Abbeyleix golf club Laois

Members Achievements

Abbeyleix Golf Club were Runners-Up in the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Junior Cup on Saturday 7th September 2024 at Athlone Golf Club when they lost out by 4-matches to 1-match against Athenry Golf Club. They were led out by Cathal Phelan who lost his match against Fergal Coyle by 4 and 3, he was followed by Enda Rowland who halved his match against Ciaran Coughlan, next on the tee was Cian Purcell who lost out by 7 and 6 against Jamie Holland, the penultimate match of Eoghan Fennelly against Nathan Mullins was halved and in the bottom match James Deegan lost his match by 4 and 3 against Brendan Dunne.
They met Monkstown Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final in the morning and recorded a 3-matches to 2-matches win against the Co. Cork Club. First on the tee was Cathal Phelan who lost his match by 6 and 5 win against Ed Farr, next up was Enda Rowland who had a 4 and 3 win against Philip Dorney, Cian Purcell lost his match by the minimum against Austin Hynes, in the penultimate match Eoghan Fennelly had a 2 and 1 win against Jake Morrisson and in the bottom match James Deegan had a 2-hole win against Kevin Power and their place in the decider.
The previous day they met Castle Golf Club in the Quarter-Final and put up a 4-matches to 1-match win against the South Dublin Club. As always Cathal Phelan led them out and put the first point on the board with a convincing 6 and 5 win against Stephen Finlan, next on the tee was Enda Rowland who beat Sam Sheppard by 5 and 4, Cian Purcell followed him and recorded a similar result against Adam Mooney, in the penultimate match of Eoghan Fennelly against Ross Kinsella was halved when called-in, and the bottom match of James Deegan against Fergal Moran had the same result.

Abbeyleix Golf Club were Runners-Up in the All-Ireland Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Shannon Golf Club on Saturday 21st September 2024 when they lost to Ardee Golf Club by 3-matches to 1-match in the final. First on the tee was Gearoid Purcell with Tom Reilly who finished All-Square with Peter Taaffe with Matthew Commins, they were followed by Dominic Dalton with Neil Condon who lost their match by 2-holes against Liam Travers with Mannie McLoughlin, in the penultimate match Noel Concannon with Daragh O'Rourke lost their match by 3 and 2 against Brian Keenan with Kevin Commins and the bottom match of Eugene Hearns with Martin Lawlor against Thomas Malone with Jamie Kelly was halved when called-in.
They played Clonakilty Golf Club the previous day in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and had to go up the 19th before securing their place in the decider. They were led out by Georoid Purcell with Tom Reilly who recorded a 3 and 2 win against Hugh Lyons with John Tanner, they were followed by Dominic Dalton with Neil Condon who lost out to Joseph O'Brien with Cormac Hall by 5 and 3, in the penultimate match Noel Concannon with Daragh O'Rourke had a 2 and 1 win against Paul Foley with Eoin Ryan and in the bottom match Donal O'Gorman with Eugene Hearns lost by 2-holes to Andrew Whelton with Pat Maguire.
They met Rathfarnham Golf Club at the same venue on 6th September and again they had to go up the 19th to book their place in the deciders, Dominic Dalton with Tom Reilly led them out and recorded a 2 and 1 win against Pearce Christie with Thomas Walsh, next on the tee was Noel Concannon with Daragh O'Rourke had a 5 and 3 win against Ross Dooley with Niall Jones, in the penultimate match  Martin Lawlor with Donal O'Gorman lost by the minimum against Matthew Kennedy with Thomas Brophy and in the bottom match Gearoid Purcell with Declan Clooney lost their match by 5 and 3 against David Howard with Conor Barnes.

Abbeyleix Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Quarter Finals of the Pierce Purcell Shield on Saturday 26th August 2023 at Abbeyleix Golf Club when they lost out to Spanish Point Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.
In the top match Mark Ring with Declan Devoy put the first point on the board with a 3 and 2 win against Mervin Hehir with Patrick Hogan, they were followed by Pat O'Rourke with Brian Burnell who lost their match by 6 and 5 against Gerard Talty with Michael O'Brien the next match of Aidan Dunphy with Conor Delaney against Niall Heeney with Liam Sheehan was a similar result at 6 and 5, in the penultimate match of Declan Moore with Michael Byrne lost their match by 4 and 3 against Michael Hayes with Damien Connellan and the bottom match of Donal O'Callaghan with John O'Donnell against Jonathan Kyle with Fergus O'Brien was halved.     
Abbeyleix Golf Club won the Leinster Central Regional Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield when they beat St. Helen’s Bay Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matchs at New Kilkenny Golf Club Saturday 29th July 2023.

Andreea Rogers won the Leinster Club Volunteer of the Year in 2023.

