Laytown and Bettystown golf club Meath

Members Achievements

Alex Maguire was selected on the 10-man team that represent GB & Ireland against the US in the 49th Walker Cup Matches at the Old Course St. Andrew’s on Saturday 2th September and 3rd September 2023.
The Other Irish on the team were Mark Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) Liam Nolan (Galway Golf Club) and Matthew McClean (Malone Golf Club) they lost the match by 14½-matches to 11½-matches.   

Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Regional Final of the Leinster North Fred Perry Trophy on Sunday 13th August 2023 at Glasson Golf Club when they went down to Killeen Castle Golf Club 3½-matches to 1½-matchs.

Ellen O'Gorman was selected on the Leinster Women’s Interprovincial Championship team at Moyvalley Golf Club from Tuesday 29th August to Thursday 31st August 2023.
Other members of the team were Rachel McDonnell (Elm Park Golf Club), Jan Browne (Kilkenny Golf Club), Anna Abom (Edmondstown Golf Club), Jenny Maguire (Foxrock Golf Club), Mary Dowling (New Ross Golf Club) and Ellen O'Shaughnessy (Co. Louth Golf Club).
They were Captained by Una Marsden (Tullamore Golf Club) and Managed by Orla Darcy (Naas Golf Club).

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club qualified for the Women’s Senior Cup All-Ireland Series at Tramore Golf Club on Friday 2nd September 2022.
They played the Ladies of Roscommon Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals and lost out by 3-matches to 2-match.
Eleanor Metcalfe led them out but lost her match by 4 and 3 against Olivia Costello, she was followed by Rachel Taylor who beat Sinead Benedetti by 2 and 1, next on the tee was Phil O’Gorman who had a 3 and 2 win against Ruth Lennon, in the penultimate match Barbara Cooney lost out to Blaithin O’Brien by 2-holes and in the bottom match Aimee Wickham lost her match by 5 and 4 against Paula Quinn.     

Alex Maguire won the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Co. Louth Golf Club on the 6th June 2022, when he shot 280 to beat Caolan Rafferty from Dundalk Golf Club and Jack McDonnell from Forrest Little Golf Club by 2 shots.

Alex Maguire was, selected on the 2023 Golf Ireland Men’s High Performance Squad.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Mid-Leinster Final of the Irish Senior Cup to the Ladies of Woodbrook Golf Club at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club on 19th May 2019 when they lost out by 3½-matches to 1½-.
They were led out by Carol Wickham who won her match against Sue Philips by 3 and 3, she was followed by Alison Taylor who drew her match against Nicola Coffey , next on the tee was Rachel Taylor who lost out to Lauren Murray by 3 and 2, in the penultimate match Phil O'Gorman lost her match by 4 and 2 against Siobhan McCartan and in the bottom match Barbara Cooney had one of those days when she lost her match by 7 and 5 against Emma O’Brien.
However the result was good enough to qualify for the All-Ireland Deciders at the Killeen Course, Killarney in August where they met defending Champions Lahinch Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals and lost by 4-matches to 1-match.
They were led out again by Carol Wickham who lost her match against Chloe Ryan by 3 and 2, next on the tee was Ellie Metcalfe who halved her match against Sinead Sexton when called-in, she was followed by Rachel Taylor who lost by 6 and 5 against Aideen Wash, in the penultimate match Barbara Cooney went down by 5 and 4 against Niamh O’Dwyer and the bottom match of Aimee Wickham against Sarah Cunningham was halved when called-in.
The Ladies of Lahinch Golf Club went on to retain the Irish Senior Cup when beating Killarney Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the East Leinster Final of the Senior Foursomes when they beat Newlands Golf Club by 2-matches to 1-match at Seapoint Golf Club on Sunday 2nd September 2018.

They were led out by Carol Wickham (0) with Marita Leech (14) who won their match against Esme Murphy (3) with Mary K O’Mahony (12) by 3 and 2, next on the tee was Barbara Cooney (5) with Aimee Wickham (9) who recorded a 2 and 1 win over Mags O’Connell (7) with Rebecca Carroll (8) and in the bottom match Phil O’Gorman (5) with Vivienne Branigan (11) lost out to Orla Heffernan (6) with Rosealeen Cunningham (10) by 6 and 5.

