The Internet's Most Comprehensive Guide

County Kildare Golf Club, Naas. (1897 – WWII)

The club played over four courses prior to WW2. The first course was at Halverstown. In the 1903 club moved to Decoy Farm, Osberstown. The club was on the move again in 1911 to a course at Oldtown Nass known as “The Knocks”. The expiry of the lease at “The Knocks in the early 1920s resulted in the club taking a lease on land at Monread.

In 1940 the club purchased land at Kerdiffstown and this is the location of the current Naas Golf Club. 

The County Kildare Golf Club continued until the 1960s when it changed name and became Naas Golf Club.

From the Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 13 February 1897 – “It is proposed to establish a Golf Club in Naas. Already links have been made near Halverstown, and many pleasant evenings have been spent there.”

Report on a general meeting in February 1898.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 12 February 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

President’s Prize played in May1898.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 28 May 1898. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition result from May 1899.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 20 May 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition played at Halverstown in November 1901.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 9 November 1901. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting and mention of the move to Decoy Farm in October 1903.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 17 October 1903. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Google Map below showing Halverston.

First competition on the new course in January 1904.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 23 January 1904. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. countykildare.

From the Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook 1905; Naas. County Kildare Golf Club; Instituted 1894; Number of members, 70; Hon. secretary – P J McCann, Craddockstown Lodge, Naas; Captain, Geo. Mansfield, D.L.; Entrance fee, Nil and Subs, £1; Nine-holes; Professional, McGlew; Course records; Amateur; Capt. Greer, 42 (9-holes); Professional; Geo, Coburn, 40 (9-holes); Terms for visitors, free on being introduced by a member. This is one of the longest nine-hole courses in the United Kingdom, being 3,170 yards. The bunkers are all natural and consist of sand-pits, furze, drains and hedges.

Result of the President’s Prize (Mr Mansfield) played in May 1905; Dr D P Coady, 118-30-88; Edwin B Gray, 115-26-89; J Phillips, 104-15-89; B Francis, 119-30-89; P J McCann, 121-25-96; H J Jones, 122-23-99.

Golf Club Ball in January 1906.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 20 January 1906. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting in December 1906.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 15 December 1906. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 13 July 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the 1908 July monthly medal; Dr. Joseph Smyth, 102-18-84; P J McCann, 104-18-86; H J Coleman, 106-16-90; J Barry Brown, 100-8-92.

President's Prize played in June 1909.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 19 June 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the Captain’s prize and the Brophy Challenge Cup played in June 1910; J D Nolan, 96-16-80; P J Brophy, 92-11-81; Rev L Fletcher, 105-25-81; Brophy Challenge Cup; E I Gray, 86-11-75; Rev L Fletcher, 101-24-77; W Ashton, 87-10-77; Sydney Trust, 102-24-78; J Barry Brown, 86-8-78; P J McCann, 98-18-80; J T Roy Wyle106-25-81; J Phillips, 83 scratch; J D Nolan, 95-12-83.

Google Map showing the location of the Oberstown Course.

The club moved to Oldtown Nass, in 1911 on land known as “The Knocks.”

Report on the annual meeting in February 1911.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 25 February 1911. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It was reported in September 1911 that “The new links of the County Kildare Golf Club at The Knocks are now in good playing order, and the greens excellent. The usual competitions will be started at once.”

It was reported in the Irish Times in March 1913 that when approaching a green on the County Kildare course, a lady who cut into the turf with her club and unearthed a set of false teeth.

Advert for the annual dance in January 1914.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 17 January 1914. Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 20 January 1906. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition winners in 1915.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 30 October 1915. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting in 1919.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 29 November 1919. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It was reported in January 1922 that the lease held by the County Kildare Golf Club at the Knocks having expired had obtained a course at Monread. Members should not forget to remove their clubs and other property from the pavilion at Knocks by Wednesday 1 March.

Google Map showing Oldtown.

