Athy golf club Kildare

Members Achievements

The Ladies Athy Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland deciders of the Intermediate Cup at Limerick Golf Club on Thursday 16th September 2021 by winning their Leinster Regional Finals and were drawn against Doneraile Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals; they won their match by 3-matches to 2-matches.
First on the tee was Amy Kelly who won her match by 4 and 3 against Eleanor Coughlin, she was followed by Heather Hegarty who had one of those days when she lost out to Aoibheann Daly by 8 and 7, next on the tee was Siobhan Smith who won her match by 3 and 2 against Clare Hamilton, in the penultimate match Joan McDonald-Hyland had a similar result against Helen O’Keeffe and a place in the Semi-Finals and in the bottom match Catherine Moore lost out to Anna Cotter by 5 and 4.

Having accounted for the Ladies of Doneraile Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals the previous day they met the Ladies from Royal Tara in the Semi-Finals on the Friday and won their match by 3½-matches to 1½-matches
First on the tee was Amy Kelly who lost her match by 4 and 2 against Tanya Whyte, she was followed by Heather Hegarty who had a 4 and 3 win against Chris Murray, next up was Siobhan Smyth who had a 3 and 2 win against, in the penultimate match of Joan McDonald-Hyland against Anne Kelly was halved when called-in and in the bottom match Mary Mahon had a very convincing 6 and 5 win against Jane Beatty.    

They met fellow Leinster and Kildare club K Club in the All-Ireland Decider on the Saturday

They were led out by Amy Kelly who had a very comfortable 7 and 6 win against Pat Desmond, she was followed by Heather Hegarty who lost her match against Sally-Ann O’Connor by 2 and 1, the next match of Siobhan Smyth against Carol Barry was halved when called-in, in the penultimate match Joan McDonald-Hyland lost out to Noreen O’Grady by 6 and 5 and in the bottom match Mary Mahon lost by 3 and 2 against Beryl Bowden.                
Athy Golf Club won the Provincial Towns Cup in 2005, when the team was, Sean Hicks, Pat Smyth, John Moylan, Derek O'Donovan, John Redmond, Kieran O'Donovan, Willie Keatley, Brian Dunne, Mark Dwyer, Noel Foley, Ivor Hegarty, Leslie Gray and Cathal McCarthy, they were managed by, Pat May.  

They won the Barton Cup in 1911.

History of Athy

Instituted 1906 affiliated 1906

The foundation of Athy Golf Club is recorded in The Irish Times of 31^st January 1906. The meeting was presided over by Mr John A. Duncan, J.P. Before 1906, Athy Golf Club shared their golf with the men from Carlow, which was midway between the two towns, founded in 1899. The Golfing Annual, 1906-7, records the first course record by Mr. H. F. Lesmond, the Club Captain that year.

What the club tells us;

  The Irish Times 1906

At the commencement of 1906, a desire was generally expressed for a golf club, and the first circulars in connection with this desire were signed by Mr. John Corcoran, and those interested were Sir Anthony Weldon, Messrs Downey, White and Lesmond. The first meeting took place on January 30^th 1906, and the land at Geraldine was chosen as a suitable course. The Irish Times of January 31^st 1906 documents the initial meeting of the club. This meeting was presided over by Mr John A. Duncan J.P. Prior to 1906 the Athy golfers had played with the men of Carlow at Gotham(Founded 1899). Larkin, the Bray Club professional laid out holes and Barrett, late of Hermitage marked out the bunkers.

The Golfing Annual 1906/07records the first amateur course record by Mr. H.F. Lesmond in October of 1906. Mr Lesmond was the Captain in 1906/07.

  The Irish Field October 2^nd 1909

An article in the Irish Field of October, 2^nd 1909 describes a visit to Athy Golf Course by a correspondent.

The Great Southern and Western Railway Company run an admirable service of trains to Athy, which is only a little over an hour from Kingsbridge Station, Dublin. Athy was the capital of County Kildare. The Golf Course is a short mile from the town, and is situated at Geraldine on Mrs ONeills property. The course, therefore, cannot be called inaccessible.

I drove out to the course, which is at once seen to be pleasantly situated amidst picturesque surroundings. In some way it is similar to the Hermitage course, near Dublin, except it possesses only nine holes. Though short, the course is not very much spoilt thereby, as the shortness exists in three holes, all of which are exceptionally good and difficult enough for anyone. It is a course that should turn out good players, as there are testing shots of all kinds. The lies will improve with time, and are none too bad now. The greens, if a little weedy, are quite true and fast, and very well looked after. To my mind it is very creditable that so small a club should be able to keep its rich grass course open all the year round, as the expense must be considerable. Not only is this done but a capital professional in Devereux is employed. There are no very short handicap men in the club, but it is safe to prophesy that my promising players will very soon be lower than they are at present.

Mr C. W. Taylor, who had been the captain of the club for the past two years, has given a great deal of support to the club. The unselfish work of the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. P. Whelan, deserves honourable mention, as much of the financial success of the club is due to him. The work of the Hon Secretaries, Messrs P. Downey and Fitzpatrick must not be forgotten, as well all know how much depends on the secretaries of any clubs whether provincial or otherwise.