Lurgan golf club Armagh

Members Achievements

The Ladies of Lurgan Golf Club reached the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals of the Women’s Senior Foursomes when they lost out to Co. Louth Golf Club 2-matches to 1-match at Carlow Golf Club on Friday 30st August 2024. The top match of Maeve Cummins with Anne Knox against Emily Murray with Elizabeth Sharkey went 2 and 1 to Co. Louth, next up was Gwen McCrachen with Fiona McGrady who had a 4 and 3 win against Catherine Gray with Lucy McConnell and in the bottom match Cara Morgan with Lynne Hanna lost their match by 4 and 2 against Mia Quinn with Bettina Jeffers.

The Boys' from Lurgan Golf Club reached the Semi-Finals of the Fred Daly Trophy on Wednesday 30th August 2023 at Castletroy Golf Club when they went down to Greystones Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match.
They were led out by Shea Williamson who lost his match against Dylan Holmes by 3 and 1, he was followed by Dylan Alexander who lost out by 4 and 3 against Jamie Anderson, the next two matches between Alex Irwin against William O’Riordan and Conor Coleman against Jack McGovern were halved and in the bottom match Evan Pepper lost his match against Toby Murphy by 6 and 5.   

The Boys’ from Lurgan Golf Club won the Final of the Ulster Fred Daly Trophy in 2023 when they beat Holywood Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches.

Annabel Wilson was selected on the Golf Ireland Women’s High Performance Squad for 2022.

Annabel Wilson was selected to represent the Ireland Women’s team in the European Amateur Team Championships at Royal County Down Golf Club from 6th to 10th July 2021 the other members on the squad were Sara Byrne (Douglas Golf Club), Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), Aine Donegan (Lahinch Golf Club), Anna Foster (Elm Park Golf Club) and Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden Golf Club) they were coached by Donal Scott and captained by Laura Webb from East Berkshire.

Annabel Wilson was selected to represent the Irish Women’s team at the Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa, England from 4th to 6th August 2021, the others on the squad were Sara Byrne (Douglas Golf Club), Beth Coulter (Kirkstown Castle Golf Club), Aine Donegan (Lahinch Golf Club), Anna Foster (Elm Park Golf Club), Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little Golf Club) and Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden Golf Club) they were captained by Captain Laura Webb from East Berkshire.

The Ladies of Lurgan Golf Club were Runners-Up to the Ladies from Royal Co. Down in the Ulster Final of the Irish Senior Cup when they lost by 4-matches to 1-match at North West Golf Club on 19th May 2019.
However it still qualified them to compete in the All-Ireland Deciders at Killarney’s Killeen Course in August where they met the ladies from Royal Co. Down Golf Club again in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final and managed to reverse the Ulster Final result with a 3-matches to 2-match win over the team from Newcastle.
They were lead out by Annabel Wilson who won her match against Paula Grant by 5 and 4, next on the tee was Niamh Ward who recorded a 5 and 4 win over Katie Poots, she was followed by Cara Murphy who lost her match by 2 and 1 against Molly O’Hara, in the penultimate match Aoife Browne had a 1-hole win over Kate Evans, the bottom match of Fiona McGrady against Anita McCaw went 4 and 3 to the Co. Down Club.
They met the home Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final when the Ladies from Killarney won by 4-matches to 1-match. They were led out again by Annabel Wilson who lost her match on the 19th against Mairead Martin, she was followed by Niamh Ward who won her match against Kelly Brotherton by 1-hole, next up was Cara Murphy who lost out by 4 and 3 against Tracy Eakin, in the penultimate match Aoife Brown had a bad day when going down to Mary Sheehy by 7 and 6 and in the bottom match Christine Hagan lost her match by 6 and 4 against Corrina Griffin.

The Boys of Lurgan Golf Club won the Peter O’Hara Trophy on 25th September 2022.     
They won in a nail biting finish when they overcame a strong Castlerock team to win the final by 4-matches to 3-matches at Castlereagh Hills.