They made their way to Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort to participate in the All-Ireland Deciders where they met Mid Leinster Champions Kilkenny Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 27th September and won their match by 2½ -matches to ½ -matches against the ladies from the Marble City.

They were led out again by Carol Wickham with Marita Leech who had a 3 and 2 win over Sarah Molloy with Bridie McGarry they were followed by Vivienne Branigan with Eleanor Metcalfe who recorded a halve against Ann Geoghegan with Eve Duggan when called in and the bottom match of Barbara Cooney with Aimee Wickham was a resounding 6 and 5 win over Margaret Cuddihy with Mary Norton and their place in the All-Ireland Final.

The following day they met Connacht Champions Roscommon Golf Club in the National Decider and won by 2-matches to 1-match to win the green pennant. They retained the same line up and Carol Wickham with Marita Leech lost the top match by 2-holes to Sinead Benedetti with Joan O’Gara, in the middle match Vivienne Branigan with Eleanor Metcalfe had to go up the 20th before securing the point against Chloe O’Connor with Ciara Hereward-Ryan and the bottom match of Barbara Cooney with Aimee Wickham clinched the All-Ireland when they beat Ruth Lennon with Mary Lalor by 3 and 1.  

Daniel Mulligan was awarded the Under-14 Leinster GUI Golfer’s Order of Merit in 2018.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Ladies Senior Cup on Saturday 16th August 2014 at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Golf & Country Club, when the beat Killarney Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match in the decider.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the East Leinster Final of the Irish Senior Cup at Milltown Golf Club on Sunday 11th May 2014, they beat Donabate Golf Club by 3½ matches to 1½ matches in the First Round and Hermitage Golf Club in the Quarter Finals by 4-matches to 1-match.
They met the home team in the Semi-Final and had a 3½ matches to 1½ matches win over Milltown, they met the Ladies from Elm Park Golf Club in the decider, they were led by Carol Wickham who beat Ariana Coyle-Diez by 1-hole, she was followed by Alison Taylor who lost her match against Louise Mernagh by the single hole next on the tee was Rachel Taylor who recorded a convincing 6 and 5 win over Jane Conan, in the penultimate match Barbara Cooney suffered a crushing defeat of 6 and 5 against  Rachel McDonnell, it was down to the bottom match of Ellie Metcalfe against Lisa Cogan when the Co. Meath team clinched the pennant with a 4 and 2 win and booked their place in the All-Ireland Decider at Mount Wolseley Golf Club on 15-16 August.

They met Munster Runners-up, Douglas Golf Club in the Quarter-Finals on the Friday morning and were led by Carol Wickham who beat Kate MacCann by 2 and1, she was followed by Alison Taylor who halved her match with Karen O'Neill, next on the tee was Rachel Taylor who recorded a 4 and 3 win over Tara Gribben, in the penultimate match Phil O'Gorman lost out to Eavan Higgins by 6 and 4, the bottom match of Barbara Cooney against Edel Coyne went 6 and 5 to the Co. Meath Ladies.

In the afternoon they met a strong Kilkenny team in the Semi-Finals and were once again led by Carol Wickham who lost lost out to Mary Dowling 1-hole, she was followed by Alison Taylor who had a 5 and 3 win over Katie Aherne 5, next up was Rachel Taylor who recorded a 3 and 2 win over Orla Dunphy, in the penultimate match Barbara Cooney lost to Mary Leahy Browne on the 19th, the bottom match Eleanor Metcalfe clinched their place in the All-Ireland decider when she beat Ann Smee on the 19th.

They met Munster Champions Killarney Golf Club in the All-Ireland Decider, when yet again they were led out by the legendary Carol Wickham who had to produce some magic to win her match on the 19th against Mairead Martin when she birdied 13, 14 and 15 to secure the pennant and her second All-Ireland as indeed she also played on the 1988 team, She was followed by Alison Taylor who had a 5 and 4 win over Caitriona Griffin, next up was Rachel Taylor who recorded a 3 and 2 win over Valerie Clancy, in the penultimate match Barbara Cooney halved her match against Claire Keating as did Ellie Metcalfe against Nicola Rainsford when called in.

