Carlow golf club Carlow

Members Achievements

Helena Burke was selected on the Leinster Women’s Interprovincial team played at PGA Slieve Rusell Golf Club from 3rd to 5th July 2024. Others on the team were Kate Fleming and Rachael McDonnell (Elm Park Golf Club), Hannah Guerin ( Royal Tara Golf Club), Jenny Maguire (Foxrock Golf Club), Emily Murray ( Co. Louth Golf Club) and Ellen O’Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club) they were managed by Leigh Bolger from Carlow Golf Club and captained by Orla Darcy from Naas Golf Club.

Carlow Golf Club won the Provincial Championship of the J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy in 2013.
The Ladies of Carlow Golf Club won the ILGU Mid-Leinster Junior Foursomes in 2013.

Carlow Golf Club won the Central Towns Cup in 2012, when the team was Peter Kelly, Ger Murray, Dylan Lamb, Richard Breheny, Tony Corcoran, Brian Clear, Jim Lawler, James Lennon and Michael Delaney, they were managed by Billy Fanning assisted by Tom McDonald and captained by Keith Brennan.
Carlow Golf Club won the South Leinster Trophy in 2012 the team was Liam Moran, Ger Murray, Richie Gray, Mick O’Donoughue, P. J. O’Neill, Richie Nolan, Jack Dempsey, David Byrne and Steve Cronly, they were managed by Richie Ryan.

John Green became the first member of this famous club to win the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship when he overcame Kelan McDonagh of Athlone Golf Club by 2 and 1 at Lahinch on Wednesday 28th July 2010.

The Ladies Carlow Golf Club won their Regional Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 2010 and made their way to Cork Golf Club to compete in the National deciders, where they were drawn against Munster Champions Douglas Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals on Friday 13th August and recorded a result of 4½ -matches to ½-match lose.

They were led by Aedin Murphy who went all the way to the 19th-gree before conceding the point to Karen O'Neill, she was followed by Karen Delaney lost her match to Eavan Higgins by 1-hole, next up was Anne McCormack halved her match with Kate McCann when called-in, the penultimate match of Bernie Cox went 2 and 1 to Aoife Lane, in the bottom match Madeline Brennan lost to Ailish Thompson by 9 and 8, They were captained by Margaret McHugh.

The Ladies of Carlow Golf Club won the Mid-Leinster Final of the AA Insurance Senior Foursomes and were beaten by Munster Champions Douglas Golf Club in the Semi-Final of National deciders at Royal Tara Golf Club in 2009. They met Munster Champions and eventual green pennant winners Douglas Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final, first on the tee wasKaren Delaney (1) with Madeleine Brennan (8) who beat Eavan Higgins (2) with Liz O'Donnell (10) by 2-holes, they were followed by Anne McCormack (4) with Leigh Bolger (13) who lost by a similar margin to Karen O'Neill (3) with Deirdre O'Hanlon (10), the bottom match of Bernie Cox (9) with Margaret McHugh (14) was a comfortable 6 and 5 win for Kate MacCann (3) with Sabina Nagle (13). Douglas went on to beat Ulster Champions Ballycastle by 2 ½ matches to ½ match in the decider the following day.

The Ladies of Carlow Golf Club won the Mid-Leinster Final of the AA-Insurance Senior Foursomes in 2008 they made the journey to Limerick Golf Club to compete in the National deciders; where they met Ulster Champions Shandon Park in the All-Ireland quarter-final, first on the tee was Aedin Murphy with Leigh Bolger who halved their match against Julie Hall with Diane Nickels, they were followed by Karen Delaney with Angela O'Shea and lost their match against Jenny Young with Karen Simpson by 4 and 2. In the bottom match Catherine Delaney & Bernie Coxlost lost out to Diane Conway & Vikki Simpson by 6 and 4.

The Ladies of Carlow Golf Club won the Mid-Leinster Final of the AA-Insurance Minor Cup in 2008 they made the journey to Limerick Golf Club to compete in the National deciders; they met Ulster Champions City-of-Derry in the All-Ireland quarter-final, first on the tee was Bridget Callinan (24) who had a convincing 7 and 5 win over Frances McLaughlin (24), she was followed by Áine O'Shea (24) who beat Kathy Jackson (25) by 6 and 5, next on the tee was Mary Farrell (26) who lost her match on the 19th-green to Marie Clifford (26), in the penultimate match Pat McArdle (28) beat Kathleen McGuire (26) by 2 and 1, in the bottom match Elizabeth Whelan(28) had a 2-hole win over Rita O'Kane (28).  

The following day they met Munster Champions Lee Valley Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and had a convincing 3½ matches to 1½ matches victory. First on the tee was Phyll Farrell (23) who beat Yvonne Barrett (24) by1-hole, she was followed by Áine O'Shea (24) who won her match on the 19th-green against Margaret Ahern (24), next up was Mary Farrell (26) who lost her match to Kitty O'Sullivan (25) by 1-hole, in the penultimate match Pat McArdle (28) beat Sandra Cooke (25) on 19th the bottom match of Liz Whelan (28) was halved against Gobnait Ni Luasaigh (26). 

