Donegal/Murvagh golf club Donegal
Donegal/Murvagh Golf Course
Donegal/Murvagh Golf Club had been selected as the venue of the All-Ireland Cups & Shields from Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th October 2020. Now we are awaiting a new date in 2021 due to The COVID-19 pandemic.
Murvagh as it is commonly known is a magnificent par-73 with standard scratch of 75 off the back tees, measuring 6,753 metres true test golf.
It is a testament to the late Eddie Hackett ability design spectacular links courses. After completing Waterville and Connemara was given an opportunity flex his muscles on promontory in Donegal Bay. He recalled with great modesty "The greens are natural sites: only level of some them were adjusted by hand. All as I had do develop course what nature provided".
One of the feature holes is 174 metres 5th to a plateau green with Donegal Bay in background and no bale-out front or sides, a truly magnificent hole. Rumour has it that some members argued it, was too difficult, but Hackett having non-of-it.
Donegal is a challenging course at any time, but when the wind blows it will test very best of golfers to play anything near their Handicap. Irish Women's Close was contested here in 1997, won by legendry big hitter Mary McKenna Donabate.
Murvagh is a must if you are anywhere near Donegal and even worth trip from Rosslare to play. The clubhouse of highest standard warm welcome extended all visitors.
Donegal was voted the No. 36-ranked golf course in Ireland, by “Irish Golfer” in 2024 (Down-6);
Donegal was voted the No. 30-ranked golf course in Ireland, by “Irish Golfer” in 2023 (Up-1);
Donegal was voted the No. 31-ranked golf course in Ireland, by “Irish Golfer” in 2022;
Donegal was voted the No. 21-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2020 (Same);
Donegal was voted the No. 21-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2019 (Same);
Donegal was voted the No. 21-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2018 (Same);
Donegal was voted the No. 21-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2017 (Same);
Donegal was voted the No. 21-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2016 (Down-1);
Donegal was voted the No. 20-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2015 (Same);
Donegal was voted the No. 20-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2014 (Down-2);
Donegal was voted the No. 18-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2013 (Down-2);
Donegal was voted the No. 16-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2012;
Donegal was voted the No. 21-Links/Shoreline Course in Ireland by "Backspin" Irelands leading Golf magazine in 2012, the panel comprised of a selection of 52 Professional and amateur golfers throughout Ireland;
Donegal was voted the No. 19-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2010;
Donegal was voted the No. 20-Links/Shoreline Course in Ireland by "Backspin" Irelands leading Golf magazine in 2010, the panel comprised of a selection of 52 Professional and amateur golfers throughout Ireland;
Donegal was voted the No. 49-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2009;
Donegal was voted the No. 20 Links/Shoreline Course in Ireland by "Backspin" Irelands leading Golf magazine in 2009, the panel comprised of a selection of 52 Professional and amateur golfers throughout Ireland;
Donegal was voted the No. 39-ranked golf course in Ireland, by "Golf Digest Ireland" in 2008;
Donegal was voted the No. 21-Links/Shoreline Course in Ireland by "Backspin" Irelands leading Golf magazine in 2008, the panel comprised of a selection of 52 Professional and amateur golfers throughout Ireland;
| Green Fees November to March: | €60 |
| Green Fees April & October: | €210 |
| Green Fees November to March with G.I.M. Card: | €50 |
| Green Fees April & October with G.I.M. Card: |
€70 |
| Green Fees April to October Sat & Sun. with G.I.M. Card: | €80 |
| Green Fees with a Member: | €25/30 |
| Green Fees for Opens: | €50 |
| Practice Area: | Yes |
| Club Hire: €40 | Yes |
| Buggy Hire: €50 | Yes |
| Soft Spikes: | Yes |
| Full Membership Available: | Yes |
| Full Membership Fee: | €690 |
| Full Family Membership Fee: | €1,280 |
| Full Intermediate 18-35 Membership Fee: | €375 |
