Tralee golf club Kerry

Members Achievements

The Ladies from Tralee Golf Club were Runners-Up the All-Ireland Final of the Women’s Junior Cup at Knightsbrook Golf Club on Sunday 18th September 2022 against the Ladies from Royal Portrush Golf Club and lost their match by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.
Emma Leahy led them out once more but lost her match against Poppy Hastings by 2 and 1, next on the tee was Lucy Grattan who lost out by 3 and 2 against Ella Proctor, she was followed by Emma Morrissey who lost her match by the minimum against Julia Currie, the penultimate match of Ella Moynihan against Deirdre Bones was halved when called-in and in the bottom match Sarah Fitzgerald had a comfortable 4 and 3 win against Siobhan McHugh.  
They qualified for the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals of the Women’s Junior Cup at Knightsbrook Golf Club on Friday 16th September 2022 and were drawn against the Ladies from Clandeboye Golf Club and won their match by 4-matches to 1-match.
Emma Leahy led them out and halved her match against Paula Hunter when called-in, she was followed by Lucy Grattan who had a very comfortable 5 and 4 win against Louise Bickerstaffe, next on the tee was Emma Morrissey who had a 3 and 2 win against Sonia Hopley, in the penultimate match Ella Moynihan beat Gillian Murphy by 5 and 4 and the bottom match of Sarah Fitzgerald against Aimee Blair was halved when called-in.
They met the Ladies from Newlands Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final the following day and recorded a resounding 4½-matches to ½-match win against the South Dublin Club.
Emma Leahy led them out again and put the first point on the board with a 1-hole win against Ann Hughes, next on the tee was Lucy Grattan who won her match by 2 and 1 against Leonie Colgan, she was followed by Emma Morrissey who beat Fiona Ryan by 4 and 3, in the penultimate match Ella Moynihan had a very convincing 7 and 5 win against Louise Halpin and the bottom match of Catherine McCarthy against Louise Murphy was halved when called-in.  

The Ladies from Tralee Golf Club qualified for the Women’s Junior Foursomes All-Ireland Series at Tramore Golf Club on Thursday 1st September 2022.
They were drawn against Killymoon Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals and won their match by 2-matches to 1-match.
First on the tee was Maria O’Connor with Lucy Grattan who had a 3 and 1 win against Diane McIvor with Oonagh McCoy, they were followed by Ella Moynihan with Laura Rafferty who lost their match by 4 and 2 against Kathryn Kerr with Avril Marshall and in the bottom match Gorretti O’Connor with Brid Halloran had a very convincing 5 and 3 win against Anne McMahon with Orla Lenny.
They met the Ladies from Edmondstown Golf Club the following day in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and recorded a 2-matches to 1-match win against the South Dublin Club.
First on the tee was Maria O’Connor with Lucy Grattan who had a 3 and 2 win against Ashling O’Hara with Shirley O’Donoghue, next up was Ella Moynihan with Laura Rafferty who had to go up the 21st before securing the point against Barbara Maher with Nuala Swaine and the bottom match of Gorretti O’Connor with Brid Halloran was a comfortable 5 and 4 win against Bernie Beirne with CaitrAona NaChochlailn which put them into the All-Ireland decider against Bearna Golf Club on the Saturday.
They met the Ladies from Bearna Golf Club in the All-Ireland decider and lost out by 2-matches to 1-match against the Galway Club.
First on the tee was Maria O’Connor with Lucy Grattan who lost their match by 2-holes against Ailis McDermott with Nuala Timoney, they were followed by Laura Rafferty with Ella Moynihan who had a 3 and 2 win against Caroline Codyre with Breda Davies, so it was all down to the bottom match of Gorretti O’Connor with Brid Halloran against Michelle Keenan with Siobhan Smyth but the 3 and 2 win went to the Ladies from Galway             

Tralee Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland Barton Shield deciders played at Tramore Golf Club on Thursday 1st September 2022.
They were drawn against Donaghadee Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals and lost out by 2-holes.
First on the tee was Joseph O’Neill with Anton O’Callaghan who halved their match against Neill Boyd with Wayne McCully next up was Darren O’Sullivan with Mark Gazi who lost out by 2-holes against Garth J. Boyd with Andrew Cregg.  

