Milltown golf club Dublin

Members Achievements

Milltown Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Final of Leinster South Fred Perry Trophy on Sunday 6th August 2023 when they lost out to Lucan Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matchs.

Milltown Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals of the Irish Mixed Foursomes at Athlone Golf Club on Tuesday 29th September 2022 when they were drawn against Castlecomer Golf Club and won their match against the Kilkenny Club by 3-matches to 2-matches.
They were led out by, Michael O’Farrell with Leah Bolger who won their match by 3 and 2 against Mark Shorthall with Nuala Mahon, next on the tee was James Moore with Margaret Shaw who had a 1-hole win against Kieran Byrne with Margaret O’Keeffe, they were followed by Stephen Sheehan with Thecla McDowell who lost their match by 5 and 4 against Michael Daly with Honoria Fogarty, in the penultimate match Michael Doran with Julie Hogan went up the 19th before winning the point against Adam and Helen Dempsey and in the bottom match J. P. McDowell with Sarah Jane Costello lost out to Victor Smyth with Joan Brennan by 2 and 1.
They met Warrenpoint Golf Club the following day in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and went down by 3-matches to 2-matches against the County Down Club.
They were led out again by Michael O’Farrell with Leah Bolger who lost their match against Rian Carvill with Aileen O’Connor, they were followed by James Moore with Margaret Shaw who had a 1-hole win against Michael McGurk with Mary Bell, next up was Stephen Sheehan with Chloe Carton who lost their match by 6 and 5 against Shane McMahon with Brenda Hughes, in the penultimate match Michael Doran and Julie Hogan lost their match by the minimum against Vincent Toner with Lynn Curtis and in the bottom match J. P. McDowell with Karen Heavey beat Eoin Durkin with Fiona McNulty by 3 and 1.
Warrenpoint went on to win the Green Pennant the following day against Portumna Golf Club.                  

Jody Fanagan won the Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open Championship at Douglas Golf Club on 20th May 2022 when he beat local player Ken Bornemann by one shot shooting 219 against 220.

The Ladies of Milltown Golf Club won the East Leinster Final of the Senior Foursomes when  they beat Donabate Golf Club by 2½-matches to a ½-match at their home course on Sunday 28th August 2016.
First on the tee was Deirdre Bradshaw with Aileen Hanratty who lost out to Deirdre Walsh with Lydia Ensor 1-up, they were followed by Nicole McGavisk with Elaine Fitzgerald who recorded a halve against Ann Marie Powell with Sarah Brophy when called-in in the bottom match Pat Doran with Anne Bolster won their match by 2 and 1 against Ann Marie Dalton with Mary Logue.

They made their way to Dundalk Golf Club to compete in the All-Ireland Deciders and drew Mid Leinster Champions Kilkenny Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final. This time they were led out by Deirdre Walsh with Lydia Ensor who lost their match against Ann Smee with Dervilla O'Byrne by 5 and 4 they were followed by Anne-Marie Poweell with Sarah Brophy who also lost their match 2 and 1 against Sarah Molloy with Jan Browne in the bottom match Ann-Marie Dalton with Mary Logue had a very comfortable 7 and 6 win over Mary Leahy with Phyl Doyle. So it was not to be for the South County Dublin Ladies, however Dublin have the Sam and Kilkenny lost Liam. 

Milltown Golf Club won their first GUI Pennant in 25-years when the clinched the Leinster Final of the Irish Junior Cup at Carlow Golf Club on Sunday 29th July 2012.

They beat Callan Golf Club in the Quarter-Finals on the Saturday with a 3½-matche to 1½-matches result. They faced Portmarnock Golf Club in the Leinster Semi-Finals and recorded a similar result.

Remarkably they recorded a 3½-matchs to 1½-matches against Dundalk in the Leinster Final, the team on the day was Francis Fullen, Andrew Cloonan, Luke Conlon, Rory O’Gorman and Terry Buckley.

They made the long journey to Kinsale Golf Club to compete in the All-Ireland deciders on Wednesday 19th September when they were drawn against Connaught Champions Athenry Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals.

They were led by Noel Patterson who lost out to Ian Dunican by 3 and 2, he was followed by Dylan O’Reilly who lost out to Thomas Reaney by 5 and 3, next up was Luke Conlon who beat S. Glynn by 3 and 2. The penultimate match of Rory O’Gorman went to the 19th before Matthew Fahy secured the point, in the bottom match between Andy Stokes and Brian Mooney was halved when called in. Athenry lost out to Ulster Champions Donaghadee in the All-Ireland Final by 4-matches to 1-match.    

The reserves were Terry Buckley, Francis Fullen and Andrew Cloonan, they were managed and selected by John Bouchier-Hayes and Kieran Conlon.
The Ladies of Milltown Golf Club were runners-up in the Miele Interclub Fourball at Glasson Golf Club on Sunday 19th September 2010, when they lost out to Thurles Golf Club on a count-back.

