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Dunmurry Golf Club, County Antrim. (1905 – 1982)

Founded in 1905 with a nine-hole course.at Upper Dunmurry.

The course was extended to 14-holes in 1973 and to 18-holes in 1977.

Due to road and housing development on the earlier course the club moved to its current location which opened in March 1983.

Report on the new club and course in 1905.

Northern Whig Friday 17 March 1905. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the informal opening of the course in May 1905.

Lisburn Standard Saturday 3 June 1905. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting in March 1906.

Northern Whig Saturday 31 March 1906. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Lisburn Standard Saturday 21 September 1907 – “Dunmurry Club – Opening of New Clubhouse – Since its inauguration, about two and a half years ago, the Dunmurry Golf Club has had a measure of success of which any such organisation might well feel proud, and on last Saturday a further stage in its progress was marked by the opening of a new and commodious clubhouse. Delightfully and picturesquely situated, the course is one of the finest inland links in the North of Ireland.”

Reports on the annual meetings held in March 1909.

Lisburn Standard Saturday 27 March 1909. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Northern Whig Thursday 1 April 1909. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the August 1913 monthly medal; J S F McCance, 93-22-71; W Higginson, 99-26-73; S R Hunter, 88-14-74; Geo. Aikin, 97-22-75; W Pleasance 96-12-77; R Martin, 99-22-77; A E Taylor, 93-13-80; W Topping, 94-13-81.

Ireland’s Saturday Night Saturday 21 August 1915. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting in March 1917.

Belfast News-Letter Saturday 31 March 1917. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting in March 1920; Captain, W Heslip; Hon. secretary, H Stevenson; Hon, treasurer, Graham Weir; Vice-presidents, J S F McCance, Jackson McGown; Council – D S Rankin, B C Quarry, A H Henderson, A E Taylor, W Gill, E A Moore and W Roberts. Entrance Fee was set at £3/3s and Subs, £3/3s, lady associates, £1/1s.

Report on the annual meeting in March 1925.

Belfast News-Letter Wednesday 1 April 1925. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Northern Whig Monday 2 May 1927. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Golfer’s Handbook 1928; Dunmurry Golf Club, County Antrim; Membership 270; Hon. secretary – H Stevenson, 13 Donegal Square North, Belfast; Green-keeper, J McGrath; 9-holes; Visitors on introduction, 2s a day (3s Saturday); No Sunday play. 

Northern Whig Saturday 14 June 1930. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer’s Handbook 1933; Membership 350; Hon. secretary - W S Ritchie, Chestnut Villa, Dunmurry; Green-keeper, J Harris; Visitors on introduction, 2s a day (3s Saturday); No Sunday play.

Miss Amy McGowan, Miss Florence Carmichael, Miss R Beverland and Mrs R S Dickson crossing the stream on the golf course.

Northern Whig Friday 29 March 1935. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the annual meeting in March 1935.

Northern Whig Friday 29 March 1935. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Belfast News-Letter Thursday 4 June 1936. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer’s Handbook 1937 to 1947; Membership 250; Hon. secretary - W S Ritchie, Chestnut Villa, Dunmurry; Green-keeper, J Harris; Visitors on introduction, 2s a day (3s Saturday); No Sunday play. 

It was reported in December 1940 that 10 acres of land on the course were to be let for cropping.

The following appointments were made at the annual meeting in March 1941; Captain, A Porter Tibbey; Hon. secretary, W Heslip; Hon. treasurer, W R Gill.

Irish Amateur Champion Samuel McCready honoured by the club.

Belfast News-Letter Thursday 16 February 1950. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer’s Handbook 1951; Membership 150; Hon. secretary – W S Ritchie, 16 Upper Green; Professional and green-keeper, V Bruce; 9-holes, Par 72, SSS 73; Course records; Amateur; H P Ritchie, 68; Professional; H Bradshaw, 66; Visitors, 3s a day (5s Saturday). No Sunday play.

At the annual meeting in April 1951 Sir Milne Barbour was elected president for the forty-sixth consecutive year. Other appointments; Captain, James Cousins; Hon. secretary, W S Ritchie; Hon. treasurer, J A Millar. Ladies’ section; President, Mrs Knight; Captain, Miss Gracey; Vice-captain, Mrs Henry; Hon. secretary, Mrs Draper.

