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Members Achievements

Finlay Eager was selected on the Irish Boys’ team that competed in the European Boys' Team Championship at Diamond, Austria from  9th to 13th July 2024, the others on the team were Sean Cooper (Enniscorthy Golf Club), Fionn Dobbin (Malone Golf Club), John Doyle (Fota Island Golf Club), Mark Gazi (Tralee Golf Club) and Jack Murphy (Douglas Golf Club) they were coached by Stephen Hood, managed by Neil Manchip and captained by Peter English from Limerick Golf Club

The Ladies of Royal Belfast Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Ulster South Final of the Women’s Irish Junior Cup at Rossmore Golf Club on Sunday 20th August 2023 when they went down  to Co. Armagh Golf Club by 3½ -matches to 1½--matches.
First on the tee was Julie Carr had a 4 and 2 win against Paula McCrory, she was followed by Marilyn Henderson who lost her match against Ellen Brady by 4 and 3, next up was Jane Thompson who went down by 7 and 6 against Lilian McMullan, the penultimate match of Patricia Boyd against Mary Black was halved and in the bottom match Ruth Roberts lost her match against Colette McSorley by 5 and 4.

Finlay Eager was selected on the European Young Masters team played at Sedin Golf Club, Slovakia between 27th and 29th July 2023 the others on the team were Olivia Costello (Roscommon Golf Club), Kate Dillon (Oughterard Golf Club) and John Doyle (Fota Island Golf Club) they were coached by Michelle Carroll and captained by Liam Troy from Thurles Golf Club.

Finlay Eager was selected on the Irish Boys’ team for the Quadrangular Matches played at Kennemer Golf & Country Club in Zandvoort, Netherlands on 5th and 6th April 2023, the others on the team were Calum Duane (Naas Golf Club), Sean Reddy (Douglas Golf Club), Gordon Sillett (Ballykisteen Golf Club), Adam Fahey (Seapoint Golf Club) and Paul Fletcher (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) they were coached by Ian Kearney and captained by Liam Troy.

Finlay Eager was selected on the Irish U-16 Boys' team that faced England at Carton House Golf Club from 7th to 8th October 2023, others on the squad were John Doyle (Fota Island Golf Club), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock Golf Club), Evan Monaghan (Tullamore Golf Club), Gordon Sillett (Ballykisteen Golf Club) and Charlie Smyth (Slieve Russell Golf Club) they were coached by Ian Kearney and captained by Liam Troy from Thurles Golf Club.

Young Finlay Eager was selected on the Ulster Under-18 Interprovincial Team played at Ballykisteen Golf Club on 21st and 22nd August 2023.
The other members of the team were Noah Bickerstaff (Massereen Golf Club), Adam Buchanan (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Fionn Dobbin (Malone Golf Club), Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Harry McArdle (Warrenpoint Golf Club) and Corey Scullion (Moyola Park Golf Club).
They were Captained by Jeff Forde (Tandragee Golf Club) and Managed by Trevor Lewers (Portstewart Golf Club).

Finlay Eager was selected on the Irish U-18 High performance panel for 2023/2024, the others on the panel were Sean Keeling and Mark Cadden (Roganstown Golf Club), Donnacha Cleary (Tipperary Golf Club), Fionn Dobbin (Malone Golf Club), John Doyle (Fota Island Golf Club), Mark Gazi (Tralee Golf Club), Evan Monaghan (Tullamore Golf Club), Jack Murphy (Douglas Golf Club), Gordon Sillett (Ballykisteen Golf Club) and Charlie Smyth (Slieve Russell Golf Club).   

The Boy's of Royal Belfast Golf Club won the All-Ireland Boys Foursomes at Ballina Golf Club on 24th August 2022.
They beat Ballybunion Golf Club by 2-matches to nil in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals on Tuesday 23rd and met Stackstown Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final the following morning, in the afternoon they met Castlebar Golf Club in the All-Ireland Decider.
First on the tee was Max Carson with Ben Woods who won by 5-holes against Owen Kelly with Conor Stapleton and the bottom match of Archie McMinnis with Louis Napier against Aaron Quigley with Ben Doherty went 3-holes up to the Mayo club. It has been some time since the Royal Belfast Golf Club won a green pennant and it was great to see this group of young men win.  