The Ladies of Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Ladies Minor Cup when they beat the Ladies of Castletroy Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches at Lee Valley Golf Club on Sunday 1st September 2019.
They were led out by Sandra O'Sullivan who won her match against Karen Butler by 1-hole, she was followed by Philomena Stack against Mary Bermingham their match was recorded as a halve when called-in, next on the tee was Angela Deenihan who lost her match against Maeve Skelly by 2 and 1, in the penultimate match Geraldine Reen had a 1-hole win against Miriam Ingerton and the bottom match of Antoinette Sayers against Aine Quinn recorded a similar result for the ladies from Kerry.

Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Final in the Barton Shield when they beat Castletroy Golf Club by 8-holes on their home course on Saturday 12th August 2017.
In the top match Darren O’Sullivan with Eoghan O’Donnell had a 2-hole win over Andrew McCormack with Darragh Walsh and in the second match Ger Deegan with Fergal O’Sullivan had a comfortable 6-hole win over Jack Ryan with Dean McMahon and a place in the All-Ireland Deciders.
They made their way to Carton House Golf Club in Co. Kildare where the met Connaught Champions Galway Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final Darren O’Sullivan with Eoghan O’Donnell lost out by 1-match against Joe Lyons with Luke O’Neill and in the bottom match Fergal O’Sullivan with Rory Hill lost out by 3-holes against Ronan Mullarney with Liam Power. Galway went on to play Ulster Champions Warrenpoint Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final and lost by a similar margin.   

Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Junior Cup when they beat County Tipperary Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches at Cork Golf Club on Sunday 14th August 2016. They were led out by Gareth O’Donnell who lost to Thomas Hewitt by 4 and 3, he was followed by Kevin Lucey who had a 2 and 1 win over Oliver Carr, next up was Verner Tess who had a very comfortable 6 and 4 win over Alan Horgan in the penultimate match Danny Leen beat Brian Webster by 5 and 4 the bottom match of Donie O’Keeffe was halved against Brian Slattery when called in.

They made their way to Carton House Golf Club to compete in the All-Ireland deciders and drew Leinster Champions Castle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. They led out again by Gareth O’Donnell who had a 1-hole win over Kevin Moran, he was followed by Kevin Lucey who lost out to Harry Gleeson by a similar margin, next on the tee was Verner Tess who went all the way to the 19th before conceding the point to Paul Whelan, in the penultimate match Danny Leen had a 2 and 1 win over Fergal Moran, with a place in the All-Ireland Final depending on the bottom match T. Leahy lost out to young Tommy Smyth (15-year old) by 3 and 2. The reserves were Michael Sheehy Jnr., Killan Wolf, James O’Halloran, Mark Leahy and Max Benner.

Castle went on to win their first All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup Green Pennant when they beat Ulster Champions Lurgan Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches in the final the following day.

Sara Fitzgerald (12) with Aoife Crowley (13) won the May Fitzgibbon Under-19 All-Ireland Foursomes on Monday 28th July 2014 at Greystones Golf Club, when they returned a score of 35pts. to beat Elisa Corcoran (8) (Grange G. C.) and Ellen O'Gorman (11) (Milltown G. C.) on 34pts. and Sophie Dodd (18) with Lisa Sweeney (23) (Enniscrone G. C.) on 34pts. on the back 9.

Tralee Golf Club won the Dr. Bill O’Sullivan Shield in 2012, when the team was Dominic Foley, Stephen Renardson, Billy Myles, Noel Barrett, Pat Walsh, Neil Dempsey, Jim O’Connor, Denis Murphy, Robert O’Brien, Tony Cahill, Michael Geoghegan, Denis Lyons and Michael Brosnan: they were managed by Pat O’Meara and Richard Barrett.   

