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Galway Golf Club, Gentian Hill and Barna Courses.  (1895 – 1925)

The club had two courses prior to the current one.

The first course was at Renmore Barracks, Gentian Hill, (1895-1905); second course at Barna (1905-1925).

Professionals at Galway until 1925; Michael Hackett (1902 – 1905: B McGowran (1907/8); Michael Moran (1908/9); D Mahoney (1909 – 1911); William Mahoney (1914 and 1921/22) ; W Nolan (1922/23); William Hanna (1923 – 1925).

One of the founder member was the local well-known popular retired army Officer Captain Joe Henley.

From the Sportsmans Holiday Guide 1897 – The Galaway Club, which has only been quite recently formed, has its course, which is a nine-hole one, on Gentain Hill. The distance round is about one mile and hazards consist of boulders and bushes. Secretary; George Good, Bank of Ireland, Galway.”

Report on a match played in December 1899.

Irish Independent Thursday 14 December 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The following article describing the course appeared in "Irish Golfer" May 1900  - " The Galway Golf Club though it only sprang into existence during the past few years, is nevertheless one of the most popular and thriving in the Emerald Isle. The course, which is easily reached by tram or car from Galway, is a nine hole one, and charmingly situated on a promontory overlooking the sea at Salthill but so "cute" and trappy that a good 36 is required for the round, and a sliced or careless drive lands one in difficulties where bad punishment is the result, recovery being no easy task. The hazards consist chiefly of stone walls, gorse and "kopjes". The greens are smooth, undulating and of infinite variety, while the turf is crisp and pleasant, drying quickly after rain. G. Fernie (brother of the Troon "Pro") who has been employed for some time at Galway Links as "coach" holds the record of the green at 33. The captain of the club ( Mr. Jack Meldon) holding the amateur record of 36. Mr. S. Nolan so well known on the turf and yachting circles, is President, and spares neither trouble nor expense in maintaining its prestige, with the happiest results ably seconded by an energetic committee, of which Captain Henley is - it is generally conceded – the moving spirit; Mr. Lamphier being Hon. Sec and Michael Hackett greenkeeper and local "pro". Visitors are allowed to play free for one week if introduced by a member and after that on payment of 2s 6d a day or 5s per week. There is first class sport in the immediate vicinity so that the golfer will find it a real U happy hunting ground" the hospitality and the bon camaraderie of the club being simply unlimited while every comfort is to be had at Mack's Royal Hotel".

Article from the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News November 1900.

Illustrated Sporting and Deamatic News Saturday 3 November 1900. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Report on the course from August 1901.

Weekly Irish Times Saturday 17 August 1901. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Extract from a report from the Galway Express in June 1904 – “Golf is not dead in Galway, but is tolerably somnolent. It now appears that the club itself is defunct”.

Extract from a report in Irish Field – “Galway Golf Club –till they acquire a new course – The club is being wound up and no further play will take place at the picturesquely situated links at Gentain Hill to the general regret of all who ever played on the sporting little course”. 

Location of the first golf course at Renmore Barracks.

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Galway Golf Course; This is a Private Course owned by Mr S M Nolan.

Golf continued to be played on the course by Mr Nolan and his friends until his death in 1907. 

Report on a “New Club” from the Irish Independent Monday 8 January 1906 – “The new Galway Golf Club, of which the Hon. Robert Dillon, Lord Collnbrook’s son and heir is president, and Colonel Courtney C.B. the captain, opened on New Year’s Day. A picturesque course has been laid out at Barna. It is an excellent one in every aspect.”

Report on the new course in February 1906.

Northern Whig Saturday 17 February 1906. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting February 1907.

Irish Times Tuesday 26 February 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the club from January 1908.

Irish Independent Wednesday 22 January 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the club from The Irish Field 17 July 1909 – “President, The Lord Killanin; Captain, Colonel Courtenay C.B; Hon. Treasurer P.J. Murray; Hon. Secretary W.G.Seymour; Committee – Hon. R. E. Dillon, T. Kenny, T. McDonagh, M .J. Tighe, W. A. Sandys M. D., J. Redington, T. Redington, T. Redington Roche, Major Smyth.

Beyond Salthill, at Barna, some two and a half miles from the station, lies the course, which used to be situated on the lake, Mrs. Nolan's property. The old course was too wild and exposed altogether. Then there is the story of two players who took 21 each towards one green, and then agreed to halve the hole, as the wind was too much for them. The new course is delightfully situated in a sheltered spot, and presents a pleasant view on arrival at the neat and ornamental little clubhouse, which Mr.M.J. Tighe deserves much credit for designing Since the new club was founded, events have marched smoothly, and now under the care of Mr.W.G. Seymour, the club is truly in a flourishing condition. The only thing wanted now is a little more land, and I feel sure that the landlord, when he sees the good golf does, will meet the club in any desire it advances.