Max Carson was selected on the Ulster Under-18 team to participate in the Interprovincial Championships at Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club from 19th to 21st July 2022, the others on the squad were Samuel Allister (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Noah Bickerstaff (Masseereen Golf Club), Joshua McKee (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club), Oscar Murphy (Omagh Golf Club), Michael Rocks (Lisburn Golf Club) and Joseph Stevenson (Portadown Golf Club) the non-travelling reserve was Euan Knox (Clandeboye Golf Club) they were managed by Jeff Forde from Tandragee Golf Club and captained by Tony Cassidy from Dunmurry Golf Club.    

Finlay Eager was selected to represent Ireland at the Italian Under-16 Boys' Open in Golf Club Biella Le Betulle, near Turin from 31st August to 2nd September 2022, the others on the squad were Fionn Dobbin (Malone Golf Club), Calum Duane (Naas Golf Club), Evan Monaghan (Tullamore Golf Club), Sean Reddy (Douglas Golf Club) and Charlie Smyth (Slieve Russell Golf Club) they were managed by Peter English and captained by Liam Troy.

Finlay Eager was selected on the Ulster Under-16 team to participate in the Interprovincial Championships at Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club from 18th and 19st July 2022, the others on the squad were Evan Hogg (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Harry McArdle (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Stuart Nesbitt (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Charlie Smyth (Slieve Russell Golf Club) and Michael Wilson (Massereene Golf Club) the non-travelling reserve was Garrett Daly-Shaw (Holywood Golf Club) they were managed by Tiarnan McLarnon from Massereene Golf Club and captained by Trevor Lewers from Portstewart Golf Club.

Max Carson was selected to represent Ulster on the Boys’ Under-18 Interprovincial Team at Mount Wolseley Hotel and Golf Resort on October 9th and 10th October 2021, the others on the squad were Joshua Hill and Kaeden Anderson (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Alex Darrah (Royal Portrush Golf Club), Robbie Davidson (Knock Golf Club), Luke Kelly (Belvoir Park Golf Club) and Padraig O'Dochartaigh (Gweedore Golf Club) they were managed by Jeff Forde from Tandragee Golf Club and captained by Tony Cassidy from Dunmurry Golf Club.

Finley Eager was selected to represent Ulster on the Boys’ Under-14 Interprovincial Team at Mount Wolseley Hotel and Golf Resort on October 9th and 10th October 2021, the others on the squad were Paul Fletcher (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Evan Hogg (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Scott McCabe (Masseereene Golf Club), Stuart Nesbitt (Royal Portrush Golf Club) and Charlie Smyth (Slieve Russell Golf Club) they were managed by Trevor Lewers from Portstewart Golf Club and captained by Damien Montague from Fintona Golf Club.

The Ladies of Royal Belfast Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Ladies Minor Cup when they beat the Ladies of Newtowanstewart Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match at B allycastle Golf Club on Sunday 1st September 2019.
They were led out by Mary Frances Gibson who beat Valerie Vaughan by 2-holes, she was followed by Rosemary Creed who had a similar result in her match against Oonagh Haran, next on the tee was Hilary Ellis who lost her match against Carmel Loughlin by 4 and 2, in the penultimate match Hilary Warnock had a comfortable 4 and 3 win against Heather Allen and in the bottom match Anne McCandless beat Christina McNamee by 3 and 2.

The Ladies of Royal Belfast Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Junior Cup in the ILGU Inter-club Championship when they beat Malone Golf Club by 3 matches to 2 matches on Wednesday 25th August 2010.
First on the tee was Janet Wilson who lost her match against Ann Brown by 4 and 2, she was followed by Charmain Gifford who won her match against Rachel Scott by 1-hole, next up was Patricia Boyd who lost her match to Carol Mitchell by 3 and 1, the penultimate match of Terry Wells went all the way to the 19thbefore Terry clinched the vital point against Heather Jackson, the bottom match of Gillian Haldane against Heather Cameron was another close encounter with the Royal Belfast player gaining a 1-hole win.
They made their way to Donabate Golf Club to compete in the National deciders where they met Connacht Champions Tuam Golf Club in the All-Ireland semi-final on Friday 24th September and won their match by 3½-matches to 1½-matches. Janet Wilson (10) led the way again against Anneta O'Neill (12) and won her match by 3 and 2, she was followed by Charmain Gifford (10) who had a comfortable 5 and 3 win over Susan McGann-O'Brien (12), next up was Patricia Boyd (12) who won her match by 1-hole against Marian Mulryan (15), the penultimate match of Terry Wells (14) was lost by 3 and 2 against Jacqui McGrath (16), the bottom match of Gillian Haldane (16) was halved against Joan Tighe (17). The met Mid-Leinster Champions Enniscorthy Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day they were led again by Janet Wilson (10), who won her match against Margaret Mooney (9) by 4 and 3, she was followed by Charmain Gifford (10) who won her match on the 19th-hole against Triona Hogan (10), next up was Patricia Boyd (12) who lost by 6 and 4 against Connie Doyle (10), the penultimate match of Terry Wells (14) who lost her match against Stellah Sinnott (12) by 1-up, the bottom match of Gillian Haldane (16) was lost by 6 and 5 against Cora Mernagh (13)

