Ballybofey & Stranorlar golf club Donegal

Members Achievements

Ryan Griffin was selected on the Irish Men’s Home Internationals that took place at Murcar Links, Scotland between 7th and 9th August 2024. The others on the team were Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Sean Keeling (Roganstown Golf Club), Hugh Foley (The Royal Dublin Golf Club), Thomas Higgins (Roscommon Golf Club), Josh Hill (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Paul Coughlan (Castleknock Golf Club), Liam Nolan (Galway Golf Club) and Luke O'Neill (Connemara Golf Club) they were managed by Damien Coyne from Tuam Golf Club, coached by Michael Collins and captained by Niall MacSweeney from Athenry Golf Club. 

The Ladies from Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club won the Quarter-Final of the Women’s Junior Foursomes on Saturday 26th August 2023 at North West Golf Club when they beat Sutton Golf Club by 2-matches to 1-match.
In the top match Sharon Brady with Kaye Stewart lost their match against Jeanne Mahony with Karen Keogh by 5 and 4, they were followed by Bridie Faulkner with Stephanie Canning who had a 3 and 1 win against Elizabeth Guinan with Ita Slattery and in the bottom match Mary McHugh with Eileen Boyce delivered the essential point with a 2 and 1 win against Alison Newman with Belinda Ennis.

The Ladies of Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club won the Ulster North Final of the Women’s Junior Foursomes at Ballymena Golf Club on Sunday 13th August 2023 when they beat Malone Golf Club by 2-matches to 1-match.
In the top match, Maeve Toner with Alison Bell had a 3 and 1 win against Sharon Brady with Kaye Stewart, they were followed by Gail McNeice with Caroline Jones who lost their match against Bridie Faulkner with Stephanie Canning by 4 and 2 and in the bottom match Karen Green with Sharon Cox had a 1-hole win against Mary McHugh with Eileen Boyce.

Ryan Griffin was selected to represent Ireland at the World University Championships at Royal Park 1 Roveri, Italy from 20th to 23rd July 2022 the others on the squad were Allan Hill (Roscommon Golf Club), Simon Walker (Roscommon Golf Club),  Anna Dawson (Tramore Golf Club), Kate Dwyer (Rossmore Golf Club) and Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden Golf Club) they were managed by Sara Rose Shelly.

Ryan Griffin was selected on the Ulster Interprovincial team play at Moyvalley Golf Club from 23rd to 25th August 2022, the others on the squad were Cian Harkin (Letterkenny Golf Club), James Hewitt (Tandragee Golf Club), Jordan Hood  and Joshua Hill (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Ross Latimer (Clandeboye Golf Club), Aaron Marshall (Lisburn Golf Club) and Shane McDermott (Slieve Russell Golf Club) they were managed by Peter Waddell from Knock Golf Club and captained by Rory Leonard from Banbridge Golf Club.

Barry McMenamin was selected on the Ulster Under-14 team to participate in the Interprovincial Championships at Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club from 18th and 19st July 2022, the others on the squad were Eoin Burrows (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Paul Fletcher (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), David Lyttle (Castlerock Golf Club), Scott McCabe (Msssereen Golf Club) and Ollie McEvoy (Ballycastle Golf Club) the non-travelling Reserve was Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye Golf Club) they were managed by James Sweeney from Dunfanaghy Golf Club and captained by Bruce Hogg from Belvoir Park Golf Club.     

Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes when they beat Rosapenna Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match in the decider in 2018.
They made the long journey to Milltown Golf Club to participate in the National Deciders they met and beat Leinster Champions Craddockstown Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi- Final on Tuesday 2th October.
They met Connaught Champions Portumna Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day and were led out by  Tony Griffen with Mary McHugh who lost their match against James McLoughlin with Rachel Madden by 5 and 3, next on the tee was Freddie Wilson with Dolores Devaney who lost out to Gerard Lynch with Bernie Kilmartin by 4 and 3, they were followed by John McMenamin with Sharon Maloney who went all the way up the 20th before conceding the point and the green pennant to Damien Burke with Mary McElroy, in the penultimate match Edward Brady with Margaret McConnell had a comfortable 3 and 2 win over Padric Cahalan with Anne Fahy and the bottom match of Sean Carlin with Josephine Stewart recorded a 3 and 1 win over Gerard Brehony with Mary Kelly so near but so far such are All-Irelands made of.