First on the tee was Deirdre Walsh (2) with Mary Rose Binchy (19) who won their match against Jacueline Corbett (11) with Mary Coman O'Neill (14) by 2 and 1, they were followed by Aileen Dawson (8) with Dorothy MacCann (16) who won their match against Rose Maloney (12) with Margaret Lonergan ( 14) by a similar margin.
They were followed by Penny Gleeson (7) & Eithne Gogan (17) who went all the way to the 20th-green before conceding the point to Orla McKevitt (10) with Fionnuala Corcoran (17) , the bottom match of Maeve Whelan (10) with Emer O'Donoghue (16) was a resounding 6 and 4 win for the Tipperary pair of Marian Finn (8) & Susan Troy (25). They beat The Heath Golf Club in the semi-final by 3 matches to 1 match and The K Club in the regional final by 2½ matches to 1½ matches.

The Ladies of Milltown Golf Club won the Junior Cup and the Townsend Cup in 2004 and they won the Bloom Cup in 2003.

Jody Fanagan, John Bouchier-Hayes, Chris Collins and Cian O'Reilly qualified to represent their club in the International Finals of the Mail on Sunday at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in December 2002, when they beat Effingham Golf Club at Manchester in October.

  Gillian Dawson won the Mitsubishi Motors-Irish Times Ladies' Masters title at Mount Wolseley Golf Club in August 2002, with a score of 38 points off a handicap of 18.

Rhona Fanagan was selected on the Irish Ladies Senior team for the European Team Championship at Helsinki, where they finished fourth, behind France, Italy and Switzerland in July 2002.

Rhona Fanagan was selected on the Irish Ladies Senior team that played in the European Senior Ladies' Championship at Schonenberg Golf Club, in Switzerland on the 3rd to the 7th September 2001. She was also on the team that played England at Woodbrook Golf Club on 21st and 22nd October 2001.

Liam Harnett was selected to represent Ireland in the European Boys’ Amateur Team Championship to be held at Klassis Golf & Country Club, Turkey on Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th July 2010. The others on the team were Liam Harnett Milltown G. C., Jeff Hopkins Skerries G. C., Stephen Barry Laytown & Bettystown G. C., Kieran Lynch Skibbereen G. C. Dermot McElroy Ballymena G.C. and Chris Selfridge Moyola Park G. C., they were captained by Liam Martin.

Prior to 2001:

Milltown Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup at Cork G. C. in 1951, when the team was, C. J. Furlong, T. B. Hannin, J. A. O’Donoghue, D. R. Roantree, R. H. Ryan, they were captained by H. M. Stanley.

Milltown Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup at Co. Louth G. C. in 1950, when the team was, J. Furlong, T. B. Hannin, J. G. Hickey, D. R. Roantree, T. A. Tierney, they were captained by H. M. Stanley.

Milltown Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup in 1912, when the team was, P. J. Barry, E. C. Brady, T. Rae, T.A. Rae, W. G. Ryan, W. T. Sheppard and J. M. Staples.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

Jody Fanagan played Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl in 1995, where G. B. & Ireland won 14 to 10. He represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1989 t0 1997 playing 53-times, won 30-matchs halved four and lost 19-matches accumulating 64-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1989 to 1997 playing 54-times won 28-matches halved four and lost 22-matches accumulating 60-points;

A. J. Kilduff *represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1928;

A. E. Kilduff *represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1928;

J. M. Nestor represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1962 t0 1964 playing 10-times, won 5-matchs halved one and lost 4-matches accumulating 11-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1962 to 1966 playing 24-times won 16-matches halved three and lost 5-matches accumulating 35-points;

Liam Harnett represented Ireland at Boys level in 2010 playing 7-times won 2-matches and lost 5-matches accumulating 4-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 2010 playing 7-times won 2-matches and lost 5-matches accumulating 4-points;  He represented Leinster at Boys  Interprovincial level in 2010 playing 6-times won 1-match halved two and lost 3-matches accumulating 4-points;

P. A. Ryan represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level in 1968 playing 1-time won 0-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points. He represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial from 1966 to 1968 playing 6-times;

A. Butler represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1964 playing 2-times;

S. Conney represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1966 playing 2-times;

N. Dillon represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1986 playing 1-time won 1-match and lost 0-matches accumulating 2-points;

P. McInerney represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1975 to 1976 playing 8-times won 6-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 12-points;

C. Devins represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1966 to 1977 playing 34-times won 8-matches halved three and lost 23-matches accumulating 19-points;

Susan O'Brien had a wonderful year in 2000 she was unbeaten in the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy in July. She finished sixth in the European Championships and was beaten in the final of the Irish Championship by Allison Coffey.
After proving her good form she was rewarded with selection on the Espirino Santo Trophy, the World Ladies' Team Golf Championship, on the 23rd to the 26th August.