So Laytown & Bettystown recorded their second ever Irish Ladies Senior Cup victory.

Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Irish Junior Cup when they beat Grange Castle by 3½ to 1½ matches at Corrstown Golf Club on Sunday 28th July 2013.They made the relatively short trip to Royal Tara Golf Club to participate in the National Deciders.
They met a very youthful Munster Champions Ballybunion Golf Club in The All-Ireland Semi-Final. They were led by R. O’Gorman who went to the 20th before losing out to 16-year old John Molyneaux, he was followed by M. Gogarty who lost out by 4 and 2 to Frank Geary, next up was E. Collins who had a comfortable 5 and 3 win over Senan Carroll, in the penultimate match C. Taylor lost by 2-holes to Richard Hanley the bottom match of S. Ward against Jason Lynch was halved when called in. So it was not to be for them to bring back the green pennant last won in 1997 at Dundalk Golf Club.

Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 2009, their Centenary year they were drawn against Connacht Champions Galway Golf Club at Tullamore Golf Club in September.

First on the tee was Robert Cannon who won his match against Dave Scully by the solidity hole. He was followed by John McGinn against Eddie McCormack this time Eddie had a convincing 5 and 4 win over his fellow international. Next up was Stephen Barry against Damien Coyne who won his match on the 19th. Russell Durnin had a similar result, but in reverse against Damien Glynn. With everything hanging on the bottom match of Padraig Rafferty against Galway anchor man Joe Lyons the result was almost inevitable and Joe delivered a resounding 5 and 4 win putting Galway into the All-Ireland Final against Munster Champions West Waterford whom they beat by 3½ matches to 1½ matches in the All-Ireland Final.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won their Regional Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 2009 and made their way to Mount Wolseley Golf Club in Co. Carlow where they were drawn against Roscommon Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals on Friday 14th August.

They were led by Alison Taylor who beat Sinead Benedetti by 3 and 2. She was followed by Carol Wickham who beat Mary Seymour by 3 and 1. Next on the tee was Tracy Eakin against Ann McCormack who had a resounding 7 and 6 win over the lady from the west, to secure the points and their passage to the All-Ireland Semi-Final. The remaining two matches of Phil O'Gorman against Ruth Lennon and Barbara Cooney against Ailbhe Farrell were called in.

They met Kilkenny Golf Club the following morning Alison Taylor again led them out against Eileen Rose Power, she went down by 6 and 5 to Kilkenny’s star player. She was followed by Carol Wickham who lost to Mary Dowling by 2 and 1. Next on the tee was Tracy Eakin who had a similar result against Orla Dunphy. The penultimate match of Phil O'Gorman against Mary Leahy-Browne was halved and the bottom match of Barbara Cooney against Anne Smee also went to the ladies from the Marble City. Kilkenny went on to meet Royal Portrush Golf Club in the decider and had a trilling 3 matches to 2 matches over the ladies from North Antrim.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won their Regional Final in the Suzuki Senior Cup and participated in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals at Milltown Golf Club on Friday 31st August 2007 where they were drawn against Carlow Golf Club.

First on the tee was Alyson Taylor who won her match against Aedin Murphy by 2-up, she was followed by Carol Wickham who halved her match against Madeline Brennan. Next up was Tracy Eakin who won her match against Catherine Delaney by 4 and 3. The penultimate match of Phil O'Gorman against Susan Redmond went the way of the Co. Meath ladies and the bottom match Noeline Quirke was halved with Carmel Roche, giving Laytown & Bettystown a 4 matches to 1 match result and a place in the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Royal Portrush Golf Club on the Saturday Morning.

Alyson Taylor again led the way against Gemma Hegarty and had a 2-hole win to put the first points on the board. She was followed by Tracy Eakin who lost her match by 4 and 2 to Helen Jones. Next up was Carol Wickham against Lucy Simpson this match went up the 19th before it went to the ladies from North Antrim. The penultimate match was halved between Phil O'Gorman and Lisa McMeekin Noeline Quirk lost the bottom match against Sonya Verschuur by 6 and 5. So Royal Portrush went through to the All-Ireland decider in the afternoon on a 3 ½ matches to 1 ½ matches score line.

