Woodbrook Golf Club
Encyclopedia
Woodbrook Golf Club is a golf club located in Bray
, County Wicklow
, Ireland
. It was established as a private club in 1921 by Sir Stanley Cochrane. Woodbook was first affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) in 1926. Sir Stanley had previously indulged his enthusiasm for cricket at Woodbrook, a fact that is still reflected in the pavilion style clubhouse and the cricket bell which tolled the start and finish of play and now hangs in the bar.
However it is as a venue for top-class international golf that Woodbrook is primarily famous. Woodbrook hosted the first major professional tournament in Ireland, the Hennessy Tournament in 1958. This one-off event proved so popular amongst the Irish sporting public that the following year it became the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes Tournament with the then-biggest prize fund of 5,000 guineas. Woodbrook also played host to the Carroll's International tournament on ten occasions between 1963 and 1974, and as a result, was the first host of the revived Irish Open
when it returned in 1975.
Woodbrook has also hosted the Irish PGA Championship
on six occasions (1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1990 and 1991).
Bray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow 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...
. It was established as a private club in 1921 by Sir Stanley Cochrane. Woodbook was first affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) in 1926. Sir Stanley had previously indulged his enthusiasm for cricket at Woodbrook, a fact that is still reflected in the pavilion style clubhouse and the cricket bell which tolled the start and finish of play and now hangs in the bar.
However it is as a venue for top-class international golf that Woodbrook is primarily famous. Woodbrook hosted the first major professional tournament in Ireland, the Hennessy Tournament in 1958. This one-off event proved so popular amongst the Irish sporting public that the following year it became the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes Tournament with the then-biggest prize fund of 5,000 guineas. Woodbrook also played host to the Carroll's International tournament on ten occasions between 1963 and 1974, and as a result, was the first host of the revived Irish Open
Irish Open (golf)
The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
when it returned in 1975.
Woodbrook has also hosted the Irish PGA Championship
Irish PGA Championship
The Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the Emerald Isles, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's...
on six occasions (1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1990 and 1991).