Abbeyleix Golf Club were Runners-up in the All-Ireland Final of  the Pierce Purcell Shield at Knightsbrook Golf Club on Saturday 17th September 2022 when they were drawn against Castlebar Golf Club and lost their match by 4-matches to 1-match.
Simon Walkin with Neil Condon led them out and lost their match by the minimum against Billy Evans with Ray Pendergast, next on the tee was Martin Lawlor with Gavin Bonham who lost their match by 4 and 3 against Paddy Burke with Sean Haugh, they were followed by Kevin Joyce with Mark Ring who halved their match against Tom Moylett with Declan Pendergast, in the penultimate match Anthony Collins with Pat O’Rourke lost out by 5 and 4 to Tommy Lawless with Colin Dawson and the bottom match of Declan Clooney with Matt Thornton against Johan Collins with Stephen Munnelly was halved when called-in.          
They qualified for Quarter-Finals of the Pierce Purcell Shield at Knightsbrook Golf Club on Thursday 15th September 2022 when they were drawn against Edmondstown Golf Club and won their match by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.
They were led out by Kevin Joyce with Mark Ring who won their match against Niall Clarke with Garry Goldsmith by 3 and 2, they were followed by Declan Clooney with Matt Thornton lost out by 4 and 3 against Cormac Egan with Fergal Morris, next on the tee was Simon Walkin with Neil Condon who had a very comfortable 6 and 5 win against Shane Guest with Richard O’Connor, in the penultimate match Martin Lawlor with Gavin Bonham had a 1-hole win against Liam Dean with Paul Byrne and the bottom match of Enda Cassin with Aidan Dunphy against Brian O’Grady with Pearse O’Sullivan was halved when called-in.
They met Mayobridge Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final the following day and recorded a 3-matches to 2-matches win against the County Down Club.
They were led out again by Kevin Joyce with Mark Ring who lost their match by 3 and 2 against Patrick McGivern with J. P. McIlvenny, they were followed by Simon Walkin with Neil Condon who had a very comfortable 6 and 5 win against Joseph Boyd with Colm Magee, next on the tee was Declan Clooney with Matt Thornton who had a 1-hole win against Conor McConville with John Brown, in the penultimate math Martin Lawlor with Gavin Bonham had a similar result against Shane Fagan with Barry O’Hara and with that a place in the All-Ireland Decider the following day and in the bottom match Enda Cassin with Aidan Dunphy lost their match against Gregory Devlin with Peter Travers by 5 and 4.     

Abbeyleix Golf Club who won the Central Leinster Pierce Purcell final on the 20th August 2022 at Enniscorthy Golf Club when they beat Portlaoise Golf Club.

Simon Cahill has the distinction of winning the last Captain's Prize on the old nine-hole course at Abbeyleix and the first Captain's Prize on the new eighteen-hole course. He secured his back-to-back Captain's Prizes with a fine opening eighteen of 63 followed by a 73 on the second day which was just enough to win by a shot from Tom Molumby.

D. Dunne had a hole-in-one at the 9th in his Captain's Prize on 5/9/99

Monica O'Reilly played for the Irish Girls in 1980

History of Abbeyleix

Affiliation was made to the GUI in 1905 under the Captaincy of Mr R. Hampton, B.A. who was the Head Master of Preston House.

The first site of the Club was probably on "The Island" between the Portlaoise and Ballyroan Roads. It is not known when the club moved to Ballymullen, but what is certain is, that the Club and its Links were based in Ballymullen in the years just prior to 1920.

Abbeyleix Golf Club was one of three Golf Clubs in Co. Laois at the time the others being The Heath Golf Club founded in 1890 and Portarlington Golf Club founded in 1908. Green fees were charged at 2 Shillings or the equivalent of 10 cents per day.

In 1921 the Club moved to Haywood, Ballinakill, Co. Laois.

In 1927 the club was on the move again this time to Rathmoyle, Co. Laois.

In 1932 the Club returned to its original location ay Ballymullen, and retained the site at Rathmoyle for winter golf for a short period from November 1934 to May 1935.

However the Club went into decline and closed in 1937, however the Ladies had affiliated to the ILGU before it closed, the affiliation took place on 23rd September 1930.

The Club was re-established on 28th May 1948 at Rathmoyle, Abbeyleix. In 1949 applied for and received a licence to sell intoxicating liquor, and some would say it never looked back.

The Club retained the services of Mel Flanagan to undertake the redesign and extension to an 18-Hole course. The new course opened on 17th September and Paddy Murphy then President of the GUI officially opened the New Course.

The first record of Abbeyleix Golf Club is in "The Golfing Annual" 1905-1906. Its foundation date is given as 1894, with R. Hampton as Captain and Rev. A. E. Bro, The Vicarage, Abbeyleix, as Hon. Secretary. The course was a nine-hole 2,154 yd‘s, located at Ballymullen, a mile from Abbeyleix Station. In 1927 a meeting of the club decided to lay out a new course on a Mr. Weld’s land at Rathmoyle House. It seems the club went into decline during the war years and an application for re-affiliation to the GUI. In June 1949 with Rev. Edward O’Byrne, C.C., as Captain.