At the annual meeting in April 1952 J D Barbour was installed as President in succession to his late uncle, Sit J Milne Barbour; Captain, A E Gibson; Hon. secretary, J D Collins (in place of W S Ritchie who resigned after 21 years in office); Hon. treasurer, J D Millar; Council – J Blair, F Harcourt, E T H McBride, and W S Ritchie.

In August 1952 H P Ritchie, Dunmurry Golf Club, won the open amateur championship of Swaziland, played at the Havelock Mines Golf Club. He finished eight strokes ahead of his rivals.

Golfer’s Handbook 1957 to 1961; Hon. secretary – J D Collins, 83 Finaghy Road South, Belfast, Member 160; Professional and green-keeper, V Bruce; 9-holes, 5,886 yards, SSS 71; Visitors, 2s/6d a day (3s/6d Saturday). No Sunday play.

Nine-hole course scorecard from 1958.

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the ladies’ section in April 1959; President, Mrs J A Knight; Captain; Mrs S N Stafford; Vice-captain, Mrs R A Johnston; Hon. secretary, Mrs H N Henry; Hon. treasurer, Mrs G Crozier; Council – Mrs E Wallace, Mrs E T H McBride, Mrs J D Collins, Mrs N G White, Mrs R C Robinson, Mrs A Montgomery.

Prize winners in 1961.

Northern Whig Tuesday 17 October 1961. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the Topping Scratch Shield competition played in May 1964; G Wells, 76; W P Hewitt, 78; S Murdock, 80; V J Elliott, 82; G Moore, 82.

Captain’s Day in June 1966.

Ulster Star Saturday 18 June 1966. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Ulster Star Saturday 18 May 1968. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

“Victor has the touch – One of the reasons why Dunmurry Golf Club’s nine-hole course is reckoned to be one of the finest in Ulster is the attention it gets from Victor Bruce the club professional for 23 years. Victor, with his swarthy golfer’s complexion can be seen almost every day of the week attending his beautifully maintained greens. Hid Golden Labrador “Bruno” is usually keeping an eye on things.”

Captain’s Day in June 1968.

Ulster Star Saturday 15 June 1968. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1972; Private; Membership 239; Secretary G P Black (sic); Professional; V Bruce; 9-holes, 6060 yards, SSS 69; Course records; Amateur; H Jackson, 65; Professional; H Bradshaw, 66.

Course scorecard 1970s.

Course extended to 14-holes in May 1973.

George Patterson the captain of Dunmurry Golf Club with club officials before driving off to officially open the new 14-hole course.

William McLoughlin, Willie Carson, Eddie Uprichard and the Dunmurry professional Victor Bruce pictured before starting out on the new course.

Ulster Star Saturday 19 May 1973. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1975; Private; Membership 239; Secretary G P Flack (sic); Professional; V Bruce; 9-holes, 6060 yards, SSS 69; Course records; Amateur; H Jackson, 65; Professional; H Bradshaw, 66; Visitors 75p.

Course extended in 1977.

Ulster Star Friday 9 September 1977. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Belfast Telegraph Wednesday 1 February 1978 – “Officials at Dunmurry Golf Club today said they were deeply disappointed that the Government has given the Poleglass housing scheme the go-ahead – effectively destroying their course. A statement issued after a meeting of the club’s council said the Government’s decision had “confirmed their worst fears and has spelt the end of golf in this immediate area. The club was formed at the beginning of the century and has about 600 members.”

President’s Day competition in in June 1979.

Ulster Star Friday 29 June 1979. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

On the doomed eighteenth hole in March 1980.

Ulster Star Friday 28 March 1980. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting in April 1981; Captain, T Thompson; Vive-captain, W H Chambers; President, H Bell; Hon. secretary, Dr C G Alexander; Hon. treasurer, E Uprichard.

Ulster Star Friday 19 June 1981. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Membership 466; Secretary H R N Blair; Professional, V Bruce; 18-holes, 5,939 yards, SSS 67; Course records; Amateur, W Mercer, 69; Professional; V Bruce, 70; Visitors, £3.

Picture below shows the captain of Dunmurry Golf Club, Billy Chambers, with members who took part in the Captain’s Day competition in September 1982, the last such event to be played on the old course. Twenty-one handicapper Tom Holdsworth claimed first prize.

Ulster Star Friday 24 September 1982. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Ordnance Survey Map showing the earlier Golf Course and Clubhouse.

O.S. Map Revised 1920; © Crown Copyright (year of publication 1947).