Annabel Wilson was, selected on the 2023 Golf Ireland Women’s High Performance Squad.

The Ladies of Lurgan Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Senior Foursomes when they beat Shandon Park Golf Club by 2-matches to 1-match at Bangor Golf Club on Sunday 3rd September 2017.
They were led out by Maeve Cummins with Orla O’Dowd who lost their match against Jenny Fawcett with Jacqui Young by 5 and 4 they were followed by Cara Murphy with Lynne Hanna who had a 4 and 3 win over Helen McCarthy with Paula McAtamney and in the bottom match Niamh Ward with Fiona Cummins had a very comfortable 6 and 5 win over Niamh Ward with Fiona Cummins.
They made their way to Malone Golf Club when they were drawn against Munster Champions Killarney Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 28th September. They were led out on that occasion by Maeve Cummins with Orla O’Dowd who had a 1-hole win over Deirdre Prendergast with Eimear O’Donnell, in the second match Cara Murphy with Bronagh McKavanagh lost their match against Fidelma O’Connor with Mary Sheehy by 3 and 2 and in the bottom match Niamh Ward with F. Cummins lost their match by 2-holes against Ann Moynihan-Rudden with Amy Arthur. Killarney went on to win the All-Ireland Green Pennant when they beat Roscommon by 2-matches to 1-match in the decider.  

Lurgan Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Junior Cup when they beat Omagh Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches in the Semi-Final and Ballyclare Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches in the Final

They made their way to Carton House Golf Club to compete in the All-Ireland deciders and drew Connaught Champions Athenry in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Wednesday 14th September 2016.

They were led out by Keith Percy who beat David Kitt by 3 and 2, next up was James Horan who had a 2 and 1 win over Brendan Penney, he was followed by Gareth Hanna who halved his match against Sean O'Connell, in the penultimate match Jim McKee recorded a 4 and 3 win over Brian O'Connor and a place in the All-Ireland Final the following day in the bottom match Andrew Cummins recorded a halve against Darren Leufer.

They met Leinster Champions Castle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final they were led out again by Keith Percy who won by 1-hole to Kevin Moran, next up was James Horan who went down by 4 and 3 to Harry Gleeson, he was followed by Gareth Hanna who had a comfortable 5 and 4 win over Paul Whelan, in the penultimate match Jim McKee lost out to Fergal Moran so it was all down to the bottom match of Andrew Cummins against young (15-year old)Tommy Smyth to decide where the Green Pennant was going young Tommy sank a huge putt on the 17th to clinch the match for the Rathfarnham Club.

Conall Coleman was Team Captain and Manager and Peter Kennedy was the reserve on the day.

Lurgan Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Fred Daly Trophy and played Leinster Champions Carton House Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Warrenpoint Golf Club on Thursday 28th August 2014.
They were led by Caolan McCann who lost his match against David Carey by 1-hole, he was followed by Peter Cummins who also lost his match by 1-hole against Marc Boucher, next up was Jason McCann who lost his match against Sean Walsh by 2 and 1, Ronan McGivern  lost out to Oisin Devereux by 5 and 4, Conal Patterson (4) lost his match by 6 and 5 against Dean Cafferty, the bottom two matches of Nathan McCann against Darragh Walsh and Conor McDonald against Cian Hutchinson were halved.

Lurgan Golf Club was runners-up in the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Junior Cup at Castlerock Golf Club when they lost out to Munster Champions Mitchelstown Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match in 2011. The won the Ulster Final on Sunday 14th August when they beat Fortwilliam by 3-matches to 2-matches at Edenmore Golf Club.

They were drawn against Leinster Champions Co. Meath in the All-Ireland Semi-Final, they were led by Laurence McGrady who lost out to David Fox by 4 and 2, he was followed by Philip Shaw who lost to Sean Fitzgerald by 4 and 3, next up was Michael McSherry who beat Michael Gaynor on the 19th, in the penultimate match David Magee beat Tony Lacey by 4 and 3, the bottom match of Gareth Hanna against Ciaran Blaney went 3 and 2 to Lurgan and a place in the All-Ireland decider.

