The first golf course in Galway was constructed by Lieutenant Colonel Jourdain, the last Colonel of the Connaught Rangers, on military grounds at Renmore Barracks, between the rifle range and Cromwell’s Fort, in 1893. Play was originally confined to military personnel, but then some members of the public were invited and it took off so well that the colonel and his friends were invited to lay out a course on Knocknacarra Hill.
Its real name is Blake’s Hill but it is known to one and all as Gentian Hill, an area of 30 acres in the townland of Knocknacarragh. The idea originated with Captain Joe Henley who had to coax the landlord to come down from his initial exorbitant demand for rent to fifteen pounds per annum. And so, Galway Golf Club was formed in 1895.
The soil there was clayey and the grass was short, as was the course in the beginning. It was limited to seven holes covering some 1,600 yards, ‘but the links are still young and no doubt will grow’, and grow it did, up to nine holes. Captain Henley got some young sportsmen together, gave them a club and a ball each and told them to ‘blaze away’ on the ground that would soon become the course. What was now required was plenty of play. Michael Hackett, who lived nearby, was asked to prepare the greens. The hazards consisted of boulders, bushes, gorse and ‘kopjies’. There was a nice pavilion on the grounds and the annual subscription was one guinea.
Their first formal meeting of the club, at Mack’s Hotel on October 24, 1895 decided that the club colours would be a red coat with a buff collar. There would be ordinary, temporary and country members. Temporary members would pay a £1 entrance fee plus a £1 annual subscription but would not be allowed introduce strangers. Country member would pay a 10/- annual sub and no entrance fee and would be allowed to introduce strangers. Visitors would be allowed to play free for one week if introduced by a member, and after that 2/6 per day or 5/- a week.
A ball played into the yard, swamp, quarry or within one foot of a wall must be dropped for a penalty of one stroke. A ball lying in a hole (not a hazard ) in such a position where a club laid across it in any direction does not touch it may be lifted and dropped without penalty. Caddies must be engaged and paid for through the caddy master Michael Hackett. Caddies could not be retained or engaged beforehand.
The course was ‘so cute and trappy’ that a good 36 was required for the round. A skied or careless drive would land one in difficulties where bad punishment was the result, recovery being no easy task. The greens were smooth, undulating and of infinite variety while the turf was crisp and pleasant and dried quickly after rain. Handicaps ranged between 10 and 40. The course record was 33 and was held by G Fernie who worked as a ‘coach’ there. The amateur record was held by the club captain, Jack Meldon.
During its years of existence, the membership stayed roughly the same, averaging 65 men and 15 ladies, mostly army officers, bank officials, professors, people in the legal profession, masters of the Grammar School and government officials. Competitions were played in springtime, during Easter and Whit weekends, and later during October. Very little golf was played during the summer because the grass was too long. Furthermore, it would have been uncomfortable to play in heavy clothes during the summer season and to take off one’s coat would certainly have been unethical. Most of the members played cricket in the summer.
Sebastian Nolan was the landlord and he was elected president of the club. Initially, he was very supportive and generously sponsored a number of competitions, financed developments on the course and of the stables for the use of the caddy master and members, but he gradually became more and more awkward. He was a bad loser and argued with people and banned them. A duel nearly took place between him and a Colonel which happily did not come off. It was suggested that giving a driver and 10 balls at ten yards distance to each of them was a very good way of settling their grievances. Nolan eventually sent the committee a notice to quit, placed bailiffs in charge of the club and refused to allow members to play except as his guests.
So the ejected members held a meeting and decided to look for new grounds. Golf was still played on the course, now known as The County Galway Golf Club, by Sebastian Nolan and his friends until he died in 1907.
Our images today all concern the Gentian Hill club and show Jack Meldon, Club Captain; Miss Helen Persse, a prominent lady golfer with her caddie; and putting on the third green 1901 (the views must have been spectacular ).
All of the above is taken from Mícheál MacSweeney’s book Galway Golf Club 1895-1995.
