Carrickfergus golf club Antrim

Members Achievements

The Boys of Carrickfergus Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland deciders of the Boys Foursomes at Ballina Golf Club on 23rd August 2022.
They met Tipperary Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final and won their matches by 2-matches to nil.
They were led out by James Walsh with Trevor Morrison who had a comfortable 4 and 3 win over Niall O’Shea with Ronan O’Connor, next on the tee was Josh Millar with Oliver McNamara who won their match against Donnacha Cleary with Paddy Kennedy Jnr. Bu 1-hole.
They met Castlebar Golf Club the following day in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and lost out by 2-holes
They were led out again by James Walsh with Trevor Morrison who had a 1-hole win against Owen Kelly with Tommy M. Heneghan, the bottom match of Josh Millar with Oliver McNamara lost out by 3-holes to Aaron Quigley with Ben Doherty.

Carrickfergus Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals of the Irish Junior Cup at Knightsbrook Golf Club on Saturday 17th September 2022 when they were drawn against Cork Golf Club but lost their match by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.
Josh Miller led them out and won his match against Leon Foley by 2 and 1, he was followed by Adam McAteer who lost his match by the minimum against Frankie Walsh, next on the tee was Hugh McClinton who lost his match by 2 and 1 against Jack O’Flynn, the penultimate match of Stephen Rea was halved against David Hickey and in the bottom match Bill McAtaminey lost his match by 6 and 5 against Thomas Healy.

After 39 years Carrickfergus Golf Club won the Holt Shield in 2013.
The team was L. Lyle, D. Macleod, K. Willis, M. Addley, C. Macrea, R. Barbour and D. Meek, they were captained by Des Nelson.

The Ladies won the EAL won after 32 years, when the team Captain was Mrs. L. Robinson and Lady Captain Mrs. A. Baker.

The Ladies of Carrickfergus Golf Club were Ulster Champions in the Ulster Bank Ladies Fourball in 2003, when the team was, Julia Wright, Liz Finley, Linda Armstrong, Carol McQuillan, Adrienne Williams, Rosie Lamont, Ruth Mawhinney and Ursula Lindsay, they were captained by Bernie Tolan.

Prior to 2001

Carrickfergus Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup at Woodbrook in 1989, when the team was, Frank Hamill, Tom Mulholland, Stephen McLaughlin, Denis Stronge and Bill McAtamney Jnr., they were captained by Brian McGahan.

 Carrickfergus Golf Club won the All-Ireland, Irish Mixed Foursomes at Royal Tara in 1980, when the team was, K. Hamilton, D. Stronge, W. J. Wallace, J. McIlwaine, S. A. McNally, S. R. Wallace, E. Hunter, M. M. Boyle, S. E. Cobby, D. A. Ervine and S. Lynn, they were captained by B. McGahan.

Carrickfergus Golf Club won the East Antrim Team Scratch Championship in 1992 and 1993, when the team was, Stephen McLaughlin, Campbell Foster, Stephen Rea, Jeff Law and Michael Keys, they were captained by Brian McGahan.

Carrickfergus Golf Club won the the Ulster Final of the Irish Junior Cup in 1993, when the team was, Geoff Law, Campbell Foster, Gavin Baker, Brian Forsyth and David Winning, they were captained by Frank Hamill.

Carrickfergus Golf Club won the Belfast and District Cup in 1984, when the team was, Denis Stronge, Sam Woodside, Kenny Hamilton, David Armstrong, Owen O'Toole, Paul Vizard, Brian McGahan, Stephen McNally, Mark Montgomery, Jim McIlwaine and Des Ballentine.

Carrickfergus Golf Club won the Christie Flag in 1978, with Ray Stevenson, Brian McGahan and Ronnie Kelly.

Carrickfergus Golf Club won the County Final of the J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy in 2000.

The Boys' of Carrickfergus Golf Club won the Holt Shield in 1974, when the team was, G. Bennett, Joe McNally, Drew Ewing, George Hamill and they were captained by Stan Hutchinson.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

Des Ballentine represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1985 to 1988 playing 34-times won 18-matches halved one and lost 15-matches accumulating 37-points he played Ulster Youths' in 1981;

Denise Browne played for the Irish Girls' in 1969;

Deane Musgrave played for the Irish Girls' in 1979 and 1980;

Elizabeth Lynn played for the Irish Girls' in 1980 and 1981;

Sandra Lynn played for the Irish Girls' in 1982 and 1983;

History of Carrickfergus

 It would appear golf has been played at as early as 1892. The Belfast Newsletter on 5th January 1892, reports on train fares for golfers. The writer states "now that links have been opened at Carrickfergus" The present club was founded in 1926.