| Full Distance Membership Fee: | €590 |
| Full Student Membership Fee: | €220 |
| Full Junior Membership Fee: | €100 |
| Entrance Fee: |
None |
| Course Type | Links |
| No Holes | 18 |
| Members | 728 |
| Designer | Eddie Hackett & Pat Ruddy |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Address | Murvagh, |
| Telephone | +353 (0)74-9734054 |
| info@donegalgolfclub.ie | |
| Website | Donegal/Murvagh golf club website |
| Secretary/Manager: | Grainne Dorrian |
| Captain: | Justin Coughlin |
| Lady Captain: | Patricia Britton |
| President: | Brian Boyle |
| Junior Captain: | Aoife Cassidy |
| Vice-Captains': | & |
| Hon. Secretary: | Seamus Faulkner, Donal McIntyre & Jane A. Brown |
| Club Pro: | Leslie Robinson 074-9734054 |
| Hon. Treasurer: | Colm Campbell & Margaret Buckley |
| Comp. Secretary: | Sean Diver & Máirín McCartney |
Course Layout
Location Map
Lat:54.604290
Long:-8.155117
General Facts & Information
| Course opening hours: Daylight hours | Clubhouse opening hours: 9.00am to 11.00pm |
| Mobile phones: Not on course |
Dress Code: Neat and casual, no denim |
| Catering: Full catering, facilities | Days to Avoid: Sundays |
| Green Fees and Societies Welcome: Other Days | Pre-booking for open Tournaments:14 Days in advance |
Donegal/Murvagh Golf Club Fixtures 2024 provisional*
| Open & Major Fixtures 2025 (to be Confirmed) | ||||
| Event | Start | Finish | Type | Duration |
| Captains' Drive-In | Saturday 8 March |
Closed | 1 | |
| Captain's Prize to the Juniors |
Saturday 14 June | Closed | 1 | |
| Lady Captain's Prize | Saturday 14 June | Closed | 1 | |
| Lady Captain's Prize to the Men | Sunday 6 July | Closed | 1 | |
| Captain's Prize | Sunday 20 July | Closed | 1 | |
| Captain's Prizeto the Ladies | Tuesday 15 July | Closed | 1 | |
| President's Prize to the Juniors |
Friday 1 August | Closed | 1 | |
| President's Prize to the Ladie |
Saturday 2 August | Closed | 1 |
|
| President's Prize | Sunday 3 August | Closed | 1 | |
| Lady President's Prize | Tuesday 5 August | Closed | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford | Friday 28 March | Open | 1 | |
| Links of Donegal Challenge | Monday 14 April | Wednesday 16 April | Open | 3 |
| Links of Donegal Challenge | Tuesday 15 April | Open | 1 | |
| Links of Donegal Challenge | Wednesday 16 April | Open | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford | Wednesday 23 April | Open | 1 | |
| Abbey Vocational School Golf Classic | Friday 9 May | Open | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford | Wednesday 21 May |
Open | 1 | |
| Laghey Church Roof Restoration Fund Golf Classic |
Friday 6 June | Open | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford | Wednesday 11 June | Open | 1 | |
| Total Splicing Solutions PGA Pro-Am | Friday 27 June | Saturday 28 June | IPGA | 2 |
| Total Splicing Solutions PGA Pro-Am | Saturday 28 June | IPGA | 1 | |
| Senior Scratch Cup 36-Holes |
Saturday 5 July | Open |
1 | |
| Junior Scratch Cup 27-Holes | Saturday 5 July | Open | 1 | |
| Singles Stableford | Friday 11 July | Open | 1 | |
| Naomh Bríd GAA Golf Classic |
Friday 18 July | Open | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford Play in Pink |
Wednesday 30 July |
Open | 1 | |
| Donegal Town Rugby Club Golf Classic | Friday 15 August | Open | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford | Wednesday 20 August | Open | 1 | |
| The West Coast Challenge | Monday 1 September | Thursday 4 September | Open | 4 |
| The West Coast Challenge | Tuesday 2 September | Open | 1 | |
| The West Coast Challenge | Wednesday 3 September | Open | 1 | |
| The West Coast Challenge | Thursday 4 September | Open | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford | Wednesday 20 August | Open | 1 | |
| L. & G. Singles Stableford | Wednesday 24 September | Open | 1 |
Card of the Course
| Key | Data |
| White | Par 73 SSS 73 6,331 m |
| Yellow | Par 73 SSS 72 6,189 m |
| Red | Par 73 SSS 74 5,296 m |
| Green | Par 73 SSS 71 5,940 m |
| Blue | Par 73 SSS 75 6,815 m |
Card
| Name | Hole No. | Blue | White | Orange | Green | Par | Index | Red | Par | Index |
| Road to the Isles | 1 | 485 | 486 | 476 | 466 | 5 | 9 |
407 | 5 | 6 |
| Westward |
2 | 424 | 388 | 378 | 345 | 4 | 3 |
322 | 4 | 2 |
