1909. Harry Vardon, six times winner of the British Open, together
with the new Club Professional John Mc Namara (formerly of Muskerry
Golf Club), mark out the the 18 holes on the site of the new Douglas
Golf Club.
December 1909 The Irish Field, in an article on the new Douglas club,
reports that ‘250 men have applied for membership, and the limit for
ladies has been almost reached'.
1910 Course opens for play for the first time. The Cork Examiner reports:
‘Douglas Golf Club is doing much for the popularity of the game in Cork
and within a brief period it can be safely predicted it will be one
of the most flourishing institutions in the country'.
27 May 1921 The clubhouse at Douglas is completely destroyed in a fire
and all club records are lost.
1922 The annual subscription for Gentlemen is £5, six shillings extra
for locker rent; Ladies pay £2.10.0, and five shillings locker rent.
1 August 1922 J Sheridan takes up duty as Club Professional
28 September 1923 The assessor's estimate of £5,426 for losses in the
fire of 27 May 1921 is accepted by the General Committee
23 October 1924 Dr Alaster MacKenzie draws up plans for alterations
to the course.
23 May 1925 The new Clubhouse is oficially opened.
25 – 26 September 1926 British professionals, George Duncan and Arthur
Havers, play a series of exhibition matches at Douglas watched by over
500 people.
April 1927 J Bailey takes over from
J Sheridan as Club Professional
11 September 1928 A new Club Blazer to be adopted - ‘colours to be
myrtle green and gold'.
15 January 1931 The parish priest of Douglas Rev Fr Murphy objects
to a proposal to employ girl caddies on the course.
12 June 1934 the Club extends its lease on the course for another 50
years at £170 per annum.
1937 John McKenna is appointed Club Professional in place of J Bailey.
1940 A sub-committee is appointed ‘to advise on the staking of the
course to prevent landings of aircraft'.
1942 Due to wartime restrictions it is decided that the sale of golf
balls will be restricted to members only and that they will be allowed
purchase one ball every two months.
1946 The annual sub for Ordinary Members, which stood at £5 since 1922,
goes up to £6 plus six shillings for locker rent.
26 February 1947 This year's AGM decides that Lady Members are to be
henceforth called Lady Associate Members.
11 February 1954 The General Committee decides to purchase a second-hand
typewriter for £15 for the Secretary's office.
25 November 1960 At an Extraordinary General Meeting the members decide
to purchase the course outright for £9,250. Up to this the course had
been held on lease.
1963 A driving range is opened at Douglas Golf Club. Members pay 2/6
for 50 balls, while visitors get 40 balls for the same price.
8 April 1963 The General Committee decides to purchase the first television
set for the Clubhouse.
1966 Official opening of new Clubhouse extension.
1968 Three club members, Noel Mulcahy, Noel Nunan and Gus O Brien,
die in the Tuskar Rock air disaster on 24 March.
1972 Bob Ryan, greenkeeper at Douglas, died this year. Bob had worked
on the course since 1919.
On 20th March the purchase of over 3 acres of land by the 18th hole
for £12,300 concluded.
1973 In April a development company, Windsor Estates, offered to purchase
the course for £550,000. The offer was rejected.
Girlie Hegarty elected President of the ILGU.
1975 Commdt Patrick Corrigan retires after 23 years service as Secretary.
1976 Club Professional John McKenna retires after 39 years service.
1977 Gary Nicholson, the new Club Professional, takes up duty.
15 July 1978 Newly extended and renovated clubhouse officially opened.
1984 Girlie Hegarty died on 23 November. She was a distinguished Douglas
golfer at club, provincial and international levels and was a past President
and Honorary Life Vice-President of the ILGU.
1985. Frank Bowen is elected President of the Golfing Union of Ireland.
1985 Douglas Golf Club celebrates its 75th anniversary and publishes
a short history of the Club written by Charlie Mulqueen.
1989 Saunder's farm and lands (16.5acres) purchased for £250,000 –
financed by the raffle of 3200 tickets at £100 each. The raffle committee
was chaired by Jack Harrington.
1991. Douglas men win the Barton Shield.
1996. A land swap is made with Gortalough Holdings to enhance the
18th hole.
1999 The newly reconstructed course opens for play in May of this year.
2000 New Club Constitution and management structure come into operation.
2005 Ann Heskin becomes President of the ILGU.
2007 The membership of Douglas Golf Club vote to accept in principle
an offer from Castlelands Construction Ltd to sell the present course
and relocate to two new courses to be built at Ballinrea.
2009 Douglas Golf Club celebrates its centenary year.