They met East-Leinster Champions Malahide Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day and lost out by 4 matches to 1 match, they were led again by Phyll Farrell (23) who lost her match by 5 and 4 against Ciara Smith (23), she was followed by Áine O'Shea (24) who halved her match against Rosemary Cassin (23), next up was Mary Farrell (26) who lost out to Maire Falvey (24), in the penultimate match Pat McArdle (28) lost her match by 6 and 4 against Colette Moran (24), the bottom match of Liz Whelan (28) was halved against Yvonne Power (26).  

The Ladies of Carlow 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 August2007; where they were drawn against Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club.

First on the tee was Aedin Murphy who lost to Alyson Taylor by 2-holes, she was followed by Madeline Brennan who halved her match with Carol Wickham. Next up was Catherine Delaney who lost out to Tracy Eakin by 4 and 3. The penultimate match of Susan Redmond against Phil O'Gorman went against the Carlow lady by 4 and 2. The bottom match of Carmel Roche against Noeline Quirke was halved, so Laytown & Bettystown progressed to the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Royal Portrush on a 4 matches to 1 match score line.

The Ladies of Carlow Golf Club won the inaugural AA-Insurance inter-club All-Ireland Ladies Senior Foursomes at Headfort Golf Club in October 2006, when they met Connaught Champions Ballinrobe Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final by 2 matches to 1 match and they beat Munster Champions Limerick Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final by 2 matches to 1 match.

Aideen Murphy (5) with Margaret McHugh (12) led them against Maura Joyce (7) with Beatrice Shalks (14) and had a very comfortable 6 and 4 win over them, they were followed by Madeline Brennan (9) with Angela O'Shea (15) who lost by 2 and 1 against Pat McDermott (11) & Catherine O'Toole (14), in the bottom match Bernie Cox (10) with Maggie Ruth (16) won their match by 4 and 2 against Angela Gill (11) with Anne Galvin (16).

The following day they played Limerick in the All-Ireland decider and were led again by Aideen Murphy with Margaret McHugh who beat Mary Conlon with Trude Murphy by 2-holes. They were followed by Madeline Brennan with Carmel Roche who lost to Vivienne Gabbett by 2 and 1. The final match say Bernie Cox with Maggie Ruth beat Ann O’Mahony with Siobhan Conway by 3 and 2.

Carlow Golf Club won the All-Ireland Smurfit Boys' team event in 2001, when the team was, Daniel O'Boyle, John Greene, Paul Kirwan, Joe Coakley and Eoghan Carbery, they were managed by Michael Kirwan.

They won the Leinster Final of the Leinster Club Youths' at Kilkenny Golf Club 1999.

Karen and Tara Delaney were selected on the Leinster ILGU Team for the Interprovincial's. Played at Ballybunion Golf Club from 18th to 20th August 2004.

Carlow Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Smurfit Boys' Junior Foursomes in 2003, when the team was, Daniel O'Boyle, John Greene, Paul Broderick, Christopher Bolger and Mark Hughes. Their Jimmy Hackett team won the event at Newlands Golf Club on Easter Friday 2004.

The Ladies of Carlow Golf Club won the ILGU Midland District Senior Cup in 2003, when the team was, Catherine Delaney, Carmel Roche, Tara Delaney, Madeline Brennan, Margaret McHugh, Karen Delaney and Angela O'Shea. The Ladies of Carlow Golf Club had a wonderful year in the National Championships in 2002.

Karen Delaney won the Lancôme Irish Girls Close, Madeleine Brennan won the Lancôme Ladies Scotch Foursomes and Rebecca Coakley won the Irish Ladies Close Final and the Waterford Crystal Irish Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship at Dundalk Golf Club on July 28th 2002.

Aedinn Murphy won the Midland Junior Ladies in 2005 and Karen Delaney won the Midland Senior Ladies the same day.

Tara Delaney was selected on the Irish team for the European Young Masters in Augsburg, Germany in July 2002. They finished fourth behind Spain, France and England. Karen and Tara Delaney were selected on the Irish Girls team for the Home Internationals at The Hermitage Golf Club from August 13th-15th 2002.

Karen and Tara Delaney were selected for the Leinster Girls' in the Smurfit Interprovincial Championship at Enniscrone from the 18th to the 20th of April 2001. U. Prendergast qualified for the National Finals of the Irish Times-Mitsubishi Motors Women's Masters. She returned 31 points in the semi-final at Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club on the 23rd of August 2001. Then it was on to Galway Bay Golf & Country Club for the Final on 13th September.

Prior to 2001:

Carlow Golf Club won the Leinster Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 1994, when the team was, Jason Farrell, John McHugh, Peter Murphy, Des Coakley, Tommy Lennon, Jim McVeigh and Danny Hutton, they were managed by Tony Shannon.