They met Munster Champions Mitchelstown Golf Club in the decider. They were led again by Laurence McGrady who lost out to John Cahill by 1-hole, he was followed by Philip Shaw who had a similar result against Sean Lane, when Michael McSherry went down to Adrian Gamble by 3 and 2 their dreams of the green pennant was gone. The bottom two matches David Magee against John Maguire and Gareth Hanna against Clem Leonard were halved.

Lurgan Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Senior Cup when they beat Ardglass Golf Club by 3 matches to 2 matches at Belvoir Park Golf Club on Sunday 22nd August 2010.

They made their way to Castlebar Golf Club to compete in the National deciders, where they met Leinster Champions Kilkenny on Friday 17th September and recorded a 4 matches to one match over the team from the Marble City. First on the tee was Francis Tallon against Graham Nugent who won his match by 5 and 3, he was followed by Steve Kelly who beat Craig Martin by 2 and 1, next up was Dave Sutton against Eddie Power who had a convincing 5 and 3 win over the Kilkenny man. The penultimate match of Gary Clarke against Richie Walsh was halved as was the bottom match of James Horan against Paul O’Hara.

They met Munster Champions Bandon in the All-Ireland Final the following day. Francis Tallon again led against Brian O’Donovan, he was followed by Dave Sutton against Dave McCarthy, next up was Steve Kelly against Kieran Hurley. The penultimate match of Gary Clarke against Dwayne Twomey, and the bottom match of James Horan against Donal O’Donovan. 

“The gogolfing Website” congratulate Gareth Shaw, who together with Paul Cutler (Portstewart Golf Club), Niall Kearney (The Royal Dublin Golf Club), Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye Golf Club), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills Golf Club) retained the European Amateur Team Championship at Turin Heat on Saturday 5th July 2008, when they beat England in the final by 4 ½ matches to 2 ½.

Lurgan Golf Club won the Ulster Championship of the Fred Daly Trophy and were drawn against Leinster Champions Castle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Dungarvan Golf Club on 24th August 2005.

First on the tee was G. Douglas who won his match by 3 and 2 against S. Webster, he was followed by A. Shaw who lost his match to D. Lernihan by the same margin. Next up was J. Horan against G. Lenehan who lost his match by 4 and 3. The penultimate match was between A. Gallery and T. O’Connor with the Castle player recording a 5 and 4 victory. The bottom match was halved between A. McReynolds and A. Slaughter.

Graham Douglas was selected on the Ulster team for the Boys' Interprovincial Championships at Warrenpoint from 25th 27th August 2004.

Gareth Shaw was selected on the Irish Boy's team for the Home Internationals at Blairgowrie, Scotland in early August 2002 and the Irish Boys' team that played in Rejkjavik, Iceland on July 9th 2002. He was also selected on the Ulster Boy's team for the Inter-provincials at Headfort Golf Club on August 28-30, 2002. Gareth, won the Irish Boys' Under-17 Trophy at Thurles Golf Club on August 23rd, with rounds of 70,70, 69 and 72. He won the Leinster Boys' Championship at Co. Meath Golf Club in July 2001. He finished with a round of 70 three-under-par. He was selected on the Irish Boys' team for the Home Internationals at Moortown, Leeds in August 2001. Gareth also won the Leinster Boys' under-15 title in 2000. Surely one to watch for the future.

Congratulations to Gareth on winning the North of Ireland Amatuer Championship in 2006.