What the Club tells us:

club history, formed 1926

On the instigation of the Town Clerk, Mr D Law and Mr James McCartney, a local businessman, a special meeting was held in the Town Hall on the 22nd of October 1925 to discuss the possibility of the formation of a Golf Club. Mr Charles Legg J.P. who was also Chairman of the Carrickfergus Urban District Council, in proposing that further enquiries be made into the formation of a Golf Club, received unanimous approval and this resulted in a further meeting being held on 12th February 1926, when it was unanimously agreed that a Golf Club be formed to be known as “The Carrickfergus Golf Club”, with Mr Charles Legg J.P. as President and Mr D Law (Town Clerk) as Hon. Secretary.

By this time, 74 gentlemen, 74 ladies and 10 associates had taken membership and the Annual Subscription was fixed at 2 guineas for men, one guinea for ladies and a half guinea for junior associates. A feature of this meeting was reported in the local newspaper as follows:- “Mr Francis Atkinson, renowned for his giant drives, swore fervently and emphatically to support the new club physically, financially and mentally – he would take a bill hook or spade and work for the club if it came to the bit and he would back it for all he was worth even if he should die in the Workhouse.” (Loud Applause).

The first council worked diligently and successfully negotiated a five year lease at £150 per annum with James Taylor & Sons of Barn Mills, for four fields of 35 acres for the course and ½ an acre of what was known as the Quarry Field for the clubhouse. Mr G H Clarkson was engaged as Professional/Greenkeeper at a wage of 45/-d per week plus 5/-d travelling expenses and he was also allowed to charge tuition fees of 1/-d per half hour. An interesting minute reveals that a certain gentleman, who carried clubs for hire or reward, applied for membership but was considered ineligible on a ruling given by the Golf Union of Ireland. Caddy fees at that time were 5d for 9 holes or 9d for 18 holes. Work on the course progressed satisfactorily and at the first Annual General Meeting held on the 14th May 1926 the membership was stated as being 125 gentlemen, 140 ladies and 50 associates and juveniles. Mr A Miscampbell, a local prominent businessman, was elected the first Captain and Mr C Binnie, Headmaster of the Carrickfergus Technical College, the Hon. Treasurer. Naturally, the main focus was on the financing and building of a clubhouse and in this connection it was agreed to offer the membership Debenture Stock at £5 each, redeemable at £5.10.0 as and when club finances permitted – within a year £980 had been subscribed.

The ladies branch was also active and held their first General Meeting on the 22nd of June 1926, when Mrs E M Gransden was elected Lady Captain and Miss M Carrey Hon. Secretary.

The building of a combined clubhouse and Greenkeeper residence was completed by March 1927 at a net cost of £1050 - £105 having been recovered as a subsidy from the government. The contractor was John Laverty of Whitehead who presented the club with its first trophy – The Laverty Cup. During the course of the year, the club became affiliated to the G.U.I.
By May 1927 the course was completed and comprised 2 par 3 holes and 7 par 4 holes, totalling 2,420 yards and the G.U.I. allocated a standard scratch of 67. The official opening was held on Saturday 28th May 1927 when, in glorious sunshine and before a large gathering – which included Mr Hugh Kelly, President of the G.U.I., who in his speech made reference to the very difficult quarry hole. Mr C Legg, using a new driver presented to him by the Lady Captain, Mrs Gransden, executed a very fine drive amidst the applause of the spectators. The young boy, Bobby McCullough, who retrieved the ball was given a half guinea by Mr Legg.

This was followed by an exhibition 4-ball match between Major Thompson (Larne), Messrs. Graham and Madden (Knock) and W B Jamison (Portadown). Later, a mixed foursomes competition was held for members, after which the Captain and his wife entertained the members to tea. To mark the occasion Mrs Gransden presented the ladies section with the Gransden Cup.