Club History - Castle Golf Club

With just a few years to go to our centenary (2013), Castle Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs in the greater Dublin area.

Nestled at the foot of the Dublin Mountains, the club was originally established in part of the estate of Rathfarnham Castle. A firm of builders, Bailey & Gibson acquired the Castle and lands in 1912 with a view to developing a housing scheme with the golf club at its centre. The Castle was sold to the Jesuit Order, and the Club was established on 7th February 1913. 

Although Bailey & Gibson never fully developed their housing plans, and sold the club to the members in 1918, the Club is now completely surrounded by houses! Cecil Barcroft, W.C. Pickeman and Tom Hood (Professional at Royal Dublin Golf Club) designed the original layout of the Golf Course. In 1918/1919, Harry S. Colt, one of the foremost golf course designers of the time, updated the original design. His brief was to reconstruct the course ‘on the best modern lines’. 

Apart from minor changes over the years, the layout of the course remained largely unchanged until the latest programme to upgrade and redesign all our greens to USGA standard, commenced in 2000. The Course was originally a Par 74 layout, with a length (after Colt’s work) of 6,300 yards. Over the years, some of our Par 5’s became Par 4’s and the 10th hole was reduced from a Par 4 to a Par 3 in the mid ‘60s, reducing the course to its current Par of 70. The length of the course is largely unchanged to this day.

The course was used by some of the most notable names in golf throughout its existence. Henry Cotton and Jack Smith played a match against Willy Holley (Club Professional 1921-1965) and Willy Nolan in 1928. The Club hosted the Irish Close Championship in 1938, an event won by one James Bruen. How appropriate, then, that the first senior GUI All Ireland pennant won by the Club (in 2003) was the ‘Jimmy Bruen’. In 1954 the North v South professional match was played in the Castle, a highlight being the drawn match between Fred Daly and Harry Bradshaw. Joe Carr played in an amateur tournament here in 1956.

In 1999 a major upgrade to the facilities at the Club, both on and off the course, was begun. Working with Jeff Howes, the Course Development committee oversaw reconstruction of all eighteen greens to USGA sand-based standard. The project included a major upgrade to the practice putting area and realignment of some fairways to fit in with the new greens. The clubhouse was extended and completely refurbished in 2001/2002, raising the standard of the facilities to match those on the golf course. We hope you enjoy your visit to Castle Golf Club.

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Club History - Castle Father and Son

It all started in1961 when some Juveniles got together and proposed the idea of a competition in which they could participate on a Saturday. The Captain of the day Gerry Garland suggested a Father and Son Foursomes and that was it. The first year it was an internal affair confined to Castle members. The inaugural winners were Dick and Tom Lenehan and it was played over 18 holes stroke play. 

The following year it was opened to other Clubs and it continued as stroke play until 1964 when it altered to its present format of match play. The first winners in that year were Davy and Brian Knott. The Rules of the Competition have remained the same ever since.

As years passed the event became more and more popular and to accommodate the increasing numbers a pre-qualifying round was introduced. The time sheet started at 6.00am; still there was a waiting list so in recent years the qualifying had to be extended to Saturday and Sunday.Over the years many Irish Internationals and current professionals have taken part. Mark Bloom(and his father Jack ,the donor of the Bloom Cup), Jody Fanagan, Tom Craddock, Noel Fox to mention a few.

Of course the most famous winners in 1967 were the late Joe Carr and son Roddy. 

J B Carr was a very busy golfer in those days; so to facilitate him a special parking spot was reserved beside the clubhouse. At the recent Pro-Am in Castle Phillip Walton recalled how he caddied for his father in 1973 when the Waltons were successful. Martin Sludds, now a professional in the south of England was a beaten finalist. 

The McKennas from Bray twice and the Powers from Stackstown three times are the only multiple winners. In the early '80s a regular entry come from the then President of Ireland Dr. Paddy Hillery and son John; sadly they never made the match play.

Over the years we have had entries from all over Ireland and from time to time from across the water. Every year since 1961in early July, the All Ireland Father and Son Competition takes place without interruption...There was one exception; in 1973 during the qualifying round, the Gardai arrived to announce there was a bomb scare, (maybe someone who could not get on the time sheet !!!) and the clubhouse and course were to be evacuated. 

Competitors were told to mark their place on the fairways and greens, vacate the grounds and only continue when the search had been completed. When the all clear was sounded, after almost three hours, play continued. Quite a few groups did not help their chances of making it to the match-play rounds after retiring to the local ale house during the break.

It speaks volumes for the popularity of the All Ireland Father and Son that it grows from strength to strength and it has never been found necessary to alter the format since 1964.

www.castlegc.ie