The new course at Monread.

Advert from January 1922 – “Wanted – Offers of Land to make a Golf Course. Apply – P J McCann, Hon. sec., County Kildare Golf Club.” 

Report on the 29th annual meeting and the new course in November 1923.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 3 November 1923. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The reports below are extracts on the history of the club which were published in the Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser during September and October 1932.

 “COUNTY KILDARE GOLF CLUB – Historical Retrospect – County Kildare Golf Club has now been in existence for 36 years. It was founded in 1896 by the late Mr G Mansfield, D.L., J S Shannon, the late E J Gray and P J McCann. Of these Mr McCann who has been so closely connected with the life of the club, is still an active member. Few clubs indeed with as long a life as that of County Kildare possess a member who has been its guiding spirit since its inception. These four gentlemen got together a very small club on Mr McCormack’s land at Halverstown, which only existed on sufferance and despite the fact the rent was about £6 a year, it was with great difficulty raised. The course was a short iron one. As a green-keeper was impossible, Mr Shannon who acted as hon. secretary used to cut and roll the green himself. In January 1899 Mr Shannon on being promoted to a post in Loughrea as manager of the Hibernian Bank, Mr E Gray was elected hon. secretary, which position he held until 1902, when Mr McCann took over the reins of office, he was destined to hold them for twenty-six years.

A year later negotiations were entered into for the lands of the Decoy Farm about a mile from Naas, quite near the Osberstown covert which is well known to all followers of the Kildare hounds. The club moved thither, the membership greatly increased, and the rent sevenfold. A clubhouse was provided and the services of a professional, McGlue of Portmarnock, were secured. The land itself was somewhat poorer than the rest of the district and lent itself to the making of the course, a difficult business in Co. Kildare owing to the richness of the soil. The course was laid out by George Coburn. The hazards were all natural and consisted of sand pits, drains, furze and hedges. It was 3,170 yards in length, a long course, the bogey being 42. The original amateur record for the course, 42, held by Capt. J H Greer, was lowered to 38 by J Gorry, who was captain of the club in 1908. Each of the nine-holes had a name; Hill of Allen (375 yards), Liffey (204), Mount Leinster (387), Lodge (283), Boreen (343), The Well (345), Decoy (186), Fox Colvert (358), Saucer (415). The first tee was faced by two fences, one close and the other offering trouble to a moderate drive. The second was a short hole easily done in bogey. At the third a drive, sliced or pulled found a ditch on one side and a fence on the other; the green was fairly well guarded by a sunken ditch. The fourth was a drive and approach with no trouble in the way except two deep drains. The fifth was a good hole with a fence close in front of the tee and an ugly ditch running parallel with the line of the hole on the left, but straightness and a good drive made the hole an easy five. A blind ditch threatened the tee shot for the sixth, and a difficult second was offered as the green lay under the protection of a high fence. The next was the most difficult hole, but a good iron shot landed one clear of all trouble, shortness was badly punished by a quarry. The eighth was a flat hole with a fence running parallel and close to the line on the right. The last hole was made interesting by a fence or two, but rendered easy by being bogey six.

In 1911 the hon. secretary, P J McCann, reported that negotiations for a new links at the Knocks, Naas, as the lease at the Decoy was expiring, had resulted in terms being arrived at, subject to the approval thereof by the meeting. Mr McCann then read the proposed new terms to the meeting and on the motion of T R Gibson, seconded by the late Mr Hendric Aylmer, the terms were accepted, and the president, the late Mr Mansfield, and the hon. secretary were authorised to sign the lease as trustees for and on behalf of the club. The question of raising the funds required to construct the new links and to remove and enlarge the clubhouse was then considered, and a number of the members present agreed to guarantee the amount required.