Laytown & Bettystown won the Leinster Final of the BMW Irish Mixed Foursomes and were drawn against Connacht Champions Enniscrone in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals at Belvoir Park Golf Club on September 17th 2002. They beat the Connacht Champions by four and a half matches to a half. They met Bandon in the final and lost out by three and a half to one and a half. The team was Jimmy Clynch with Barbara Cooney, Alan Mullen with Olive McKee, Finbar Whelan with Louise McAuley, Michael Cormican with Phyllis Power and Seamus Ward with Avril Jenkinson.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the ILGU All-Ireland Junior Cup in 2002, when the team was, Brenda Phelan, Pat Eakin, Susan Clark, Ann McAuley, Carmel McCrink and Alice O'Neill, they were managed by Margaret Spellman.

Stephen Barry 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., 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:

Laytown & Bettystown won the All-Ireland Barton Shield at Royal Co. Down G. C. in 1983, when the team was, Val Smyth, Declan Branigan, Ray Moore, Michael Delany, Tom Delany, Frank Flynn, Pat Rooney and Jimmy Flynn, they were managed by Donie McDonagh.

The won the All-Ireland Irish Junior Cup at Dundalk G. C. in 1997, when the team was, Derry Alwright, John Mullen, Jimmy Mooney, Donal O'Brien, Ivor Leahy, Finbar Whelan, Pat O'Brien, they were managed by Pat O'Neill.

Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the Barton Cup in 1947, when the team was, P. J. Gray, Peter Grey, O. M. Lochrin, C. W. Murdock, D. Somers, P. J. Delany, J. O. P. Roche, J. J. Crotty and P. Lynch.

They won the Leinster Final of the Irish Senior Cup and were runners-up in the All-Ireland Final in 1982, when the team was, Pat Rooney, Ray Moore, Jimmy Flynn, Val Smyth, Frank Flynn, Declan Branigan and Richie McDonnell, they were managed by Michael Delany and selected by Tom Delany.

They won the Provincial Towns' Cup in 1940, when the team was, B. Davis, R. Hammond, T. Delany, P. Lynch, F. O. Gogarty, E. Delany, O. T. Somers, C. W. Murdock. D. Dwyer and P. Gray.

They won the Newsam Cup in 1981, when the team was, Paddy Monaghan, Leo Boyle, Aidan O'Reilly, Jimmy McDonough, Eugene Corrigan, Peter Flynn, Charley McCarthy, Joe McGinn, John Taylor, Sean McCormack and Declan Flynn.

The Juveniles' of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Irish Junior Foursomes Smurfit Trophy in 1995, when the team was, John Curran, Donal O'Brien, Jimmy Mooney and John Blood, they were managed by Pat O'Brien assisted by David Fitzgibbon.

They won it prior to that in 1974, when the team was, Noel Barron, Victor Dwyer, John Whyte, Paul Cahill, Pat Rooney, Frank Flynn and Kevin Garvey.

The Ladies of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club won ILGU All-Ireland Senior Cup in 1988, when the team was, Carol Wickham, Pat Eakin, Mary Delany, Tracy Eakin, Ann McAuley and Noeline Quirke.

They won the ILGU Leinster Final and were runners-up in the All-Ireland Senior Cup in 1990, when the team was, Philomena Wickham, Pat Eakin, Noeline Quirke, Ann McAuley, Tracy Eakin and Carol Wickham, they were captained by Eveleen Higgins.

They won the ILGU Leinster Final and were runners-up in the All-Ireland Senior Cup in 1981, when the team was, Philomena Wickham, Mary Delaney, Marie McAuley. Carol Wickham, Pat Eakin, Ann McAuley and Noeline Quirke.

They won the Townsend Cup in 1995, when the team was, Mary Delany, Alice O'Neill, Susan Clark, Millie Wade, Carmel McCrink, Margaret Regan, Carol Wickham, Ann McAuley, Noeline Quirke and Patricia McAllister, they were captained by Anne Cooney.

The Girls' won the All-Ireland Juvenile Girls' Smurfit Trophy in 1978, when the team was Joan Cahill, Carol Wickham and Ann McAuley.