The field of thirty acres on which the course has been laid out is situated close to Galway Bay and slopes from the south or shore side up to the north. It is diversified by two woods, which form guarding hazards for several of the greens, and one of the prettiest holes on the course or indeed on any course, the fifth is carved right through one of these woods. The ground too, is undulating that it has enabled the engineers of the course to so place their greens that they call for approaching of a greater excellence than is usually demanded on an inland course. Just outside the comfortable clubhouse is the first tee, which offers a drive to the green lying in the hollow. Beyond the drain on the left and the danger of a hanging lie there is little difficulty. The second hole is rendered difficult in the drive by the tendency to pull out of bounds in a wood which lies along the left of the line. The green is well-placed. Not so long ago, Mr.Jack Meldon shot snipe where the green is, which speaks well for the drainage done by the club. The 3rd is the only really uninteresting hole on the course- a hole of 212 yds to the high ground. The fourth, called the Spion Kop, calls for a fine cleek shot to a green which is guarded by a small cliff and hill. The fifth is a unique hole and was specially thought out by Mr.T. Redington Roche. The shot is played through the centre of the wood from a tee 10ft higher than the green; the view of Galway Bay and the Clare Hills is superb. Well done, the shot gives much satisfaction missed, it means tribulation. The 6th, is perhaps, the best hole, as there are two distinct ways of reaching the green. A plucky player will make for "Good Hope Bay" and thus secure an easy second to the green. The safe player will leave himself an awkward second. It is a distinctly good and pretty hole. The 7th is long, and provided straightness is kept should be easy. The great danger is a wall running closely parallel to the left. The 8th is short and very difficult somewhat like the 10th hole at Lahinch, the idea being to create a hole calling for a mashie shot with a deal of cut on it. The 9th makes a testing finish. In length 365 yds it requires a good drive to reach a plateau from whence only a perfect shot can reach the well-guarded green.

Hole One- 210 yards; Bogey 4; Hole Two – 204 yards; Bogey 4; Hole Three – 212 yards; Bogey 4; Hole Four – 135 yards; Bogey 3; Hole Five – 150 yards; Bogey 3; Hole Six – 250 yards; Bogey 4; Hole Seven – 400 yards; Bogey 5; Hole Eight – 100 yards; Bogey 3; Hole Nine – 365 yards; Bogey 4; Total - 2,027 yards; Bogey 34; Amateur course record – T R Roche, 35 (9-holes); Professional course record – M Mahoney, 63 (18-holes).

Entrance fee £3/3s; Annual Subs, £2/2s; Ladies, £1/1s; Visitors, 1s a day; 5s a week. 

In the final for a cup presented by the club in August 1913 W Lingard beat W P Fogarty by 1 up.

Extract from a report that appeared in Sport (Dublin) Saturday 4 April 1914 –“Like the people of Ballinasloe the Galwegians were slow in taking up the royal and ancient game. It was only in 1905, the same year that the Ballinosloeians moved, that the Galwegians founded the Galway Golf Club. I have been told by a non-golfer recently, but I fear he is not reliable, that a grand, brand new, 18-hole links has been laid down close to the city, but I fear that the information is too good to be true. With the exception of a private course owned by Mr S M Nolan, the only links I know at Galway is the Galway Golf Club links. This course is two and a half miles from Galway station, and consists of nine-holes, and is inland. There is a strong committee on which Lord Killanin, the Hon. R C Dillon, Major Smyth, and representatives of trade and commerce sit and rule and manage the club’s affairs. “The Irish Golfer’s Guide”  for 1913 writes of these links – “Beyond Salthill at Barna, lies the golf course, which used to be situated on the late Sebastian Nolan’s property. The old course was too wild and exposed. The course is on the short side, and has a bogey of only 34. Improvements continue to be made in the way of tees and bunkering. The air is bracing, the welcome is hearty, and the views of the hills of Clare, across Galway Bay, are magnificent. The turf is excellent”.

From Freeman’s Journal Wesnesday 18 June 1924 – “GALWAY GOLF CLUB – Open week begins on 23 June . Competitions every day up to Friday. A record week is anticipated . Any further information may be had from D Quinlan, Secretary, Galway Golf Club, Barna”.

At the Open Meeting in July 1924 T M Morris won the Open Cup; Mrs Rosa and Miss O’Meara wo the ladies fouball. 

 The club continued to play at Barna until 1925.

A complete history of Galway Golf Club can be found on the club’s website.

The Google Map below shows the location of the Gentian Hill course.