They won the Leinster Final of the Irish Senior Cup in 1984, when the team was, P. Murphy, S. Swan, J. Farrell, T. Lennon, P. McDonald and J. McVeigh, they were managed and captained by D. Doyle.

They were Finalists in the Barton Shield in 1997, when the team was, Danny Hutton, John McHugh, Tommy Lennon, Jason Farrell, Peter Murphy and Des Coakley, they were managed by Dick Gillman. They won the Central Towns Trophy in 1977, when the team was, A. O'Connell, B. McCormack, G. O'Brien, N. J. Whelan, M. Kilbride, T. Brophy, P. C. Cunningham, T. F. Leonard, B. Cunney, E. Carpenter and S. Jones, they captained by D. F. Connolly and selected by R. Atkinson and B. T. Doyle.

They won the FBD Barton Cup in 1978, when the team was, P. Dowling, R. Carroll, R. Shannon, J. McVeigh, D. F. Connolly, M. Kilbride, B. McCormack, L. Brennan, H. V. Dunne, P. Callery, P. J. O'Boyle, D. O'Boyle, P. Hyland, D. O'Reilly, B. Cunney and S. Kane, they were captained by Fr. J. McDonald.

The Boys' of Carlow Golf Club won won the All-Ireland Irish Schools Championship in 1981, when playing for Carlow C.B.S. when the team was Peter McDonald, Jason Farrell, John Swan, Rory McCormack and Colin Brophy. B. Doyle was elected Honorary Secretary of the Leinster Branch of the GUI for 2001.

Rebecca Coakley, at nineteen-year-old, was an Ireland golf sensation. She first hit the headlines, when she shot what has to be the best two rounds of golf ever shot by an Irish Girl (Lady or Gentleman?), when she returned 128 in the Ladies Scratch Cup at the Curragh G. C. In the morning round, she broke Lillian Behan's, long-standing course record by two shots. In the afternoon, she equalled what was the course record. Her two rounds were an incredible 16 under par. Rebecca has now joined the professional ranks and we wish her the very best. K. Delaney and T. Delaney were selected on the ILGU Junior squad in November 2000.

Carlow won the J. B. Carr Diamond Trophy (Leinster Section), and were finalists in the Barton Cup (Leinster Section), in their Centenary, Year 1999. Jason Farrell participated in the Boys Home International matches in 1985, and represented Leinster in 1994. He played Leinster Youths from 1983 to 1986, playing 14 matches.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

Frank Webster represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1949 playing 2-times won 1-match and lost 1-match accumulating 2-points;

Jason Farrell represented Ireland at international Youths level from 1984 to 1985 playing 4-matches, won 0-matches halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 1-point. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 1983 to 1985 playing 19-times won 10-matches halved one and lost 8-matches accumulating 21-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level in 1984 playing 5-times won 4-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 8-points.

W. Harnett represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level in 1959 playing 4-times won 2-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 4-points;

Willie Jones represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1992 playing 2-times won 2-matches and lost 0-matches accumulating 4-points;

Tommy Lennon represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1983 playing 2-times won 1-match and lost 1-match accumulating 2-points;

Peter McDonald represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1984 playing 3-times won 2-matches and lost 1-match accumulating 4-points and is now with the USPGA;

John Swan represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial from 1983 to 1984 playing 8-times won 4-matches halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 9-points;

Mary Governey played for the Irish Girls in 1972 and 1973, and won the Irish Girls Close Championship in 1973.

Catherine Bird played for the Irish Girls in 1973. Colette Langan played for the Irish Girls in 1979.

Derval Langan played for the Irish Girls in 1982, and won the Irish Girls Close Championship the same year.

History of Carlow

Instituted 1899 affiliated 1901

A meeting in the County Club was held on 18th May, 1899, where Carlow Golf Club was founded. The club was for the golfers of Carlow and Athy. Captain, Stewart Duckett was in the chair. The club was to be called the Royal Leinster Golf Club and located at Gotham midway between Carlow and Athy. Lady Walter Fitzgerald of Kilkea Castle was President and Dr. Brennan was elected Hon. Secretary. The Royal title does not appear again after the first meeting. It was a nine-hole course laid out by the Bray professional called Larkin.

Athy formed its own club in 1906, which had a very serious effect on the older club and its membership dropped to ten or twelve. In 1921 the late Very Rev. M. H. Bolger P.P. his keen golfing-eye saw the possibilities of Deerpark, owned by Mr. Henry Bruen of Oak Park. Bruen liked the idea and in 1922 Carlow became tenants of Deerpark on very generous terms.

Mr. Barcroft laid out the eighteen-hole course and did a remarkably good job on a very low budget. In 1937 the club retained the services of Tom Simpson, a golf architect of international fame. He redesigned ten greens and this is the basis of this fine golf course.