History > Early Years
Lahinch Golf Club's original course of 1892 was
marked out by placing feathers on the ground to
indicate the location of the teeing ground and
the holes. Johnny Moran, a native of the area,
assisted in that work. The Course at the outset
had one groundsman, Murt Considine. The Considine
family gave long and faithful service to the Club.
Murt Considine's first wage
was 7/- a week. After the construction of the
Pavilion in 1895, he received an increase of
1/- a week because he was given the additional
responsibility of looking after the new building.
The Annual Membership Fee was
set at 10/-. In September 1892, a number of
private matches took place including one between
the Club and representatives of the 2nd. Batt.
Black Watch Regiment.
James McKenna came to Lahinch
on 1st April 1893 and was employed as the first
Professional. His wages were 18/- a week, 2/-
a round for instruction and 1/6 to play a round.
All members contributed financially to help
retain his services. His arrival predated the
coming of Old Tom Morris by over a year. It
is clear that it was McKenna, between 1894 and
1899, who supervised the changes and improvements
recommended by the great Scottish golfer.
A feature of early Annual General
Meetings was a special "Whip" around
the members to help finance the wages of the
employees or to finance some additional work
on the course. The following is an example of
one such whip:
View
Special Whip
The golfing season commenced at Lahinch on 1st
March and the Annual Membership Fee was payable
on that date. The first Annual General Meeting
held at the "Golfers Arms" (formerly
Sharry's Hotel) on 31st March 1893, decided
that the general working of the Club be vested
in the Captain, Treasurer and Secretary. The
meeting also decided that "The Club be
called the Lahinch Golf Club and that the St.
Andrew's Rules be adopted as far as compatible."
The 1893 Committee was:
President & Captain: A.
W. Shaw Treasurer: J. E. Murphy
Treasurer J.E Murphy
Financial Secretary E.G Fitt
Hon. Secretary: R. J. Plummer
Committee: W. R. Carroll, W.
E. Ellis, L. Dunning, B. Murray, W. McDonnell,
B. Plummer and R. de Ross Rose.
During 1893, three medal competitions
were organized and these were won by Messrs
Studdert, Phelps and Croker. A small meeting
of golfers took place in September, during which
several private matches took place. In the early
part of the year the length of the grass was
a problem but with constant play this problem
disappeared and the course was in top condition
during the months of August and September.
In the early years little golf
was played at Lahinch during the Winter months.
Work on the course continued all year round.
A plan of work was laid out for the Groundstaff
and, at regular intervals, Alexander Shaw and
Richard Plummer travelled from Limerick and
inspected progress. Some local workers were
employed for a specific project and in 1985,
Patrick Considine, Murt's son joined the Groundstaff.
In 1894, the Annual Membership
Fee was increased to £1 per annum for
men and 10/- per annum for ladies. An Entrance
Fee of £2 was also introduced in 1894.
The building of the Pavilion
commenced in 1894 and was ready for the 1895
season. Its construction cost £78-0-0.
The Clare Journal of 23rd May, 1895, reported:
"Lahinch Golf Club has
just erected a Pavilion close by the Links for
the special use of the members. The structure,
which looks a substantial one, is attractively
got up and contains Ladies' and Gentlemen's
Dressing Rooms and we understand a refreshment
and luncheon bar will be attached later on.
A caretaker is in charge and the rules with
cards containing printed matter appertaining
to the game are available.
Lahinch Railway Station in
the 1890's
The popularity of Lahinch increased because
of the coming of golf and the advent of the
West Clare Railway system made Lahinch more
accessible. The existing hotels in the village
were modest establishments. There was a clear
need for more select accommodation to cater
for the merchant and professional classes and
for the international traveller who was coming
to the resort.
That was the background, which
led to the launch of the Golf Links Hotel by
the same people who founded the Golf Club. An
eight-acre site overlooking the village and
the Course was procured on the Miltown Malbay
road. A magnificent hotel was built. Sections
of the building were shipped from Norway to
Cappa, Kilrush and then on to Lahinch.