Ballybofey & Stranorlar won the All-Ireland J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy at Woodenbridge Golf Club in September 2015, when the team was John Mc Caughan, Michael Scanlan, Terry Farrell, James Mc Allister, Martin Roarty, Ivan Stewart, Michael O'Boyle, Alex Harkin, Patsy O'Donnell, Michael Hynes. Other players who played in earlier rounds included, Michael McGlynn, Cathal Patton, P. J. McGowan, J. W. McNulty, Paddy McNulty the team Captain was J. W. McNulty and Club Captain was Paddy McNulty.

Ballybofey & Stranorlar won the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes at Massereene G. C. in 1994. The team was Enda McManamin, Sean Ewing, Maeve McNulty, Seamus Patton, Paddy Cleary, Conor McMenamin, Terence McKinnley, Terry Farrell, Anne McGranaghan, Mary O'Flanaghan, Anne Duffy, Kathleen McGowan, Margret Hynes, Eileen Boyce, Sheila Rooney, Michael Carr and Noelle Harris.

Lady Captain Ann McGranaghan, Captain John Reid and Honorary Secretary John McCaughan, qualified for the National Finals of the Mercedes-Benz, Irish Independent Executive Golf Classic at The K Club on August 12th 2002.

Lady Captain Deirdre Duncan, Captain Paul Traynor and Alex Harkin came 6th in the National Final of the Mercedes Benz, Irish Independent Executive Trophy at the K Club on 13th of August 2001. They returned a score of 73pts. which was only two off the winners.

D. McGowan was selected on the Connacht Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincials at the Island Golf Club on the 8th to the 10th August 2001.

Remarkably Mary McHugh and her playing partner Margaret McCrosson both had holes-in-one in the Club Classic in August 2001. Mary had hers on the 6th when she hit her 5-wood into the hole. Two holes later Margaret followed her with a 7-wood.

Prior to 2001: 

The men won the Ulster Cup in 1996, when the team was Eddie Gallagher, Alex Harkin, James Rodgers, Michael Hynes, Paddy Cleary, Drew Duncan, James McAllister, Charlie Lapsley, John McCaughen, Paddy Carr, Pete Byrne, Martin Dillon and they were captained by Phil Roddy

Ballybofey & Stranorlar were narrowly beaten in the All-Ireland Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1980 when they represented Ulster. The team was John McMenamin, Dermot Gallagher, Cyril Quinn, Kieran Currane, Norman O'Haire, Paddy Watters, Gerry Griffin, Kieran Cunnane, Roy Loughlin, J. W. McNulty and Cary Duncan.

They got to the Ulster Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield at Portstewart in 1995, when the team was Alister Henderson, John Dowds, Paddy McNulty, Richard Eaton, Michael Scanlon, Paul Trayers, Harry McGowan, Phil Roddy, Declan Collum, Eddie McHugh, Eamon Foy and James McAllister. 

Ballybofey & Stranorlar won the Donegal Miner League in the Millennium when they beat Donegal Golf Club in the Final, when the team was Norman O'Haire, Aidan Doherty, Sean Devenney, Declan McKelvey, Noel Ferry, Eugene Quinn, Jim McHugh, Noel Duffy, Joe Henderson, Danny Cunnigham, Hugh Brogan, John Fleming, Seamus Byrne, Aidan Heeney, Sean O'Donnell, Peter Byrne and P. J. Fitzgerald, they were captained by Loman O'Dowd.

They won it again in1991 when the team was Sean O'Donnell, Loman O'Dowd, Seamus McEaney, Pete Byrne, Ronnie Reilly, Brendan Forkan, Paul Byrne, Noel Ferry and Joe Coll, they were captained by James Henderson.

The Ladies of Ballybofey & Stranorlar qualified for the All-Ireland Semi-Final in the Ulster Bank Ladies Fourball Championship in 1997, when the team was Wendy Patterson, Kathleen McGowan, Anne Glancy, Christine Spear, Siobhan Brady, Anne McGranaghan, Mary Harkin, and they were captained by Darragh McGowan.