The new links were situated at Oldtown, Naas, and were laid out by Mr Pickeman, founder and hon. secretary of Portmarnock Golf Club. It was a fine sporting course. The nine-holes measured 2,700 yards and varied from 140 to 450 yards. The bogey was 38 and the scratch score or par of the course was 36. The services of Holly, who had been assistant professional at Portmarnock were secured. The captain for the year was A B Morrogh. 

The club now launched forth in a career of great activity. Notices of competitions, entertainments dramatic, and musical, and dances came so thick and fast that one is compelled to conclude that this was the golden age of the County Kildare Golf Club. For 1912 the late Dr. W P Murphy was elected captain and a new hon. official, green steward, Col. Wogan Browne, was appointed to superintend the work of the professional and grounds-men. P J Brophy kindly undertook the management of the farm so long as the club retained grazing rights on their own hands. In 1912 lady member were conceded the right to have a branch of their own, and the late Mrs Harry Farrell was elected hon. secretary. A committee was then elected by ballot, and the meting then considered what assistance they could give in organising a golf club dance. This was subsequently held in the Town Hall. This year was also notable for presentation of the of a handsome silver challenge cup by the late Mrs Harry Farrell as a memorial to her husband who died in the year of his captaincy of the club. The club was also fortunate in being presented by Mr S G Williams, with a prize limited to members whose handicap was 25. This is the well known Williams’ jug, now limited to players of 18 and over.

For 1913 P J Brophy took the helm, E J Doyle being elected to act as farm steward in his place. This was a most successful year for the club. More than 50 competitions of various types were held. In July of this year the club lost the services of Holly, who obtained an appointment at Stillorgan Park. Previous to his departure he had lowered the record of the course to 70, in a match with H J Fleming. He was succeeded by M O’Neill, who had come from the Killine club, he was a first class golfer and excellent coach.

Mr Gorry was succeeded by J E Hollingsworth as captain for 1921, the latter by J Barry-Browne for 1922, when the Knocks was relinquished and the present course, part of the farmer now owned by Mr J Kennedy, Monread, taken over.

We now enter on the last phase of the history of the County Kildare Golf Club. As the lease of the Knocks was due to expire on 21 May 1922, a new links was acquired on 1 February on a 21-year lease, all arrangements for their construction being delegated to an executive committee; Mr Mansfield, president; Mr Barry-Browne, captain; Mr McCann, hon. secretary. The lands on which it was proposed to construct the links were then owned by the late Mr Valentine, Monread, a very accommodating landlord. The links were laid out by Cecil Barcroft, and by December 1922 the bunkering of the course was completed. The clubhouse was removed, newly timbered and given a solid concrete foundation. The first captain of the new links was D J Lambe of the Hibernian Bank. In the Irish Times (30/11/1922) J P Rooney (“Traveller”) describes the new bunkers on the course as “an improvement on anything I have seen attempted on an inland course in this country, being capitally constructed in every detail, while their artistic and solid appearance adds considerably to the attractions of what are sure to become in due course attractive holes.” “What appealed to me most” he continues, “was the dryness and firmness of the turf. Mr Barcroft in laying out the course did his work after the fashion of an accomplished golfer; he seems to have excelled himself at a few holes. In fact it would be difficult to find on any inland course a better short hole than the fourth – a dead pitch of 110 yards on to a green almost encircled with substantial bunkers. Another good short hole is the second (190 yards), which against the wind calls for a fine cleek shot – most novices would have to go all out with a driver – on to a small green, heavily bunkered at the sides and in front.” It may be added that Mr Barcroft considered this hole the finest of its type and range in his experience. It has since been reduced by about 30 yards.

In 1923 the club lost a very keen member, Capt. S G Williams, donor of the now well-known Williams Jug, who left Ireland. As a tribute to his services to sport he was elected an honorary member of the County Kildare Golf Club. He is the first member on whom this honour has been conferred.