Lahinch Railway Station in
the 1890's
The new Hotel contained hot and cold seawater
baths and combined every amenity with a wonderful
view of the sea, the Course and the surrounding
landscape. The structure was composed of weather
boarding and the side facing the sea had weather
slating. Another portion at the same side was
composed of cut stone to the first floor level.
The interior was designed with polished pitch
pine. There was an abundance of glass. Large
windows were fitted everywhere so that the views
were not restricted.
The Golf Links Hotel opened
its doors on 5th May, 1896. The Limerick Chronicle
of 12th May, 1896 reported on the development
as follows:
"The Chairman of the Company
is Mr. James E. Bannatyne, D. J and the Directors
are: Mr. Archibald Murray, J. k' Phelps, William
Barrington, William McDonnell, A.W. Shaw and
Capt. Robinson. The Company has secured the
services of Mr. George Curtis who has wide experience
of hotel management in the country and elsewhere.
There is also a chef and an excellent staff
of waiters. The Directors have omitted nothing
in the entire arrangements that is conducive
to the health and comfort of the visitor. It
is inevitable the project will be a great success
and that further progress and prosperity is
in store for this magnificent district. In conclusion
a word of praise is due, in an especial manner,
to Mr. William Barrington for the complete manner
in which the work has been carried out. "
The contemporary newspaper
frequently gave lists of guests staying at the
Hotel. The following is one such example from
the Limerick Chronicle of 7th July 1896:
" Mr. Gerard Balfour,
M.P and Lady Betty Balfour have arranged to
stay with a party of fifteen at the Golf Links
Hotel, Lahinch, during part of the month of
July. On a former visit the Chief Secretary
made large use of the splendid Golf Links there
and in all probability they are the principal
inducements of his present visit."
The 4th August, 1896 list of
arrivals included Archbishop Croke and party
from Thurles, Sir Richard Musgrave, Bart., Mr.
& Mrs Howard Guinness and party from Dublin
and the Honourable E. O'Brien of Dromoland Castle.
The West Clare Railway was
a great boost to golfing at Lahinch. In 1895,
a person was able to travel from Kingsbridge
Station in Dublin on a through fare for one
guinea. Golfers also came by train from Waterford,
Cork, Nenagh, Limerick and Galway. A golfer
could leave Euston Station, London, at 6 p.m.
and arrive in Lahinch for lunch the following
day.
The founder of the Co-Operative
Movement, Horace Plunkett, came to Lahinch in
1900. The Clare Journal of 27th August, 1900,
reported on the visit:
"Advantage was taken a
few, days ago of the landing of the Right Honourable
Horace Plunkett M.P from the steamer of the
Congested Districts Board at Lahinch. He made
a presentation to Miss E. McDonnell, the lady
winner of the Mixed Foursomes at Lahinch Golf
Links. Among those present were Right Honourable
Thomas Sinclair, BeIfast, Sir Hickman Bacon,
Barth of Gainsborough, Mr. Platt Higgins M.P
Salford, Lancashire, Mr. Archibald Dunn of William-on-Thyne,
Mr. Sidney Small, Coroner of the city of Manchester,
Mr. Boxford, Mr. W Heath, Professor Ferrier,
Mr. James Millar and Mr. M. Dodds. "
"Mr. Plunkett complimented
Miss McDonnell on her skill. It gave him great
pleasure to see that the labours of those who
bestowed such care in the forming of the Links
at Lahinch were now beginning to bear fruit.
He rejoiced to find that visitors were attracted
to the resort from the other side of the channel.
He hoped the enterprise would continue to flourish-he
would gladly do all in his power to assist it."
"Mr. Platt Higgins, M.
P as partner to Miss McDonnell, responded on
her behalf. When he returned to Lancashire he
would take every opportunity of proclaiming
the merit of Lahinch as a Summer Holiday and
health resort. Professor Ferrier, the Scotsman,
said he was delighted to see the National game
making such progress in Ireland and England.
Dr. Browning responded on behalf of the Club.
Mr. Sidney Small proposed thanks. He was delighted
to see a member of Her Majesty's Government
taking an interest in what he regarded as such
a noble game as golf and he hoped that more
attention would be given to providing the masses
of the people in Ireland with civil recreation."
View
Special Whip