Prior to 2001:

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

R. A. Hanna represented Ireland at international Youths level from 1978 to 1979 playing 6-matches, won 3-matches and halved three accumulating 9-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 1987 to 1988 playing 6-times won 4-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 8-points. He represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships from 1979 to 1980 playing 8-times won 6-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 12-points;

Paul McCabrey represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1996 playing  7-times halved 1-match and lost 6-matches accumulating 1-point. He represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 1999 playing 4-times won 3-matches halved one and lost 0-matches accumulating 7-points. He represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 1995 playing 6-times won 2-matches halved two and lost 2-matches accumulating 6-points;

Gareth Shaw represented Ireland as a Senior International from 2005 to2008 playing 19-times won 7-matches halved five and lost 7-matches accumulating 19-points. He represented Ireland at international Youths level from 2005 to 2006 playing 4-matches, won 3-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 6-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 2001 to 2003 playing 23-times won 13-matches halved two and lost 8-matches accumulating 28-points. He represented Ulster in the Senior Interprovincial’s from 2005 to 2007 playing 18-times won 16-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 32-points. He represented Ulster as a Youth in the Interprovincial Championships in 2005 playing 5-times won 4-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 8-points. He represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships from 2000 to 2001 playing 11-times won 4-matches halved three and lost 4-matches accumulating 11-points;

Graham Douglas represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 2004 playing 2-times won 1-match and lost 1-match accumulating 2-points;

History of Lurgan

Instituted 1893 affiliated 1894

The founder members of Lurgan Golf Club were nine gentlemen who met on the 8^th September, 1893, in the rooms of Mr. N. J. Leepers. They decided to lease over 66 acres in the demesne, formerly owned by Lord Lurgan, but then in the ownership of Messrs McCaughey, Malcolmson and Clarke.

As early as 1900, the club was forced to relocate to Grace Hall. "The Irish Golfer " in 1900, reported "an excellent green consisting of nine-holes and being 2,500 yards in length ". It gives the professional as W. D. Daly, whose sons Alec and Christopher, became professionals at The Royal Belfast and Malone, respectively.

Between 1923 and 1924, the club returned to its original location at the Demesne and a nine-hole course was laid out and clubhouse built. The course was extended to eighteen-holes between 1971 and 1972.

What the Club tells us:

Although 1893 is normally given as the year in which Lurgan Golf Club was founded, there is evidence that golf was played in Lurgan for many years before that.  In ‘The Irish Golfer’ of June 27, 1900, it says:

‘It may interest our readers to know that there is a legend that Lurgan was the first place in Ireland where golf was played, but the evidence upon which this contention is based is not sufficiently strong to be accepted as conclusive.’

This legend may have arisen from the fact that around the late 19th century the household effects of the late Lord Lurgan were offered for sale in Brownlow House.  These effects included ‘six or seven old golf clubs and some feather balls’.  Also found in the House was an old 15 inch hole cutter which appeared to have been of a considerable age. 

 In ‘The Irish Golfers’ Guide’ of 1912 it reports that Lurgan Golf Club was founded in 1892.  This may have referred to a Club forming itself and playing social golf before becoming affiliated to the recently formed Golfing Union of Ireland the following year.

The Golfing Union of Ireland was formed in 1891 and prior to its formation there were 28 clubs in Ireland.  The years between 1892 and 1900 saw a further 97 clubs being formed, which begs the question as to why there was such a surge of interest in the game at that time.

One of the major reasons was the development of the golf ball.

 Featherie v Guttie

“Browning, and other golf historians, commonly attribute this ‘golf boom’, beginning in the later nineteenth century, to the guttie, an object responsible for transforming golf from an insular diversion played mostly by the gentry to a leisure activity for the middle classes.”

(from ‘Golf Ball’ by Harry Brown, page 21)

For most of the 19th century, the golf ball used was made of a leather pouch stuffed with feathers, a very time consuming process.  After some use the ball lost its roundness and it became soggy and wet in bad weather.  The ball was known as a ‘featherie’.

Guttie  (made from gutta-percha)?