The Girls of Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Under-19 Girls Inter-Club Challenge at Mitchelstown Golf Club in 2011, when the team was Grace Hickie, Aoife Crowley, Avril Peevers, and Cara O’Mahony; they were managed by Lorraine Peevers and captained by Jane Hickie.

Tralee Golf Club won the All-Ireland J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy at Wooden Bridge Golf Club in 2008, when the team was Conor Stack, Dominic Stack, Rory Kilgallen, Dermot Walsh, Denis Lyons, Seamus Mac Gearailt, Billy Naughton, Harry Dawson, Sean Corcoran, Dick Barrett, Eugene O’Callaghan, Denis Mannix, Pat Connelly, Denis Reen, W. J. Morrissey and John O’Driscoll, they were managed by Gene Kelly and selected by Tom Egan.

Tralee Golf Club won the Kerry Junior League in 2005, when the team was, Jason Peevers, Eoghan O'Donnell, Mark O'Sullivan, Gareth O'Donnell, Cian Scollard and Darren O'Sullivan.

Our congratulations, to Tralee Golf Club on winning, the Munster AIB-GUI-ILGU award in the Clubhouse-Course Presentation Category in 2003.

Mary Sheehy was selected on the Munster Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial's at the Island Golf Club on the 8th to the 10th August 2001.

Lady Captain Irene Prendergast (30) and her Captain's Prize-winner Veronica Blennerhassett (13) came second in the regional qualifier of the Volkswagen-Irish Independent Lady Captains' Classic at The Royal Dublin Golf Club in September 2001. They were beaten on a count back with 40pts. It was on to the National Finals at Druid's Glen on the 1st October.

M. Lawlor was elected to the council of the Munster Branch of the GUI for 2001.

Prior to 2001:

Joseph Quinlan was President of the GUI in 1989.

Tralee Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Mixed Foursomes at Castletroy G. C. in 1989, when the team was, Brian Hennebery, Donal Houlihan, Paddy O'Looney, Veronica Blennerhassett, Moira O'Brien, Mick Coote, Maura Shanahan, Jayne Gilmore, John Keane, Margaret Hayes, Eileen Corcoran, Anton Casey, Kieran O'Sullivan, Ann Morrissey, Deirdre McElligott and Gerard O'Sullivan, they were managed by Paddy Carey.

They won the Munster Final of the Barton Shield in 1981, when the team was Michael Coote, Arthur Spring, Gerard O'Sullivan, Paudie Ryan and Michael Hickey, the selectors were Billy Naughton and Billy Morrissey.

Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 1983, when the team was Brian Hennebery, P. Mulcaire, Arther Spring, Mick Coote, G. O'Sullivan and P. Ryan, they were managed by Billy Naughton.

They won the Munster Final of the J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy in 2000, when the team was Tom Nix, Denis Lyons, Michael Hennebery, Michael Lynch, Rory Killallen, Tony Cahill, Dick Chute, Neal Timlin, Dominic Foley, John O'Driscoll, Pat Williams, Eamon O'Mahony, they were managed by Seamus McGearailt.

They won the Munster Final of the Irish Junior Foursomes in 1996, when the team was Marcus Pull, Russell McKenna, Paddy McElligott, Brian Sheehy, Kevin Lucey and John P. O'Neill, they were managed by Donal O'Connell and selected by Bob O'Brien.

Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes in 1992 and were runners-up in the All-Ireland Final, when the team was Deirdre McElligott, Anton Casey, Ann Morrissey, Arthur Spring, Fran McElligott, Gerard O'Sullivan, Jayne Gilmore, Emer Lardner, Donie Houlihan, Mary Scully, John Hickey, Maura Shanahan and Brian Hennebery, they were managed by P. J. Carey and selected by Peg Clifford and Der O'Sullivan.