For the following year J Rorke who at present acts as hon. secretary, was elected captain, and for 1925 E S Dowling, the duties of green steward being taken over by the Rev. Chancellor Clover. In 1926 when D McGuirke was captain, it was decided that in order to relieve Mr McCann, whose duties had increased very much since he was appointed 23 years before, the post of hon. secretary and treasurer be divided, and J Barry Browne was appointed hon. treasurer, a post he still holds.

M Quinn was captain for 1927, and L Lambe was appointed hon. auditor. E Kennedy succeeded Rev. Chancellor Grover as green steward.  In 1928 when W Kennedy was captain, the club lost two of its founders, Mr Mansfield, its president, and E I Gray. The death of two such members dealt a serious blow to the fortunes of the club. Mr Mansfield’s place as president of the club was taken by J Sweetman, D.L, Longtown, Sallins, who has worthily upheld the tradition of his predecessor. The prize which he presents annually is one of the big events in the life of the club. For 1929 J Cunningham acted as captain, for 1930 T Langan, for 1931 S Curry.

Ever since the death of Mr E I Gray who always kept local interest in the club alive by reports to the press of every competition played, a certain lack of interest a kind of sleepy sickness, seemed to have descended on the club. The desperate and unaided efforts of the captains to revive some interest among the members did not meet with the success it deserved. The failure was mainly due to the fact that advertisement in the form of newspaper reports was not forthcoming. Be the cause what it may, it was realised by the members at the annual meeting in November 1931, that the club was in a moribund condition, and that unless they bestirred themselves to its further existence was likely to be brief. The condition of the rough had become so intolerable that it was impossible to complete a round without losing several balls. It was decided to obviate this condition by altering the terms of the lease so as to obtain full power to cut the rough whenever necessary. This has proved to be a most beneficial measure, as the rough is now maintained in such a condition as to penalise a bad shot, yet light enough for finding a ball. There remained, however, the question of lack of interest and espirit de corps, which was plain to everybody. The honour of solving it belongs to the captain of this year of grace, William O’Brien, of the Munster and Leinster Bank, Naas, and we should conclude our account of the history of the club by describing how he did it for the edification of all future captains. With sociable feeling between all members, male and female, his objective, he has promoted a series of mixed foursomes competitions which have met with phenomenal success, to such an extent that these have now that these have now become an established feature in the club. Some of these competitions were open to other clubs and were just as successful as those confined to members. After being the Cinderella in the realm of sport, the County Kildare Golf Club once more has regained its former proud position.”

Entry from the 1933 to 1937 Golfer’s Handbook; County Kildare Golf Club; Membership of 150; hon. secretary – J Rorke, Monread, Naas; green-keeper, M Kane; Course records; amateur – J Gorry, 35; professional – M O’Neill, 34; nine-holes; station at Naas, one mile, Sallins, half-mile; visitors’ fees – 2 shillings a day, 7s/6d a week, 15s a month; Sunday play with caddies.

Competitions played over Christmas and New Year 1933/4.

Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser Saturday 28 January 1933. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The victorious County Kildare team for the Barton Cup in June 1933.

Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail Saturday 17 June 1933. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the club in May 1934.

Leinster Leader Saturday 19 May 1934. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Leinster Leader Saturday 28 March 1936. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Leinster Leader Saturday 23 May 1936 – “The Co. Kildare Club held a most successful men’s fourball at their splendid grounds at Monread last weekend. Over 70 couples competed and the winners were D McGuirke and M N Conway; Runners-up; A Fletcher and M Gorry.”

Leinster Leader Saturday 27 February 1937. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Leinster Leader Saturday 14 May 1938. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The annual meeting in October 1939.

Leinster Leader Saturday 4 November 1939. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the annual meeting and the new course at Kerdiffstown in October 1940.

Leinster Leader Saturday 26 October 1940. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The County Kildare Golf Club continued to play at Kerdiffstown until the 1960s. The club eventually changed name and became the Naas Golf Club who continue to play at Kerdiffstown.

Google Map below showing Monread, location of the golf course prior to WWII.