| Bell's Castle | 3 | 195 | 175 | 165 | 156 | 3 | 11 | 147 | 3 | 18 |
| Foster's Castle | 4 | 469 | 395 |
386 |
377 |
4 |
1 |
303 | 4 | 8 |
| Valley of Tears | 5 | 179 | 177 | 168 | 159 | 3 | 7 |
112 | 3 | 16 |
| The Hassans | 6 | 469 | 470 | 461 | 451 | 5 | 17 | 392 | 5 | 10 |
| St. Ernan’s | 7 | 391 | 348 | 342 | 330 | 4 | 13 |
277 | 4 | 14 |
| Moyne Hill | 8 | 502 | 499 | 490 | 437 | 5 | 5 |
394 | 5 | 4 |
| Murvagh | 9 | 368 | 349 | 341 | 333 | 4 | 15 | 289 |
4 | 12 |
| Out | 3,482 | 3,287 | 3,207 | 3,054 | 37 | 2,643 | 37 | |||
| Hackett’s Corner | 10 | 361 | 317 | 309 | 309 | 4 | 16 | 286 | 4 | 11 |
| Fairy Rath | 11 | 371 | 346 | 336 | 326 | 4 | 6 |
266 |
4 | 13 |
| The Bluestacks | 12 | 543 | 501 | 495 | 487 | 5 | 14 | 439 | 5 | 3 |
| Tullycullion | 13 | 166 | 141 | 133 | 121 | 3 | 18 | 119 | 3 | 17 |
| Hare's Croft | 14 | 518 | 487 | 479 | 461 | 5 | 2 |
452 | 5 | 1 |
| The Larks | 15 | 372 | 365 | 360 | 349 | 4 | 8 |
306 | 4 | 9 |
| Temple | 16 | 228 | 168 |
165 |
165 | 3 | 4 |
150 | 3 | 15 |
| Sousterrain | 17 | 375 | 376 | 370 | 350 |
4 | 12 | 341 |
4 | 7 |
| Barnesmore | 18 | 399 | 343 | 335 | 327 | 4 | 10 | 294 | 4 | 5 |
| In | 3,333 | 3,287 | 3,207 |
3,054 |
36 | 2,643 | 36 | |||
| Total | 6,815 | 6,331 | 6,189 | 5,940 | 73 | 5,596 | 73 | |||
| SSS | 75 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 74 |
Notable rounds
Men's Course Record Am: 69 Noel Fox June 2004
Ladies Course Record:
Members Achievements
The Ladies of Donegal Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the AA-Insurance Minor Cup in 2008 they made the journey to Limerick Golf Club to compete in the National deciders; where they met East-Leinster Champions and eventual green pennant winners Malahide Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and lost out by 4 matches to 1 match.
First on the tee was Dianne Doherty (23) who lost her match by 2 and 1 against Ciara Smith (23), she was followed by Geraldine Gorman (24) who halved her match against Rosemary Cassin (23), next up was Catherine Harvey (25) who lost her match by 3 and 2 against Maire Falvey (24) the penultimate match of Prue Hamilton (26) was halved against Colette Moran (24), in the bottom match Aoife McGarvey (28) lost her match to Yvonne Power (26) by 4 and 2.
Darragh McGowan was selected on the Connacht ILGU Team for the Interprovincial's. Played at Ballybunion Golf Club from 18th to 20th August 2004.
E. MacMullen was selected on the Connacht Ladies team that played the AIB Interprovincial championship at the Island Golf Club from 8th to the 10th August. She was on the Irish Senior Ladies team that played England at Woodbrook Golf Club on 21st and 22nd October 2001.
Norma Mullooly was selected for the Connacht Girls' team in the Smurfit Interprovincal Championship at Enniscrone Golf Club from the 18th to the 20th April 2001.
Prior to 2001:
Donegal Golf Club won the Connaught Trophy in 1987, the team was Maire O'Donnell, Phil Hunt, Goretti McGill, Una Anderson and Mary Gallagher.
Norma Mullooly was selected on the ILGU Junior squad in November 2000 and was on the Irish Girls' team which played in the Home Internationals, at Downfield G. C., Dundee, from the 15th to the 17th of August, 2000.
Helen McMullen played for Ireland in the Girls Home Internationals at Moseley Golf Club in 1992, and at Helensburgh Golf Club in 1993.
History of Donegal/Murvagh
Donegal Golf Club was founded in 1959 and the first golf course and clubhouse was built on the edge of Donegal Town at Tullycullion. The land for this course was granted to the club for their use by the Temple family, owners of the Magee & Co. The club remained there until 1973.
In the early 70’s some far-sighted members identified the links land of the Murvagh Peninsula as being more than suitable for a golf course.
The land was leased from the then Dept of Lands and Ireland ’s leading golf course designer at the time, Eddie Hackett (pictured right) was hired to design an 18-hole golf course on the Murvagh links.
The course and new clubhouse was officially opened in 1976. Since then the course has undergone some changes with major remodelling at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 12th,13th,and 14th and the 4th is currently being redeveloped. Most of these changes were carried out under the direction of Mr Pat Ruddy.
