of the Provincial Bank. It was decided to request his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant to become patron of the club, and Sir John Arnott president. Mr Lumsden was appointed captain; Mr B Hall Todd, treasurer; Robert H Charles, secretary. The various arrangements were made for starting the club, and play is expected to start on the Phoenix Park almost immediately. Considering the convenience which the Park will afford the Royal game of golf, there is little doubt the club will be a success.”
The report below is of a match between Dublin and Royal Belfast. It also provides an interesting background on the Phoenix Park course.
From the Northern Whig Monday 26 October 1885. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below Archie Simpson playing on the Fifteen Acres course 1886.
From the Dublin Daily Express Friday 8 January 1886. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In February 1886 the Earl of Aberdeen replied to a letter to John Lumsden accepting the offer to become patron of the club. A keen golfer Lord Aberdeen was a past captain of the Royal and Ancient, St Andrews.
The report on the club in its first year was issued in February 1886. As might be expected the outlay on the necessary work to get the course in order, the erection and furnishing of the clubhouse plus the purchase of tools etc., proved costly.
Entry from the Golfing Annual.
Phoenix Park course scorecard. © Royal Belfast Archives.
Result of the Lumsden Medal played for at the Spring Meeting on Saturday 21 May 1887; Captain Berkeley, 88-2-68; V Kyrke, 110-39-71; C Hill, 95-23-72; J MGillies, 110-36-74; J Lumsden, jnr., 92-12-80; J Gilroy, 78+2-80; E J Jackson, 96-12-84; R H Charles, 91-6-85; Lieut. Campbell, 117-30-87; J Lumsden, snr., 100-11-89; Hon. J F C Bruce121-28-93; Dr. Johnston, 95 scratch.
The first competition for the “Black Watch Medal” was played in April 1888, result; H A West, 87-11-76; J Lumsden, jnr., 85-8-77; R H Charles, 85-5-80; T Gilroy, 81 scratch; J Lumsden, snr., 93-9-84; G W Melville, 95-11-84; V Kyrke, 104-17-87; C P Brett, 105-18-87; Col. Hill, 101-12-89; J M Carter, 109-19-90; C A Owen, 115-23-92.
Result of the Lumsden Medal played in May1888; C A Owen, 98-20-78; J Lumsden, jnr., 84-5-79; T Gilroy, 78+3-81; V Kyrke, 97-16-81; J H O’Brien, 101-20-81; J Lumsden, snr., 86-4-82; Captain Berkeley, 89-6-83; H A West, 91-7-84; Col. Hill, 94-10-84; R H Charles, 86-1-85.
By November 1888 the condition of the course was becoming a concern. The following is from the Dublin Daily Express; “The autumn meeting on Saturday 19th was very poorly attended, the course being still of a most meadowy character, and almost unplayable, consequently few of those who had the courage to go handed in their cards. Mr J Lumsden, snr., carried off the medal with a score of 94-9-85, W T Gilroy was second with 88 scratch.”
On the 16 March 1889 the Dublin Golf Club held their first competition on the new North Bull course. The club where stated to be very much indebted to Mr Vernon, of Clontarf Castle, for permitting them to play over it.
The above is from the 1888/89 Golfing Annual and mentions the move from Phoenix Park to the clubs current location.
The Google Map below shows Phoenix Park.