They won the Donegal Inter Club League in 1992, when the team was John McCaughan, Michael Heinz, Ivan Stewart, Denis Grindle, Sean Ewing, Enda McMenamin, Phil Roddy, Denis O'Kane, Pauric McHugh, Paul Trayers, Jimmy McGlinchey and Seamus Patton. 

They were runners-up in the Dunhill Mixed Foursomes when they went down to Waterford Golf Club at Galway. The team was Joanne O'Haire, Richard Eaton, John McCaughan, Terry Farrell, Charlie Moore, Kathleen McGowan, Eileen Coyne, Sheila Rooney, Ita Cleary, Eamonn O'Flanagan, Enda McMenamin, Sean Ewing, Meave McNulty, Ann McGranaghan, Seamus Patton, Pat McCaughan, Michael Carr and Mary O'Flanagan.

They won the Donegal Senior League in 1993, 1994, 1995 and again in1997.
Ballybofey & Stranorlar won the Under-21 Youths tournament at Donaghadee Golf Club in September 2001. They beat 44 other teams to claim their first win in 20-years participating in the tournament. The team was Thomas Grindale (Captain), Derek McNeill, James McNulty, Joseph McMenamin and Mark Hynes. They were Managed by Seamus Lafferty.

Captain, Paddy Watters, Lady Captain and Hon. Secretary, Alex Harkin, booked their place in the finals of the Mercedes Benz, Irish Independent Executive Golf Trophy at the K Club on August 17th, when they shot 83 points at Slieve Russell, in July, 2000.

Enda McMenamin participated in the Home International matches from 1981 to 1982 and represented Ulster from 1981 to 1996 playing 29 matches. Darragh McGowan was selected to play for Connacht in 1999. Joanne O'Haire played for Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals in 1989 and at Penrith Golf Club in 1990.

Enda McMenamin participated in the Home International matches from 1981 to 1982 and represented Ulster from 1981 to 1996 playing 29 matches. Darragh McGowan was selected to play for Connacht in 1999. Joanne O'Haire played for Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals in 1989 and at Penrith Golf Club in 1990.

History of Ballybofey & Stranorlar

Ballybofey & Stranorlar golf club was formally founded on January 22nd 1957, under it’s first president Mr Willie Raitt and Mr John Joe Kennedy as founder Captain. Initially the course was nine hole and was opened for play in June 1958. In the absence of a clubhouse the first presentations were made from the back of a tractor! An old wooden and corrugated iron clubhouse was soon bought and proved to be a great success in the formative years of the club with many a lively night and local story told- a friendly, hospitable atmosphere that still thrives today.

A nine hole layout was never going to be enough for such a hard working committee though and, greatly helped by a very successful run of Friday night bingo in the Butt Hall, the club finally purchased the land for a second nine holes which were opened for play in 1978. The following years brought about vast improvements in all aspects of the club with the purchase of essential machinery and employment of experienced workers.

The club owes a great deal to the various green convenors and green keepers over the years. The course is now one of the best parkland courses in the country and is considered a very enjoyable place to play.

The club continued to grow and in 1994 it was decided by the members to build a new clubhouse to give more space and give a first floor view over parts of the course. The work was carried out by local architects, Paddy and Tony Carr, and building contractors, Seamus Quinn construction. The impressive clubhouse was officially opened in 1996 by Mr Eamonn Curran, GUI president.

Over the years the club has been successful in various competitions throughout Ireland. The club has also produced its fair share of fine golfers both male and female over the years notably Mr Enda McMenamin and Ms Darragh McGowan. The club also operates a thriving youth development programme and our young golfers are now representing the club very well in the Fred Daly and other competitions. It should be noted that arising from the youth development at the club we now have provided two fully qualified professional golfers in Mr Eamon O’ Flanagan and Ms Joanne O’Haire.

Over the years there have been some very fine scorecards. The 18 hole record of 63 has been set by Mr Enda McMenamin and has been equalled in recent times by Mr Derek McNeill. The ladies course record is held by Ms Darragh McGowan who set a record of 66 in the Lady Captains prize competition of 2006.