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Bagenalstown Golf Club, County Carlow. (1910 - 1950s) 

Founded in 1910.

The nine-hole course, designed by Mr W C Pickerton of Portmarnock, was laid out on gravel and loam soil and had a total length of 2,900 yards. The longest hole was 457 yards and the shortest 160 yards. The station was ½ mile from the course which was between the Great Southern & Western Railway and the Carlow and Bagenalstown Road near the home of Mr C R Norton, chairman of the club. The captain in 1910 was A D La Touche. 

The local hotels were Wards and Dooley’s. 

Report on a public meeting in January 1910.

Carlow Sentinel Saturday 29 January 1910. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the Irish Field Saturday 5 February 1910 - "New Club at Bagenalstown - Some residents at Baganelstown have been for a couple of months passed engaged in the preliminaries of establishing as a local club as a sub-committee in selecting a site for the golf links, and securing guarantors for the heavy initial expenses (£200). These gentlemen recently issued a circular for a public meeting, and, in the interests of this most extensively played game, perhaps there was never a more persuasive or seductive appeal for membership issued to the public. The meeting was recently held in the Courthouse, Mr R C Norton, presiding. Resolutions establishing the Bagenalstown Golf Club were adopted, approving of the site selected for the links, appointing committee, and fixing the terms of membership. The links are situated between the line of the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Chairman's residence on the Carlow - Bagenalstown road. Mr A D La Touche was elected captain, with the following committee; Fr. Bolger, C H Thorp, B McGrath, J G Butter, and Michael Shiel; A Norris and F B Brown were appointed hon. secs.; Colonel Briggs and C R Norton,  hon. treasurers; The subscriptions adopted were; Family tickets, £2; Single gentlemen £1, ladies 10 shillings" 

Result of the singles in a match played in December 1910. Carlow Golf Club won the doubles by 5 matches to 2.

Carlow Nationalist Saturday 31 December 1910. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Professional from 1910 - 1912 was J Kehoe, and from 1912 to 1913 J McKillop. The course was to be re-designed in 1914 when a large number of bunkers were to be added, and the greens re-laid.

New Ross Standard Friday 15 August 1913. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In 1914 the secretary was F B Brown, Long Range, Bagenalstown. The Professional was still J Kehoe. The membership was 100 Gents and 50 Ladies. There was no entry fee. Subs were £1 for gents and 10/- for ladies. Family tickets were available at £2. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, 5/- a week and 10/- a month. Sunday play was allowed with caddies.

The golf clubhouse at Bagenalstown.

1922 and 1923 the joint secretaries were F B Brown and P F Newman. Visitors’ fees were now 2/- a day, 5/- a week and 10/- a month. Record score of 36 for both amateur and professional.

Competition played in April 1926.

New Ross Standard Friday 30 April 1926. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The professional and green keeper from 1929, probably until the course closed, was M O’Reilly.

Competition result from 1938.

New Ross Standard Friday 3 June 1938. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1940 and 1947 the secretary was P J Fitzpatrick, Main Street, Bagenalstown, telephone number 8. The 9-hole course had a S.S.S and Par of 76 and a membership of 120. Amateur course record holder was J Jordan 34. Visitors’ fees were unchanged.

Bagenalstown Golf Club had disappeared by 1951.