They won the Munster Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes again in 1994, when the team was F. McElligott, M. Shanahan, E. Corcoran, C. O'Mahony, Veronica Blennerhassett, G. O'Sullivan, M. Coote, B. Hennabery, D. McElligott, G. Kelly, A. Casey, D. Houlihan, they were managed by Richard O'Sullivan and selected by Moira O'Brien.

Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes for the first time in 1979, when the team was K. Moore, S. Buckley, W. Morrissey, R. O'Sullivan, D. Kenny, D. McElligott, N. O'Sullivan, B. Brosnan, S. Guinane, G. O'Sullivan, Arthur Spring, J. Quinlan, B. Naughton and P. Toban.

Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Country Clubs Cup for the first time in 1975, when the team was P. Ryall, B. Griffin, M. Murphy, R. Green, S. Moriarty, S. O'Connor and G. Moore. They won it again in 1978, when the team was Louis Quinlan, J. F. Lawlor, Eamonn McSweeney, M, Murphy, P. J. Ryall and Michael Hennebery, they were managed by M. O'Brien.

They won it for the 3rd time in 1980, when the team was Bryan Cunningham, Arthur Hanly, Billy O'Lehan, J. J. O'Neill, Gerald Carey, Louis Quinlan and Eamon McSweeney. They won it last in 1983, when the team was, M. Hobbert, J. O'Driscoll, M. Hennebery, S, O'Connor, M. O'Brien, N. Quirke, G. Carey, P. Tobin and D. Lyons.

Tralee won the Dr. Billy O'Sullivan Shield in 1998, when the team was Brian Sheehy, Joe Hennebery, Jim Foley, Rory Kilgallen, P. O'Meara, Richard Barrett, Noel P. Barrett, R. Boyle, J. P. Brick, Ogie Moran and John L. McElligott, they were managed by Pierce Wall.

They won it for the first time in 1995, when the team was Ned Buckley, Billy Daly, Michael Brosnan, Brian Sheedy, Sean Walsh, Padraig Corcoran, Tony O'Keeffe, Tom McGiff, Joe Hennebery, Pat Laffan and Willie Palmer, they were managed by Pierce Wall with the assistance of Brendan Harney.

Tralee won the Kerry Shield in 1998, when the team was, Denis Lyons, Frank Stephenson, Dominic Foley, Billy Naughton, Gene Kelly, Richard Rafferty and Eugene O'Callaghan, they were captained by Nial Timlin.

The Ladies of Tralee Golf Club won the Munster Cup in 1995, when the team was, Veronica Blennerhassett, Mary Barrett, and Bernie Rohan.

They won the ILGU Intermediate League in 1991, when the team was Deirdre McElligott, Cora O'Mahony, Maura Shanahan, Moira O'Brien and Ann Morrissey, they were captained by Mary Sheehy.

They won it for the first time in 1982, when the team was, B. Kelly, Susan Buckley, Mary Sheehy, Nuala O'Sullivan, Ann Morrissey, D. McElligott and B. O'Mara.

Tralee Ladies won the Munster Ladies' Junior League at Thurles Golf Club in 1983 when the team was, C. O'Sullivan, J. Kennedy, M. Doyle, P. Clifford, A. Cunningham, they were captained by M. Kelly.

They won the Munster Ladies' Minor League in 1988, when the team was M. McKenna, M. Kelliher, M. Lawlor, B. McGearailt, N. Dawson, R. Reen, A. King and J. Kelly, they were captained by Ann Lynch.

Eoin Liston and Mick Sheehy, two of the great Kerry football team played in the Tralee Lions Club charity outing in 2000. Eoin playing off 12 returned 38pts to take first prize. Mick was not far behind with his 36pts.

