Rathfarnham golf club Dublin

Members Achievements

Rathfarnham Golf Club reached the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals of the Jimmy Bruen Shiels at Shannon Golf Club on Friday 6th September 2024 when they lost out to Abbeyleix Golf Club on the first Playoff hole against the Co. Laois Club. First on the tee was Pearce Christie with Thomas Walsh who lost their match against Dominic Dalton with Tom Reilly by 2 and 1, they were followed by Ross Dooley with Niall Jones who lost their match by 5 and against Noel Concannon with Daragh O'Rourke, in the penultimate match Matthew Kennedy with Thomas Brophy had a 1-hole win against Martin Lawlor with Donal O'Gorman and in the bottom match David Howard with Conor Barnes had a convincing 5 and 3 win against Gearoid Purcell with Declan Clooney.

Rathfarnham Golf Club reached the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals at Oughterard Golf Club on Saturday 14th September 2024 when they lost out to Portlaois Golf Club by 2½-matches to 1½-matches. They were led out by Rory Crerar with Janet Gillis who lost their match by 4 and 3 against Declan Phelan with Mary Byrne, they were followed by Kimolo N dee with Jane Jones who halved their match against Anthony Delaney with Margaret Maher, in the penultimate match Gary Fanagan with Nikki Campbell lost their match against Michael Craven with Mary Downey by 4 and 2 and in the bottom match John Mills with Ger Moore had a convincing 5 and 4 win against Kevin Flanagan with Josephine Delaney.

Having accounted for Holywood Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches in the All-Ireland Semi-Final the previous day Rathfarnham Golf Club were drawn against Corrstown Golf Club on Sunday morning 19th September 2021 and lost their match by 4-matches to 1-match.
First on the tee was Jack Byrne who lost his match by 3 and 2 against Daniel Mahony, next up was Ronan Feighery who had a bad day when he lost his match by 6 and 5 against Derek Burke, they were followed by John Staunton against Andrew Baker this match went 5 and 4 to the North Dublin Club, the bottom two matches of David Ennis against Jonathan Gash and Alex Buckley against Jason Davis were both declared as halves when called-in.

Rathfarnham Golf Club qualifies by winning their Leinster Regional Final of the Irish Junior Cup to reach the Quarter Finals at Limerick Golf Club on Saturday 18th September 2021 when they played Holywood Golf Club when they won by 3½ -matches to 1½ -matches.
First on the tee was Jack Byrne who had a 2-hole win against Thompson Gedge, the next match of Ronan Feighery against Scott Templeton was halved, they were followed by John Staunton who lost his match against Jamie Nevin by 2 and 1, in the penultimate match David Ennis had a 2-hole win against Ryan McClelland and in the bottom match Alex Buckley got home by a 1-hole win against Sam Murray.

The Ladies of Rathfarnham Golf Club won East Leinster Final of the Irish Junior Cup at Seapoint Golf Club when they beat Elm Park Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match on Sunday 2th September 2018.

They were led out by Lynda Keartland (9) who beat Jenny Grier (9) by 1- hole she was followed by Pamela Cassidy (11) who had a 3 and 2 win over Colette Lanagan (9), next on the tee was Orla Gibbons (12) who recorded a 4 and 2 win over Kate Fleming (10), in the penultimate match Arlene Brislane (13) had a comfortable 5 and 3 win over Laura Fleming (11) and in the bottom match Nicola Campbell (14) went down to Helena Sheehan(11) by 4 and 3.

They beat Mid Leinster Champions Moate Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Friday 28th September at Knightsbrook Golf Hotel & Resort and recorded a 4-match to 1-match over the ladies from Westmeath.

They were led out again by Lynda Keartland who beat Carmel Connolly by 4 and 2, next on the tee was Carol Loftus who had a very comfortable 5 and 4 win over Sinead Healy, she was followed by Pamela Cassidy who halved her match against Helen Kelly in the penultimate match Orla Gibbons had a 4 and 2 win over Geraldine Coughlin and the bottom match Arlene Brislane was recorded as a draw against Veronica Golgan when called-in.