In the colonial expansion of the mid-nineteenth century, a natural latex called ‘gutta-percha’ was found in the Palaquium trees of Malaysia.  This proved to be very suitable for manufacturing many items such as furniture, dental fillings and cisterns, and it wasn’t long before it was found to be useful in making a new type of golf ball.  The new ball would retain its roundness and would not be affected as much by adverse weather conditions.  The biggest change was that it was much cheaper and could be afforded by other than the gentry.

Why was Lurgan among the early clubs to be formed??

From ‘The Book of Co Armagh by G H Bassett, 1888’

“With the single exception of Belfast, no town in Ireland has increased in population and wealth so rapidly as in Lurgan.

4600 in 1851                       10135 in 1881                              15000 by 1888

This process is entirely due to the development of the linen industry. A considerable number of houses belong to working men and are paid for out of their savings. At every side of the town expansion has been the order of the day.”

Other clubs formed at the time in Lurgan:

 Lurgan Musical Society  1884

Lurgan Dramatic Society  1885

Lurgan Tennis Club   1880  (Three courts in Demesne)

Lurgan Chess Club

Lurgan Football Club (Rugby)  1876

Lurgan Ornithological Society  1880

At the time of Lurgan Golf Club’s formation, Lurgan was a thriving and rapidly growing town.  The increased employment provided new opportunities for leisure activities which were reflected in the growth of new clubs and societies.

Edward George Bell.  His 2-cylinder Darracq must have been quite a sight in the town.

Formation of Lurgan Golf Club   1893?

Belfast News Letter, 16 November, 1893

‘….. a club has been formed in Lurgan for the practice of the Royal and Ancient game, under exceedingly favourable circumstances.  The number of players almost reads one hundred, and sixty acres of excellent ground with numerous hazards has been secured in the demesne for links.  The ground has been laid out under the personal supervision of the Captain, Mr H G MacGeagh, who has taken much interest in the foundation of the club   the links were formally opened on Saturday last by Mr James Malcolm D.L., President of the club.’

The meeting at which the club was formed was held on 8 September in the rooms of Mr N G Leeper at 44 Market St., currently a vacant space.

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Those present were:

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Joseph Hay Vint  -  UlsterBank Manager

Nathaniel Greer Leeper  -  Ulster Bank employee

Thomas George Menary  -  Solicitor

Harry G MacGeagh  -  Linen manufacturer

Courtney Johnston  -  Solicitor

Francis Megarry  -  Linen factory manager

Thomas Faloon  -  HKP manufacturer

William Thomas Kirkpatrick – Headmaster, Lurgan College

H Lee  -  (Details unknown)

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‘Not all of them knew golf as a game and it was natural, therefore, that Mr MacGeagh, one of the pioneers of golf in Ireland, should be elected Captain.’

Belfast News Letter, 3 August, 1923

Not all of those at the meeting were golfers but were there for their expertise in other areas.  Mr Vint, for example, was most likely there as he was the Bank Manager.  In those days of personal and commercial expansion, bank managers were extremely important members of the community and would have been held in some awe.

Each of the men had interesting lives, but one story of particular interest appeared in the papers a few years later regarding one of the lesser known founders, Mr Francis Megarry.

Belfast News Letter   18 January    1887?

SKATING INCIDENT AT LURGAN?

‘Mr Fred Lindsay skated onto thin ice and sank.  Constable Moorehead ran to his assistance with a pole and had Mr Lindsay partly out of the water when Mr S A Mackay, solicitor, ran up with a lifebuoy which he threw to Mr Lindsay and then, the ice giving way, he too precipitated into the water.  Mr Frank Megarry, son of Mr Henry Megarry, Northern Bank, promptly appeared with a second lifebuoy to which a rope was attached, and to the  commendable courage and decision of this young gentleman the direct preservation of more than one life is attributed.  He threw the lifebuoy to Mr Mackay and having lay down on the bending and rotten ice, in which he embedded the heels of his skates, he pulled out successively Mr Lindsay, Constable Moorehead and Mr Mackay.  Constable Moorehead is an expert swimmer and of him it may be said that he exhibited the greatest coolness, directing Mr Megarry to attend to the other young man; but there can be no doubt that Mr Megarry is the person who rescued the three from the most imminent danger. Already Mr H G MacGeagh and other gentlemen have taken steps to present Constable Moorehead with a chain and medal, while the gallant and meritorious conduct of Mr Megarry will be brought before the Royal Humane Society in London.’