On 11-7-99, Ger Power, who has had many a great performances in the Kerry colours, showed his prowess on the golf course, when shooting a 68 net to achieve a runaway victory in the J. P. Griffin medal and was delighted to see his handicap cut to 4.6. This is one of the wonderful things about golf it gives sportsmen a second chance to compete.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

J. H. Rice represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1947 to 1952 playing 12-times won 5-matches halved two and lost 5-match accumulating 12-points;

Graham Spring represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1996 playing 5-times won 2-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 4-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1991 playing 4-times won 0-matches halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 1-point. He represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1995 to 1996 playing 12-times won 10-matches halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 21-points. He represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1992 playing 6-times won 4-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 8-points;

M. Coote represented Ireland at Senior (55+) in 2008 playing 3-times won 2-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 4-points;

G. O’Sullivan represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1988 to 1993 playing 21-times won 11-matches halved one and lost 9-matches accumulating 23-points. He represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1978 to 1980 playing 9-times won 6-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 12-points;

Arthur Spring represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1977 to 1984 playing 19-times won 10-matches and lost 9-matches accumulating 20-points. He represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1970 playing 2-times won 0-matches halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 1-point;

P. Mulcare* represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1967 playing 2-times;

P. P. Ryan represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1974 playing 4-times won 4-matches and lost 0-matches accumulating 8-points;

John Moran played for Munster in the inaugural Boys under-15 Interprovincial Championships in 2010, playing 3-matches won 0-matches halved one and lost 2-matches accumulating 1-point;

R. Walsh played Munster Youths' in 1998;

Mary Sheehy was a reserve on the Ladies' Senior Munster team, which played in the Interprovincial Championship at Portstewart G.C., from the 9th to the 11th August, 2000.

Deirdre O'Sullivan played for the Irish Girls' in 1965 against Wales;

Susan Buckley played for the Irish Girls' in 1974;

Siobhan McCarthy played for the Irish Girls' in 1975;

History of Tralee

Instituted 1896 affiliated 1907

It is of interest to record that the early Tralee course had two courses, a nine-hole course close to Fenit Station, seven miles from Tralee, and an eighteen-hole half a mile from Castlegregory station, sixteen miles from Tralee. The club had 120 members and the annual subscription was ten shillings. There were two changes before 1898-the club membership had fallen by 40 and the course at Fenit had been closed and a new nine-hole course was opened at Sportsfield, Tralee.

It would appear the early club went into decline and the "Golf Illustrated" on the 22nd February 1907, reports "During the past week we have learned of the establishment of two new clubs. Tralee in Co. Kerry is at last turning its eyes from the scenery to the golf ball. Land has been secured close to the county town, sufficient members (120) have been enrolled to make the club financially b. At a public meeting last week the golf club was organised"

C. H. Hardy and C. F. Dowling were the Hon. Secretaries. C. F. Dowling was a link to the original club as he was listed as Hon. Secretary in 1898. Lionel Hewson recorded laying out an eighteen-hole course at Oak Park Demesne during the troubles. The year was 1923.

Hewson later records in 1948 that the club had bought land at Lasseugh. The club's final move was to its present location at the Burrow, Ardfert. The course is the first course designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, outside of the USA.

What the Club tells us:

Instituted October 1, 1896, Tralee Golf Club opened its present Arnold Palmer-designed course for play at Barrow in October, 1984, after moving from its nine-hole course at Mounthawk near Tralee. It was a great achievement for the Club. Having decided to buy land at Barrow back in 1980, the members dream of seeing the Club attain world-wide status has been realized.

Back in 1896 the Club had its first nine-hole course in Tralee, believed to be where the Sports field is now located. A year later, in 1897, it opened a nine-hole course in Fenit on the south-western side of Barrow Harbour. There were 120 members then (compared to today's 1,300) who paid a subscription of 10 shillings a year, with visitors having one week free play as introduction.

During the 'Troubles', in the 1920's, a Captain Lionel Hewson was hired to design a new course in Oakpark, Tralee. He was suspicious of the men who sat around on the demesne walls watching him while he measured and made notes. He wrote later that 'bullets used to fly in those days on little provocation. He had reason to cast a wary eye - a Major McKinnon in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary was shot dead on the course in March, 1921, while playing golf.

The above is an excerpt from a book on the local area entitled Links: Barrow & Hinterland by Mary O'Connor.