The Ladies of Royal Belfast Golf Club won the inaugural Ulster Final of the AA-Insurance Junior Cup in 2006 they made the journey to Headfort Golf Club to compete in the National deciders;

The Royal Belfast won the All-Ireland Barton Shield on their home course in 1952.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

J. Henderson* represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1923. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1900 playing 1-time won 0-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points;

J. F. Madeley played in the Walker Cup at Turnberry in 1963. He represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1959 to 1966 playing 42-times won 26-matches halved one and lost 15-matches accumulating 53-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1959 to 19687 playing 47-times won 39-matches halved four and lost 14-matches accumulating 62-points;

R. K. Pollin represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1971 to 1973 playing 9-times won 1-match halved one and lost 7-match accumulating 3-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1967 to 1976 playing 46-times won 21-matches halved six and lost 19-matches accumulating 48-points. He represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1967;

H. E. Reade* represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1900 to 1913. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1896 to 1906 playing 9-times won 7-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 7-points;

P. E. Reade* represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1902;

D. Kyle represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1989 playing 3-times won 0-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 0-points;

W. P. Boas represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 18971to 1898 playing 1-times won 0-matches halved one and lost 1-match accumulating ½ -point;

M. Charley represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1896 playing 1-times won 1-match and lost 1-match accumulating 1-point;

G. S. Clarke represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1896 to 1905 playing 8-times won 3-matches halved two and lost 3-matches accumulating 4-points;

F. F. Figgis represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1896 to 1905 playing 7-times won 3-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 3-points;

W. L. Livingston represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1897 playing 1-time won 0-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points;

B. O’Brien represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1898 to 1906 playing 5-times won 2-matches halved two and lost 1-match accumulating 3-points;

J. S. Reade represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1896 to 1902 playing 6-times won 4-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 4-points;  

G. M. Shaw represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1896 to 1906 playing 5-times won 2-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points;

H. Shaw represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1896 to 1899 playing 4-times won 2-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 2-points;

S. R. Sinclair* represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1939;

W. Wilson represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s in 1897 playing 1-time won 0-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points;

C. Hughes represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships from 2005 to 2006 playing 9-times won 2-matches halved one and lost 6-matches accumulating 5-points;

History of Royal Belfast

Instituted 1881 affiliated 1891

The Royal Belfast has the honour of being the oldest existing golf club in Ireland. It is also the first club to receive permission to use the prefix Royal, the President of the club in 1885 Captain Harrison, received it from the Prince of Wales when he became patron of the club on a visit to Belfast that year. It was also the first club to have a ladies club. It together with eight other clubs. It was a co-founder of the GUI on 13^th November 1891, the oldest golfing union in the world. The ladies club was a major force in the foundation of the ILGU in 1894 and Miss Clara Mulligan was the first Secretary of the ILGU.

The first meeting of the club took place in November 1881, in the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, with Mayor Edward Porter-Cowen in the chair. A site at Kinnegar, Holywood, was selected however, this was also a military training area and a rifle range. In 1892, the club moved to Carnalea, it was a nine-hole course with 200 resident members and 100-non resident. The club enjoyed its golf at Carnalea for thirty-three years. In 1925, it was decided to purchase 140 acres estate and house at Craigavon, owned by the Rt. Hon. J.C. White, a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, at a cost of £11,500. H. J. Colt, the internationally renowned course architect, was retained to design the course, which opened for play in May 1927.

The Royal Belfast has had many famous members, but none more so than Mr. G. L. Baillie who was one of the pioneers of golf in Ireland in its early development.

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