Mr Megarry was subsequently awarded a medal for bravery from the Society.

They later moved further along High St but little now remains of that house.

?Although little remains of the house, we can get some idea of what it was like inside from a report in the News Letter of what must have been one of the biggest ‘society’ weddings of the day.  Mr MacGeagh had died in 1925 and at the wedding of his daughter in 1931 his place was filled by his son.

News Letter, 4 December, 1931

‘…..The bride is the elder daughter of the late Mr H G MacGeagh DL, and of Mrs MacGeagh, Lurgan, whilst the bridegroom is the second son of the late Sir Robert Liddell, DL, and of Lady Liddell, Donacloney.

The home of the bride’s mother is in the main street of Lurgan and only a stone throw away from the Parish Church.  Here the reception was held, and to this only family and intimate friends were invited.  The house is an old one with a good deal of oak panelling and brown ceilings, which are most effective.’

When you look at the remains of the house now it is hard to imagine its past grandeur.

Irish Times, 21 August, 1921

‘Mr H G MacGeagh, Deputy Lieutenant of Co Armagh, died yesterday at his residence, High St, Lurgan.  Mr MacGeagh had been managing director of the Lurgan Weaving Company.  For many years he was a member of the Lurgan Urban Council, and during his chairmanship he was instrumental in procuring the handsome public park which was opened by Lord Aberdeen as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1904.  Mr MacGeagh was a keen yachtsman, and it was he who introduced the game of golf to Lurgan.’

Mr H G MacGeagh, founding member and first Captain of Lurgan Golf Club.

History of the Club

1893  The club was officially opened on 18 November, 1893, and the first competition played on the same day.  It was won by Mr Thomas Dickson from Royal Co Down G C and he was the Irish Amateur Golf Champion at the time. 

Thomas Dickson, winner of the first official competition held at Lurgan Golf Club.

1898  The move to Gracehall

In 1893 the Brownlow Family, who owned the Demesne where the Club currently is, sold the land, lake and Brownlow House to Lurgan Borough Council for £2000.  The Borough Council subsequently sold Brownlow House (Lurgan Castle) to Lurgan District Orange Lodge in 1903.  In 1898 the Golf Club was informed that the land in the Demesne was no longer available which caused considerable consternation among the members.

Irish Golfer, 6 December, 1899

‘The Club had been obliged to give up their links in Lurgan Demesne where a capital nine hole course had been laid out by Cpt Greer and Mr H G MacGeagh ……. A great deal of anxiety had been manifested by the members when they were informed they would have to give up the links in the Demesne but happily …….. they had been able to obtain ground at Gracehall, the owner of which gave members every facility for enjoyment of the game.’

Irish Golfer, 27 June, 1900

‘….. Gracehall is an excellent course consisting of 9 holes and being 2500 yards in length.’

Gracehall is currently a popular wedding venue and the fields around it are still referred to as ‘the links’.

1918

There appears to have been a growing feeling that Gracehall was rather far from the town and some members supported the idea of relocating to a site on the Lough Rd in the area known as Woodville.  A meeting of the members was convened at which the proposal to relocate was proposed but defeated in a vote. Notwithstanding that defeat those in favour of the move proceeded with the necessary arrangements and the new Woodville Golf Club was officially opened in November, 1918.  Lord Lurgan became its first patron

Opening of Woodville Golf Club      November, 1918

It would appear there may have been some bad feeling among golfers in the town and the clubs may have been seen as rivals.  The Captain of the new Club, Mr Thomas Faloon, had been a founding member of Lurgan Golf Club and he referred to this in his remarks at Woodville Golf Club’s official opening. 