Suzanne was selected to represent Ireland in the European Ladies Team Championships at Nordcentre Golf and Country Club, Finland in 1997 and was the reserve at Golf Club Milano, Monza, in 1995. She played in the Ladies Home Internationals at Burnham and Berrow in 1998, at Lahinch, in 1997, at Longriddry, in 1996 and at Wrexham in 1995;

Patricia Smyth played for the Irish Girls in 1970 and 1971;

Frances Smyth played for the Irish Girls in 1971 and 1972 as did Susan Gorman in 1971;

Deirdre Powell played for Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals in 1988, 1989 at Penrith Golf Club in 1990 and at Whitechurch Golf Club in 1991;

Josephine Mark won the Irish Girls Close Championship in 1971, as did Patricia Smyth in 1972;

History of Milltown

Instituted 1907 affiliated 1907

The "Irish Field" 16th January, 1926, records "Milltown dates from the beginning of 1907, to be accurate from January 11th of that year, when the first meeting was held in the Leinster Club, with Mr. T. Baker, who was connected with the "Freemans Journal", in the chair.
We find that at the first meeting at which it was decided to form the club there were present Messrs. T. Baker, Fred E. Davies, J. Callan, Wm. J. Carberry, Wm. M. Battersby, John Smalley and E. J. Walsh.
They formed a select, but experienced, band of golfers. When they, however, hit on the ground at Mount Temple there was then available for golf only sufficient land for nine holes but the preliminary meeting did not hesitate for they reasoned and wisely that in the not distant future there might be an opportunity of securing enough of the land adjoining, to extend the course to eighteen-holes".
How right they were as the course we know today was opened in 1922.

The original course was laid out by Mr. W. C. Pickeman, the professional at Portmarnock, the clubhouse was designed by W. O’Connor and erected by Dr. Barry at a cost in the region of £2,000. It was large enough to meet the requirements of its 350 members. The old clubhouse burned down in 1958 and the early records were lost in the fire.

The first President was Mr. W. Murray, J. P., the first Captain was Mr. F. E. Davies, the Hon. Secretary was Mr. J. H. Callan and the Hon. Treasurer was Mr. J. E. Walsh.

What the Club tells us:

t was the Autumn of 1906 and four devotees of the Royal and Ancient game gathered in the old Leinster Club, which was then located at 29 Clare Street, Dublin, where they engaged in a conversation over a game of snooker having played 18 holes in Portmarnock that afternoon. The four, John H. Callan, John Carberry, Frederick E. Davies and W. C. Pickeman, all south-siders, decided to purchase land and build a golf course on their side of the City and so Milltown Golf Club was born.

Land was leased on the banks of the Dodder and bordering Lower Churchtown Road sufficient for 9 holes. The layout was designed by F.E. Davies and W.C. Pickeman. A Clubhouse was designed by architect Mr G.L. O’Connor. Work started in January 1907 and nine months later on September 28th 1907, the Captain F.E. Davies drove the first ball- Milltown was up and running.

The first Officers of the Club were President William Martin Murphy, Captain F.E. Davies, Hon. Sec. John. H. Callan, Hon. Treas. Edward. J. Walsh.

Dr. P.J. Barry and G.L. O’Connor were given the task of getting the Clubhouse erected in time for the official opening. In 1908, Mrs Rose Byrne was elected first Lady Captain. James Martin was appointed the first Professional.

In 1912, additional land was leased to extend the course to 18 holes. The layout of the additional 9 holes was also designed by F.E. Davies and W.C. Pickeman. The Clubhouse was also extended to cater for the increased membership of both Men and Ladies. The first and second leases were bought out and the freehold acquired in 1933 and 1934 respectively.

The Clubhouse was further extended in 1923, the year that Milltown hosted the Irish Close Championship won by Dr J.D McCormack and the Irish Professional Championship won by Moses O’Neill.

In 1929, Harry Thrift inaugurated the Milltown Open Mixed Foursomes which was recognised as the Irish Open Mixed Foursomes. It attracted huge galleries as Men and Lady Internationals competed. In the 1950’s and 60’s, Joe Carr who was the leading international in Ireland and England played with his wife Dor (They won six times). Huge galleries followed the Golf which was then the biggest Social event in Golf. It lasted until 1994.

In our Silver Jubilee year in 1932, Dr Frank O’Grady was the Captain alongside Gen Nugent, the Lady Captain. They were invited to be the Club Captains again in our Golden Jubilee in 1957.

Over its 109 years, Milltown has had four Professionals. They include James Martin, Tom Shannon – a wonderful teacher, Christy Greene- a legendary golfer and our present pro John Harnett- also a great teacher.

On September 4th 1958, a disastrous fire completely destroyed the beautiful Clubhouse. Milltown moved to Thorncliffe House (adjacent to the 2nd tee) which was our temporary home until the new Clubhouse was built. On July 13th 1960 the new Clubhouse was officially opened by the President, Mr David Coyle and Lady Captain Peggy Liston and the Captain, Mr Gerry Gallagher. The new Clubhouse was designed by Fred Brown of Downes and Meehan Architects.

The Club has undergone many changes over the years. In 2005, a major refurbishment of the Clubhouse designed by Delahunty & Harley was carried out in preparation of the Centenary Year in 2007. The Centenary Captains were Walker Cup International Jody Fanagan and Bernie Griffith.

The Course has also undergone major development of Greens, Fairways and Tees. This work was carried out by McKensie Ebert. The first phase was carried out in 2006 and completed in 2008. Milltown Golf Club is now considered one of the best parkland courses in Ireland.