In 1997 the original clubhouse was demolished and the current structure was officially opened in May 1998.
The club and course has in the past hosted the Irish Ladies Close Championship in 1979 and again in 2003. More recently in 2004 the Men’s Irish Close Championship was held here, won by the European Amateur Champion, Brian McElhinney.
Roll of Honour
| Member | Year | Hon. Position |
| P. Hunt | 1989 | Ladies Captain |
| M. Temple | 1989 | Ladies President |
| J. Talbot | 1989 | Men's Captain |
| W. Johnston | 1989 | President |
| M. McKean | 1990 | Ladies Captain |
| M. Temple | 1990 | Ladies President |
| Gallagher | 1990 | Men's Captain |
| W. Johnston | 1990 | President |
| J. McLaughlin | 1991 | Ladies Captain |
| Joan Britton | 1991 | Ladies President |
| Fr. J. McLoone | 1991 | Men's Captain |
| R. A. Anderson | 1991 | President |
| P. Flood | 1992 | Ladies Captain |
| Joan Britton | 1992 | Ladies President |
| M. McClean | 1992 | Men's Captain |
| R. A. Anderson | 1992 | President |
| V. Reck | 1993 | Ladies Captain |
| M. O'Donnell | 1993 | Ladies President |
| D. R. A. Whaley | 1993 | Men's Captain |
| L. McMenamin | 1993 | President |
| E. Cranwell | 1994 | Ladies Captain |
| M. O'Donnell | 1994 | Ladies President |
| S. McCormack | 1994 | Men's Captain |
| L. McMenamin | 1994 | President |
| S. Hamilton | 1995 | Ladies Captain |
| M. O'Donnell | 1995 | Ladies President |
| M. Neary | 1995 | Men's Captain |
| E. J. O'Connor | 1995 | President |
| P. McGettigan | 1996 | Ladies Captain |
| M. O'Donnell | 1996 | Ladies President |
| M. Collins | 1996 | Men's Captain |
| E. J. O'Connor | 1996 | President |
| C. Cunningham | 1997 | Ladies Captain |
| M. Ward | 1997 | Ladies President |
| E. Canny | 1997 | Men's Captain |
| M. Fox | 1997 | President |
| Peggy Cleary | 1998 | Ladies Captain |
| M. Ward | 1998 | Ladies President |
| A. O'Doherty | 1998 | Men's Captain |
| M. Fox | 1998 | President |
| Annette Dinsome | 1999 | Ladies Captain |
| Una Anderson | 1999 | Ladies President |
| Diarmuid McGettigan | 1999 | Men's Captain |
| P. G. Barrett | 1999 | President |
| Aileen McClean | 2000 | Ladies Captain |
| Una Anderson | 2000 | Ladies President |
| Paddy O'Reilly | 2000 | Men's Captain |
| P. G. Barrett | 2000 | President |
| Bernadette Tracey | 2001 | Ladies Captain |
| Doreen Brown | 2001 | Ladies President |
| Frank O'Donnell | 2001 | Men's Captain |
| G. F. Anderson | 2001 | President |
| M. Talbot | 2002 | Ladies Captain |
| Doreen Brown | 2002 | Ladies President |
| Seamus Faulkner | 2002 | Men's Captain |
| Finlay Anderson | 2002 | President |
| Una Anderson | 2003 | Ladies Captain |
| Margaret Buckley | 2003 | Ladies President |
| Brian Boyle | 2003 | Men's Captain |
| Finlay Anderson | 2003 | President |
| Crona O'Reilly | 2004 | Ladies Captain |
| Margaret Buckley | 2004 | Ladies President |
| Tommy Geraghty | 2004 | Men's Captain |
| Finlay Anderson | 2004 | President |
| Mary Ann Kane | 2005 | Ladies Captain |
| Kathleen Fox | 2005 | Ladies President |
| Padraic Farragher | 2005 | Men's Captain |
| Derek Whaley | 2005 | President |
| Adrienne Anderson | 2006 | Ladies Captain |
| Kathleen Fox | 2006 | Ladies President |
| Des Daly | 2006 | Men's Captain |
| Derek Whaley | 2006 | President |
| Dorothy Woods | 2007 | Ladies Captain |
| Maureen McKean | 2007 | Ladies President |
| Eugene McLaughlin | 2007 | Men's Captain |
| Joe Gillespie | 2007 | President |
| Anna Colhoue | 2008 | Ladies Captain |