Captain, Mr Thomas Faloon’s address:

“We had hoped that it might have been possible to have had an amalgamation of local clubs interested in the ceremony, but this had not been effected.  There could not be any question with regard to the necessity of the Club for the accommodation of the people of Lurgan.  Most of them had played at Gracehall and no doubt the links there were excellent, but they are a busy people and many of them found that Gracehall was at such a distance from the town that they could not take advantage of the course there…………………………”

Woodville Golf Club

Site of the first tee at Woodville Golf Club as it is today.

The competition for new members is reflected in these features placed by the clubs in the  Northern Whig in April 1919.  Each stresses the convenient location of the respective clubs.

Northern Whig    April 1919?

Lurgan Golf Club?

The Lurgan Golf Club links are situate at Gracehall within easy reach of the town ………………………………

Membership 120         50 Ladies     70 Gentlemen

 Woodville Golf Club

The Club was launched in November last and the membership is now 119.                               34 Ladies      78 Gentlemen   7 Juveniles

The links and clubhouse are situate at Woodville, 3 minutes’ walk from Lurgan railway station, and the club’s prospects for the coming season are most promising.

Club’s Patron:   Lord Lurgan

Captain:    Mr Thomas Faloon J.P

The club has been affiliated with the Golfing Union of Ireland.

Return to the Demesne

In 1923, Lurgan Golf Club was informed that the land they had previously occupied in Lurgan Demesne was once more available and the Club returned in that year.

AGM 1923

(New course in Lurgan)

The 30th AGM of the Lurgan Golf Club was held in Shankill Buildings on Monday, 29 October.

Mr Thomas Watson, President of the club, occupied the chair.

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On the motion of Mr Menary, seconded by Lieut Col Sir William Allen, DSO, MP, it was agreed to acquire new links in the Demesne and to erect a new clubhouse.  Through the generosity of Mr T B Johnson and Mr George Bell, the Club had acquired 74 acres of land suitable for a 9 hole course of 3,239 yds and, if necessary, for a 12 hole course.  The new clubhouse would be erected on rising ground overlooking the lake in Lord Lurgan’s Park, and would be within 5 minutes’ walk of the centre of the town.

Opening of the new clubhouse of Lurgan Golf Club, 1925.  It sat on the site of the current clubhouse.

From 1923 there were two clubs very close to each other in Lurgan and there may well have been a close rivalry between the two.  Some gentlemen had been founding members of both clubs, and each club’s efforts to grow and develop had probably caused friction between them.

Amalgamation    1928

(From ‘Lurgan Golf Club 1893-1993’, compiled by Mr Larry Magee)

‘In 1928, conversations between the then Captain of Woodville G C, Mr Cecil Brown, and the Lurgan G C Captain, Dr C J Boucher, led into more detailed discussions between the Councils of both clubs about the desirability of amalgamation. One has only to read the account of the Special General Meeting of Woodville Club to sense the conflicting emotions laid bare at the meeting.

The speakers paid tribute to the loyalty of the members, many of whom had been involved with the Club from its inception; there was obvious pride in the achievement of founding and maintaining the Club and amalgamation should not be seen as capitulation; the Club could continue as before and would no doubt flourish, but the consensus view was that in the general interest of golf in the district the amalgamation should go ahead.  The Lurgan Golf Club had previously unanimously decided in favour.  In 1928, the Woodville Golf Club ceased to exist and became an equal partner with Lurgan Golf Club at the Demesne.’
Mr H G MacGeagh?

Mr MacGeagh was the most prominent founder of the club and was Captain in 1893, ‘94’, ’95 and ‘1899.  The first course was 9 holes and it was laid out by him in roughly the same place it is today.  He and his wife Josephine had 4 children and in the 1901 census it is recorded that they were living at 51 High St, Lurgan.

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