Bray Golf Club, Ravenswell Course, County Wicklow. (1897 - 2003)

Evidence that a course was in existence in the early 1770s on common land, now the seafront promenade area.

The current club laid out a nine-hole course at Ravenswell in 1897.

The club moved to its current course at Greystones Road in 2003.

Club Professionals prior to WW2; Richard Larkin, 1898 - 1913; William Hanna, 1913 - 1915; A Wrenne, 1915 - 1919; J Sullivan, 1920 - WW2.

Report on the new club in July 1897.

 

 

The new links of the Bray Golf Club at Ravenswell were opened in January 1898.

It was reported in 1898 that the competition for the cup presented by Sir Henry Cochrane J.P., D.L., would take place on the Ravenswell course on Monday 1 August.

 

 

Description of the course in March 1899.

 

 

 

Competitions played in September 1902.

 

 

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1898; Number of members 212, ladies 103; Station at Bray 5 minutes; Hon. Sec. - George Price, Torca Lodge, Dalkey, Co. Dublin; Captain B Leslie Smith; Entrance fee, £3/£3s, Ladies, £2/2s; Subs £1/1s; Nine-holes; Professional, Larkin; Professional record - Larkin, 33 (1894); Amateur record - F Stuart King, 69 - 18-holes (1894); Terms for visitors at either of the three Bethel Hotels - (Station, Marine and Bray Head), 1s/6d a day, 6s a week; other visitors, 2s/6d a day. The course is an inland one, prettily situated close to the sea shore, amid the beautiful scenery of County Wicklow. The course is a fairly easy one, the longest hole being 475 yards. There are tennis and croquet grounds open to visitors.   

Results of competitions in May 1906; Bethell Hotel's Cup - W Toomey; Sir Henry Cochrane Challenge Cup - L R Oswald-Sealey; Ladies' Challenge Cup - Mrs Rambaut.

Report on the annual meeting and a move to a new course in December 1910.

 

 

In June 1921, playing an "Aero" 1.62 ball,  Jack Sullivan, professional at Bray, created a new course record of 68.

From the 1928 Golfers' Handbook; Membership, 320; Secretary, Geo. Price, LL. D; Professional, J Sullivan; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; Weekends an Bank Holidays, 3s/6d; Sunday play with caddies.

 

 

 

Golfer's Handbook 1933; Membership, 300; Secretary - T P Watts, Aravon, Bray; Professional, J Sullivan; 9-holes; Course records;  Amateur - C W Huet, 72; Professional - C W Hunt, 67; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; Weekends an Bank Holidays, 5 shillings; Sunday play with caddies.

 

 

Golfer's Handbook 1937; Membership, 320; Secretary - H R Flude, The Cottage, Bray; Professional, J Sullivan; 9-holes, Par 74, SSS 72; Course records;  Amateur - C W Huet, 72; Professional - C W Hunt, 67; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; 10s a week, 20s a month Weekends an Bank Holidays, 5 shillings; Sunday play with caddies; Licensed.

Golfer's Handbook 1947; Membership, 330; Secretary, A N Murphy; Professional, N C Wilson; 9-holes, Par 74, SSS 72; Course records;  Amateur - C W Huet, 72; Professional - J Sullivan, 67; Visitors (introduced), 2s/6d a day; 10s a week, 20s a month; Sunday play.

Golfer's Handbook 1951 to 1966; Membership, 340; Secretary, A N Murphy; Professional, N C Wilson; 9-holes, Par 74, SSS 72; Course records;  Amateur - F Knott, 71; Professional - J Sullivan, 67; Visitors (introduced), 3s/6d a day; 15s a week, 40s a week; Sunday play. 

 

 

 

Golfer's Handbook 1972; Membership, 400; Secretary, T J McNamee; M Walby; 9-holes, 6,318 yards, SSS 70; Amateur course record - T G Lloyd, 65.

 

 

Club officers for 1975; President A Byrne; Vice-presidents - C Quinn, B O'Brien, H Denver; Trustees - G O'Carroll, F Knatt, T Hyland; Captain, Ken Robins0n; Vice-captain, Cyril Dunne; Council - J McLoughlin, G Galvin, P O'Toole, P O'Carroll, T Brennan, E Pigot, H Hogan, G Downer, G Harvey and J McKenna.

Golfer's Handbook 1982; Membership, 270; Secretary, J Hannigan; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 6,049 yards, SSS 68; Visitors, £2. 

Golfer's Handbook 1988 to 1991; Membership, 272 (15 Associates); Secretary, J M McStravick; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,230 metres, SSS 70; Visitors, £8.

 

 

Golfer's Handbook 1994; Ravenswell Road, Bray; Membership, 272; Secretary, T Brennan; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,230 metres, SSS 70; Visitors, £15.

Golfer's Handbook 1998; Ravenswell Road, Bray; Membership, 275; Secretary/Manager, T Brennan; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,230 metres, SSS 70; Amateur course record - K Nolan, 65 (1994); Visitors, £17.

Competition results from June 2001; Vice-Presidents Prize; Des Hitchin (6), 65 points; John McManus (16), 66 points; Eric O'Shaughnessy (120) and Ian Ring (10), 67 points; Best gross, Brendan Fitzpatrick (2), 70; Ladies' medal, Sighle Prunty (13), 71 points; Best gross, Kathleen Fahy (9), 81. 

Golfer's Handbook 2002; Membership, 530; Secretary/Manager, G Montgomery; Professional, M Walby; 9-holes, 5,642 metres, Par 70, SSS 69; Visitors £20.

 

 

Picture of the Ravenswell Road course in October 2002.

 

 

Course scorecard for the nine-hole Ravenshall course.

 

 

 

 

Report on the move to the present course in December 2003.

 

 

Google Map below shows the location of the former course.