They were Leinster Champions in the Smurfit Juvenile Girls' Trophy in 1983, when the team was, Marie McDonough, Tracy Eakin and Suzanne Eakin. 

Seamus Ward won the Lord Mayor's Cup at Clontarf Golf Club in 1992 and Finbar Whelan won it after that in 1995.

Michael Sweeney won the Leinster Boys' under-15 at The Island Golf Club in 1997.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

Declan Branigan represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1975 to 1982 playing 27-times won 9-matches halved four and lost 14-matches accumulating 22-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1972 to 1990 playing 84-times won 56-matches halved two and lost 26-matches accumulating 114-points. He represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1970 playing 4-times won 2-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 4-points;

Robert Cannon represented Ireland as a Senior International in 2009 playing 6-times won 1-match halved two and lost 3-matches accumulating 4-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 2001 to 2009 playing 20-times won 11-matches halved two and lost 7-matches accumulating 24-points;

Des Smyth represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1972 to 1973 playing 16-times won 7-matches halved one and lost 8-matches accumulating 15-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1971 to 1973 playing 14-times won 9-matches halved one and lost 4-matches accumulating 19-points.he represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial from 1970 to 1971 playing 4-times won 3-matches halved one and lost 0-matches accumulating 7-points;

Val Smyth represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1981 to 1982 playing 12-times won 5-matches halved one and lost 6-matches accumulating 11-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1970 to 1984 playing 34-times won 27-matches and lost 8-matches accumulating 54-points. He represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial from 1966 to 1970 playing 6-times won 3-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 6-points;

F. Flynn was selected as an Irish international at Youths’ level in 1980. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level in 1983 playing 5-times won 4-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 8-points. represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial from 1978 to 1980 playing 11-times won 8-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 16-points;

Stephen. Barry represented Ireland at international Boys level in 2010 playing 4-matches, won 3-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 6-points. He represented Leinster at Boys  Interprovincial level from    2008 to 2010 playing 17-times won 9-matches halved one and lost 7-matches accumulating 19-points;

J. J. Clynch represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1969 to 1975 playing 11-times won 5-matches halved one and lost 5-matches accumulating 11-points;

J. Moore represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1987 playing 6-times won 2-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 4-points;

R. Smyth represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1972;

Donal O’Brien represented Leinster at Boys  Interprovincial level from 1994 to 1995 playing 12-times won 7-matches halved one and lost 4-matches accumulating 15-points;

Tracy Eakin played in the European Ladies Team Championship at Royal Haagsche, Holland in 1993, and was selected to represent Ireland in the European Ladies Junior Championships at Shannon Golf Club in 1990, having played in the Girls' Home Internationals in 1986 and 1987;

Miss Phil Wickham played in the European Ladies Team Championship at Tubbercurry in 1990 and won the Stroke Play Foursomes together with Miss Claire Hourihane of Woodbrook in 1981, 1982, 1994 and 1995. She  played for the Irish Girls' Home Internationals in 1975 and 1976. She won the Irish Girls Close Championship in 1976;

Carol Wickham was selected to represent Ireland in the European Ladies Team Championship at Pals, Spain in 1989 and she played for the Irish Girls' Home Internationals in 1976, 1977 and 1978. She won the Irish Girls Close Championship in 1978;

History of Laytown and Bettystown

Instituted 1909 affiliated 1909

Tom Gilroy, a founder-member of the Royal Dublin, and his family were playing golf at Laytown & Bettystown in the early 1880s. They ran into trouble with some local people who did not approve of golf and after a year or so moved over to Baltray on the other side of the Boyne, before they emigrated to England in 1895.

A chance remark by Captain Lowry, a merchant services skipper, to his friend Captain Lyons. The founding members were Patrick J. Tallan, Captain, J. F. Smyth, Hon. Secretary and J. Lyons, Treasurer. 

There were 200 members in 1909 and it was a nine-hole course varying in length from 110 to 450 yd‘s, the hazards were bunkers and sand hills and there was ample room for extension. There was a pavilion by 1923, and the club had extended to eighteen-holes by 1924. Shortly after, the club bought out the land, resulting in the fine links we know today.