| Maureen McKean | 2008 | Ladies President |
| Michael McGarvey | 2008 | Men's Captain |
| Joe Gillespie | 2008 | President |
| Mary McLoughlin | 2009 | Ladies Captain |
| Edith Cranwell | 2009 | Ladies President |
| Michael Treacy | 2009 | Men's Captain |
| Frank Bourke | 2009 | President |
| Audrey Johnston | 2010 | Ladies Captain |
| Edith Cranwell | 2010 | Ladies President |
| Larry Walsh | 2010 | Men's Captain |
| Frank Bourke | 2010 | President |
| Ursula Miller | 2011 | Ladies Captain |
| Bernie Treacy | 2011 | Ladies President |
| Brendan Reck | 2011 | Men's Captain |
| Steve McCormack | 2011 | President |
| Marie McGarvey | 2012 | Ladies Captain |
| Bernie Treacy | 2012 | Ladies President |
| Sean Diver | 2012 | Men's Captain |
| Steve McCormack | 2012 | President |
| Jane Brown | 2013 | Ladies Captain |
| Mary Talbot |
2013 | Ladies President |
| Peter Sweeney | 2013 | Men's Captain |
| Michael Neary |
2013 | President |
| Mary Farragher | 2014 | Ladies Captain |
| Mary Talbot | 2014 | Ladies President |
| Frank Cook | 2014 | Men's Captain |
| Michael Neary | 2014 | President |
| Moragh Canney | 2015 | Ladies Captain |
| Manus Brennan | 2015 | Men's Captain |
| Eamonn Canney |
2015 | President |
| Mary Gillen | 2016 | Ladies Captain |
| Gerry Forde | 2016 | Men's Captain |
| Una Anderson | 2016 | President |
| Miriam Bennett | 2017 | Ladies Captain |
| John McHardy | 2017 | Men's Captain |
| 2017 | President | |
| 2018 | Ladies Captain | |
| 2018 | Men's Captain | |
| 2018 | President | |
| 2019 | Ladies Captain | |
| 2019 | Men's Captain | |
| 2019 | President | |
| Anne Murray | 2020 | Ladies Captain |
| Liam Cassidy | 2020 | Men's Captain |
| Paddy O'Reilly | 2020 | President |
| Anne Murray |
2021 | Ladies Captain |
| Liam Cassidy |
2021 | Men's Captain |
| Paddy O'Reilly |
2021 | President |
| Helen O'Shea | 2022 | Ladies Captain |
| Gerry McCormack | 2022 | Men's Captain |
| Frank O'Donnell | 2022 | President |
| Zara Brennan | 2022 | Junior Captain |
| Mary Harley | 2023 | Ladies Captain |
| Donie McIntyre | 2023 | Men's Captain |
| Dorothy Woods | 2023 | President |
| 2023 | Junior Captain | |
| Patricia Britton | 2024 | Ladies Captain |
| Justin Coughlin | 2024 | Men's Captain |
| Brian Boyle | 2024 | President |
| Aoife Cassidy | 2024 | Junior Captain |
| 2025 | Ladies Captain | |
| 2025 | Men's Captain | |
| 2025 | President | |
| 2025 | Junior Captain | |
| Eileen McMullin (4) | 2025 | Lowest Ladies H'cap |
| Kevin Connolly | 2025 | Lowest Men's H'cap |
| John Neary (2) | 2025 | Lowest Men's H'cap |
Holes in One at Donegal/Murvagh
| Member | Date | Hole No. | Club Used | Distance |
| Hugh Dillon | 13th | 145 m | ||
| Annie Doherty | 11 July 2000 | 13th | 118 m | |
| Ann McGlynn | 26 April 2001 | 5th | 109 m | |
| Eugene McLaughlin | 28 September 2002 | 13th | 118 m | |
| Margaret Buckley | 17 November 2004 | 13th | 118 m | |
| Michael D. Gallagher | 6 August 2006 | 5th | 174 m | |
| Ann Short | 8 April 2007 | 16th | 158 m | |
| Ann Gillespie | 12 June 2009 | 13th | 118 m | |
| Helen O'Shea | 20 August 2009 | 13th | 118 m | |
| Emily McGuinness | 19 July 2011 | 5th | 8-Iron | 109 m |
| Emily McGuinness | 19 July 2011 | 5th | 9-Iron | 109 m |
| Mike Morgan Jr | 3 September | 3rd | 177 m | |
| Michelle O'Rourke | 19 September 2021 | 5th | 109 m | |
| Bernard O'Donnell | 25 September 2021 | 5th | 174 m | |
| Shaun McCready | 26 April 2022 | |||
| Peter Hanna | 8 July 2023 | 3rd | Lurgan G. C. | 177 m |