They met East Cork Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day retaining the same formation Lynda Keartland led them out again and had a 5 and 4 win over Deirdre O’Mahony, Carol Loftus beat Mairead Ni Mhurchu by 2-holes, she was followed by Pamela Cassidy who had a crushing 6 and 5 win over Tara McCarthy the penultimate match went to the ladies from Midleton when Orla Gibbons went down to Sal O’Leary by 4 and 3 and the bottom match Arlene Brislane was recorded as a halve against Anne O’Connor when called-in.

According to our records this is the first green pennant won by Rathfarnham Golf Club in either Men’s or Ladies section well done girls.  

Rathfarnham Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes when they beat Rathcore Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matche in the Provincial Decider in 2012.

They made the short journey across the Liffey to Clontarf Golf Club to compete in the National Deciders, where they were drawn against Ulster Champions Rosapenna Golf Club on Thursday 6th September.

They were led by Stuart Walker with Deirdre McDermott who lost out to Enda Kennedy with Dympna Kelly by 3 and 2, they were followed by Rory Crerar with Nikki Campbell who went down to Pat and Kit Boyce by 2 and 1. Next up was Stanley Lew with Vicky Jones who halved their match against Frank Casey with Terri McBride, the penultimate match of Declan Sweeney with Jane Jones went 6 and 4 to Con Boyce with Suzanne Gallagher, in the bottom match Mick Doyle with Grainne Moyles was halved with Marty McDermott with Orla Lenny. Rosapenna went on to beat Dromoland Castle in the All-Ireland Final the following day.       

Penny Walker won the Suzuki Silver Medal at Portarlington Golf Club on Monday 10th May 2010, when she shot a round of 70 to win by one shot over 71 Patricia Flood from Kilkea Castle Golf Club, Gillian Murphy of Edenmore Golf Club and Yvonne Manahan Castle Golf Club, standard scratch on the day was 74, a magnificent round of golf.

The Ladies of Rathfarnham Golf Club won the East-Leinster Final of the AA-Junior Foursomes ILGU Championship in 2008, they made their way to Limerick Golf Club to compete in the National deciders, where they met Connaught Champions Mountbellew Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final, first on the tee was Carol Cahill (19) with Grainne Moyles (24) who lost their match against Michelle Burke (18) with Noreen Treacy (21) by 5 and 3, the second match of  Christine Richardson (18) with Maebh Walsh (28) was a win over Siobhan Fallon (17) with Caroline Delaney (25), in the bottom match Roz Burgess (22) & Peggy Glasheen (25) lost their match by 2 and 1 against Kathleen Bergin (20) & Nora Madden (24).

2005 Lady Captain Maura McGrath and her Captain’s Prize winner Ann Reed qualified in the Volkswagen/Irish Independent Lady Captain’s Classic in this scotch foursomes format. It was off to the National Finals at The Heritage Golf Club on Monday 3rd October where they were paired with the Elm Park pair of Maura Mansfield and Lisa Murray.

They won Old Conna Seniors Invitation Trophy in 2003.

Rathfarnham won the Winsor Cup at Elm Park in April 2001. The winning team was Gretta Bailey, Anne Dalton and Jill Cole.

Prior to 2001:

Rathfarnham won the Leinster Junior Cup in 1954.

Rathfarnham won the Barton Cup in 1962, when the team was J. H. Brown, A. T. Begley, D. M. Beggs, P. Smith-Keary, R. Stevens, N. S. Montgomery, J. S. Miller, W. R. Tractor, W. I. Bailey, J. J. Fanagan, J. C. Malone, W. G. Smith, I. W. Taylor and R. G. Steele.

They won the Dublin Team Trophy in 1997, when the team was Joe Blain, Stanley Law, Ronan Kinahan (Team Captain) Joe Sheehan and Alan Hood, they were managed by Jack Gallagher.

