Please consider supporting our efforts.
| 
| Hits: 158
Rathfarnham Golf Club, Butterfield Course, Dublin. (1899 – 1966)
The club was instituted in April 1899.
The first nine-hole course was laid out by Tom Hood of Dollymount.
The club moved to its current course at Newtown in April 1966.
Irish Golfer Wednesday 6 September 1899. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Irish Golfer Wednesday 8 November 1899 – “Despite the storm on Saturday sixteen competitors entered for the November monthly medal; Class 1; Dr Browne, 91 net; Dr K G Gunn, 92 net; Class 2; J McMeehan, 86 net; D N Steen, 93 net; P Y Bogue, 94 net. Owing to the terrible weather on Friday morning the Ladies’ Monthly Handicap was postponed. The President, Sir F W Shaw, has very kindly offered a cup to be played for. The Captain’s Prize was played for in October and resulted in a tie between Messrs. Browne, Bishop and Steen all 83 net. Ties will be played off shortly. We learn that this sporting course is coming on rapidly, and it is intended to make some alterations which will materially lengthen and improve some of the holes.”
Result of the October 1899 monthly medal; N D Murphy, 98-16-82; Dr Browne, 104-20-84; J McMechan, 105-21-84; H H Bishop, 98-13-85; T B Jobson, 121-21-100; Marshall Butler, 131-27-104; Ladies’; Mrs Browne, 123-15-108; Miss V Plunkett, 153-27-126.
Report on the new club and course in January 1900.
Irish Golfer Wednesday 31 January 1900. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Report on the annual meeting in April 1900.
Irish Golfer Wednesday 11 April 1900. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Dublin Sporting News Monday 15 October 1900. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Dublin Daily Express Monday 28 March 1904. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Nisbets Golf Yearbook 1905; Rathfarnham Golf Club; Instituted 1903; Hon. secretary – F D Anderson, 5 Bushey Park Road, Tremure, Dublin; Captain, P Rooney; Entrance fee; £2/2s, subs, £2/2s; Ladies, £2/2s, £1/1s; 9-holes; Professional, P McKenna; Terms for temporary members, 5s a week. A good sporting inland course.
Bank Holiday competition played in June 1905; R T Dixon,87-18-69; T Johnson, 93-18-75; D M Stein, 93-18-75; F P Dixon, 101-22-79; T E Harvey, 103-24-79; C M Benson, 106-24-82.
Dublin Daily Express Friday 29 December 1905. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Dublin Daily Express Wednesday 11 April 1906. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match played in February 1909.
| Rathfarnham Golf Club | Dublin University Golf Club | ||
| T Johnson | 0 | N Black | 1 |
| J Haskell | 0 | F B McCarter | 1 |
| W R McCaw | 0 | W H McCarter | 1 |
| F G Swayne | 0 | V Stoker | 1 |
| O Plunkett | 1 | G Place | 0 |
| G Plunkett | 0 | C J Kildare | 1 |
| J Bamford | 1 | M Gardiner | 0 |
| G Johnson | 1 | K B Ducknell | 0 |
| 3 | 5 |
Freeman’s Journal Saturday 18 September 1915. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
It was reported in February 1917 that more than half of the Rathfarnham golf links had been turned over for cultivation.
Irish Society (Dublin) Saturday 16 October 1920. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Robbery on the golf course. It appears that the course had been extended in the report below.
Dundee Courier Friday 22 June 1923. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Evening Herald (Dublin) Thursday 21 May 1925. Image © Independent News and Media PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the 1928 Golfer’s Handbook; Membership Gents, 165, Ladies, 160; Secretary; H Mansell-Eyre; Professional, P McKenna; nine-holes; Visitors, 2s with member, 3s without, 2s/6d Sunday.
Golfer’s Handbook 1937; Membership 334; Secretary, H Brew Kennedy, M.C. M.A.; Professional and greenkeeper, P McKenna; 9-holes, SSS 74; Visitors, 2s with member (weekends 3s).
From the Irish Weekly and Ulster Examiner Saturday 25 August 1945 – “Caddie Fined – At Rathfarnham, before District Justice O’Rian, Christopher Corbally was fined 5s with 10s/6d costs, for having trespassed on the Rathfarnham Golf Links. It was stated that he was a caddie who had been warned off by order of the committee.”
Golfer’s Handbook 1947; Membership 125; Secretary, C G Clarke B.A.; Professional, P McKenna; Green-keeper, L Daly; Visitors, 2s with member otherwise 2s/6d; Sunday play.
Irish Independent Friday 22 October 1948 – “Golf professional required, non-resident. Apply in writing, stating wages and enclosing references, to secretary. Rathfarnham Golf Club.”
Golfer’s Handbook 1951; Membership limited to 135; Secretary, C G Clarke; Professional P McGurk; Green-keeper, L Daly; 9-holes, SSS 72; Course record, W Nolan, 69; Visitors, 2s with member; Sunday play.
Club captain in 1953 was William Tate.
Golfer’s Handbook 1956/7; Founded 1898; Membership limited to 135; Secretary; B Clarke, 19 Lavarna Grove, Terenure; Professional; J McGurk; Green-keeper, L Daly; 9-holes, 5.630 yards, SSS 67; Professional course record. J McGurk, 66; Visitors, 3s with member (5s at weekends).
Golfer’s Handbook 1961; Membership 150; 19 Lavarna Grove, Terenure; J McGurk; Green-keeper, L Daly; 9-holes, 5.630 yards, SSS 67; Professional course record, J McGurk, 66; Visitors, 3s with member (4s/6d at weekends).
Golfer’s Handbook 1964 - 1966; Membership 150; 19 Lavarna Grove, Terenure; Professional, W D Sullivan; Green-keeper, L Daly; 9-holes, 5.630 yards, SSS 67; Professional course record, W D Sullivan, 65; Visitors, 5s with member (7s/6d at weekends).
Above images courtesy of Rathfarnham Golf Club.