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Garron Tower Golf Course, Antrim. (1899 – 1910)
Report from the Dundee Evening Telegraph Tuesday 8 August 1899 – “A new golf course was opened yesterday in the grounds adjoining Garron Tower, on the Antrim coast. It is a nine-hole course.”
The holes varied in length from 85 yards to 440 yards.
From the Irish Golfer 30 August 1899 – “The formal opening of the links was carried out by Col. McCalmont, M.P. It had been the former residence of the Marchioness of Londonderry but had been recently converted into a golfer’s hotel.”
Ballymena Weekly Telegraph Saturday 12 August 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Irish Golfer Wednesday 30 August 1899 - "Garron Tower Links - The opening, at the beginning of the month, of a links at Garron Tower is inducing still another class of tourist to visit the district, and the bag of clubs is already a part of the impedimenta of almost every mail car or char-a-banc that leaves the Larne or Parkmore stations.
On looking at a map of County Antrim we find among the prominent headlands along the coast one marked Garron Point. On a plateau, some 250 feet above sea level, the late Marchioness of Londonderry, erected a mansion which has now fallen in to the hands of an enterprising hotel company the grounds are beautifully laid out, there being finely laid out flower gardens, a unique rosery, and a large lawn, on which a dozen tennis courts could be marked out. At present only two nets are to be seen, the rest of the lawn being devoted to croquet, bowls, and other games.
The golf engineer, too, cast a longing eye over the fine sward and appropriated a corner for his ninth green. Mr Jenks, of the Larne club, on the morning of the competition, teed a ball at the hall door and drove it within a few feet of the flag. It will be seen therefore, that golf visitors at the hotel have no distance to go for their game. The first teeing ground is erected in a plantation that rises to Nappan Fort. The player must clear a wire fence and carry an open drain in order to get a good lie. As the hole is only 185 yards, a well placed shot should reach the green. The second hole is a fairly long one, about 375 yards. There are no obstacles in the way, but a toed or heeled ball is sure to be punished, especially the latter, as a plantation runs the whole length to the right. The player has been gradually ascending, and now finds himself nearly on a level with the tops of a clump of trees that have to be crossed on going to the third green. The fourth green is the largest and best on the course, The approach shot however, is a ticklish one, a dyke hazard running across just forty yards from the green. Trees again faces the player on the fifth but if successfully carried there is no further trouble. Number six is on a small plateau on the side of a hill. Next spring it is proposed to enlarge the green as at present it is on the small side. A fine stretch of short turf leads to the seventh green, over a quarter of a mile away. There is a gradual rise in the ground, but there are no difficulties in the way of the driver who keeps to the line. The second last is the most sporting hole of the lot, although but an iron shot. Too short a ball is pretty sure to be in grief, while to strong a one will reach the road, and perhaps, be unrecoverable. The putting green of the final is, as already mentioned, on the lawn in front of the house."
Larne Times Saturday 28 July 1900. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The course was listed as Garron Point in the Golfing Annuals from 1902-1910.