They won the Metropolitan Dublin Captains Team Trophy in 1997, when the team was Billy Free, Joe Blain, Bobby Harris, Malcolm Taylor and Roger Ballagh, Roger was also the Individual winner.

They won the Irish Times Shield in 1962, when the team was D. M. Beggs, W. I.Bailey, I. W. Taylor, W. O'Sullivan J. J. Fanagan, J. C Malone, R. G. Steele and W. R. Tector.

They won it again in 1979, with J. Breslin, R. Ballagh, C. O'Carroll and C. Maltby.

They won the Jubilee Invitation Inter-club Trophy in 1999, when the team was David Cinnamond, Gerard Ryan, Donal Murphy and Barry Feenan (Team Captain) they were managed by Des Cole.

They won the Mercedes Benz Team Matchplay at Hermitage in June 1993, when the team was A. Burns, R. Ballagh, K. Reid and C. Maltby.

They won the Irish Region of the British Airways Team Championship in 1983, when the team was S. S. Murphy, G. P. McGrath, P. F. McGrath, A. E. Doherty, J. G. Fitzgerald, J. D. Gallagher, J. J. Beirne and C. O'Carroll.

They won the Holmpatrick Cup in 1986, with Ronan Kinahan and Jack Gallagher.

They won the White Horse Captains' Mixed Foursomes in 1973, with J. J. Fanagan and Mrs. E. K. Carter.

The Juniors won Tile Styal Trophy at Stackstown in 2002, when the team was Trevor Swanton, Niall Merriman and Nigel Stevens, they were selected by Des Cole.

Rathfarnham were Leinster Finalists in the Carroll's Irish Mixed Foursomes in 1978, when the team was C. H. Maltby, J. S. Miller, T. O'Donnell, J. Breslin, N. Gibson, Mrs. M. Lett, Mrs. M. Dunne, Mrs. A. Shannon, Mrs. N. Ross, Mrs. S. Gibson and Mrs. B. Coyne they were captained by K. D. Reid.

Rathfarnham G. C. won the Junior Cup Team Trophy at Edmondstown G. C. in 1999.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

I. Bailey represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level in 1963 playing 4-times won 0-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 0-points;

Miss Ena Brooks played for the Irish International Team in 1953, 1954 and 1956, she won the Leinster Scratch Cup in 1954, 1959 and 1962, she was Lady Captain in 1950;

History of Rathfarnham

Instituted 1899 affiliated 1900

The "Irish Times", on 5th April, 1899 records "It has been decided to establish a golf links at Butterfield, Rathfarnham the land of which containing about 50 acres were duly surveyed by T. Hood, professional of Royal Dublin Golf Club, who indicated the best positions for the greens and tees and reported that a very pretty and sporting course with nine-holes, to start with, could be had.

Mr John Lumsden and other competent authorities also inspected the grounds, the greens and tees have been made and the course is now ready for play. The club is a proprietary one, the liability of the members will be limited to their subscriptions, the present proprietor, Mr. P. V. Bogue, undertaking to keep the links in perfect order for a term of years. The following gentlemen consented to act as a committee for 1899: Sir F. Shaw, Bart., Messrs F. Franklin, F. P. Dixson, W, D. Murphy Dr. Albert Croly, Dr. Robert Browne, and Mr. P. V. Bogue, Proprietor as Secretary.

The first club fell into difficulties, and in 1903, Dr. Robert Brown, Dr. L. G. Gunn, G. N. McMurdo and F. P. Dixon signed the lease on the lands. The club had 200 members of which 90 were ladies".

Rathfarnham moved to its present location at Stocking Lane in the late 1960s, when P. V. Doyle bought the lands for housing and a Shopping Centre. Indeed, when my late parents moved to Rathfarnham in the late 1960s, the house they bought on Butterfield Avenue was built on the site of the old clubhouse. The same summer, as an architectural student, the first project I ever worked on was that Shopping Centre, which seemed to change every Monday morning!