Letterkenny Golf Club
Encyclopedia
Letterkenny Golf Club is a golf club located on the banks of Lough Swilly
in Letterkenny
, County Donegal
, Ireland
. The Club was founded in 1913.
Golf began in the town many years before 1913 on rough ground near the Ramelton Road. Golfing facilities later moved to a 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) 9 hole course at Crievesmith, in Oldtown
, in 1913 where the club was formed. Crievesmith was sold in 1965 for £3000 and the club moved to Barnhill and remain there to this day. The ground at Crievesmith is currently used for housing.
When the club moved to Barnhill an old farmhouse located on the land was used as the clubhouse. This farmhouse was extended in 1967 before a state-of-the-art 10000 sq ft (929 m²). clubhouse was opened in 1999 with a restaurant and conference facilities. The current course has 18 holes and has elegant views of Lough Swilly.
In 1999 the club hosted the Ladies Irish Open
.
On Saturday 28 July 2007 a new look course was officially opened. The new course was designed by one of golfs leading architects Declan Brannigan and finally addresses the drainage problem which the course has had for many years.
On closer inspection, it was noticed that iron ore blocked excess water from running off of the course into the nearby Lough Swilly. In 2001 a drainage program was drawn up which included ten mam-made lakes to hold the water. The development was funded by the then Minister for Sport, Jim McDaid
who secured £200000 with a further £70000 raised by the club itself. In 2005 an extra €1.5 million was borrowed for the completion of the drainage and redevelopment plan. Golf course developers, Green Shapers, excavated and constructed new greens and fairways. Phase two was completed in 2006. Prior to the redevelopment only five months of golf could be played annually but now golf will be playable all year round.
Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
in Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The Club was founded in 1913.
History
Oldtown, Letterkenny
Oldtown is a district located in the parish of Conwal and Leck in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. As its name suggests, it is the oldest part of the town and became the starting point of the town's development...
, in 1913 where the club was formed. Crievesmith was sold in 1965 for £3000 and the club moved to Barnhill and remain there to this day. The ground at Crievesmith is currently used for housing.
When the club moved to Barnhill an old farmhouse located on the land was used as the clubhouse. This farmhouse was extended in 1967 before a state-of-the-art 10000 sq ft (929 m²). clubhouse was opened in 1999 with a restaurant and conference facilities. The current course has 18 holes and has elegant views of Lough Swilly.
In 1999 the club hosted the Ladies Irish Open
Ladies Irish Open
The Ladies Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the Ladies European Tour , held in the Republic of Ireland. It was part of the LET schedule in 1983 and 1984 in Northern Ireland; the 1984 event was co-sanctioned by the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. After a decade's absence, it returned in 1995...
.
Two Million Euro Redevelopment
On closer inspection, it was noticed that iron ore blocked excess water from running off of the course into the nearby Lough Swilly. In 2001 a drainage program was drawn up which included ten mam-made lakes to hold the water. The development was funded by the then Minister for Sport, Jim McDaid
Jim McDaid
James "Jim" McDaid is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and medical doctor. He served as a Teachta Dála for the Donegal North East constituency from June 1989 until he resigned in November 2010.-Early life:...
who secured £200000 with a further £70000 raised by the club itself. In 2005 an extra €1.5 million was borrowed for the completion of the drainage and redevelopment plan. Golf course developers, Green Shapers, excavated and constructed new greens and fairways. Phase two was completed in 2006. Prior to the redevelopment only five months of golf could be played annually but now golf will be playable all year round.