Chapter name:Portarlington Golf Club -A History 1908-1987

There is little doubt that the founding fathers of the Club were men with sporting instincts. Their names 'are hammered deep into the sporting annals of this area. "Mens sana in corpore sano" seems to have been their motto. They were associated with most of the sporting movements which were initiated in the town; cricket, hockey, athletics, cycling and clay pigeon shooting were embraced by all of them. Their names are listed among the committee members who founded the Portarlington Athletic Club in 1881. They were members of a special committee set up in 1896 to build a "banked" cycling track for the town.

The proposed project evinced much interest and it may not be out of place to recall it here: ..." Portarlington is recognised as beng one of the most important centres of cycling in Ireland, and the laying down of the track would admit of cycle races being held there frequently which would, no doubt, be well attended by the public and be of immense benefit to the town. The path would also afford the cyclist in the district an immense advantage of training, and would enable them to compete on equal terms with their opponents at Ballsbridge and elsewhere, .,." "Consequently, it is proposed that a limited liability company be formed for the purpose of constructing a cycling track at. Portarlington".

"That a committee be appointed with power to float a company and act as they shall judge expedient in the matter.,," W. H. M. Cobbe, Henry Farrell, Captain H. Armstrong, Dr. Rice, Rev. Canon J. Cole and P. J. O'Donnell were members of that special committee and they were later to be elected as executive members to the inaugural committee of the Portarlington Golf Club.
Because of legal difficulties in purchasing Mr. O'Connor's field, the project was set aside. It is mere speculation to suggest that had the legal difficulties been surmounted the provision of a golf club for the town might, at least, have been delayed. A cycling loss, a golfing gain.
A gain indeed it was for golf for it was this handful of gentlemen who turned their attention to the provision of a golf Course in its place. It was William Henry Cobbe who led the team and under the spell of his consuming interest in the project, set to work. It may well be poin ted out here that the Ri ver Barrow borders part of the land on which the golf Course was laid out. A gentle flowing river now, even in season of heavy rains, but prior to the Barrow Drainage Scheme heavy rain in the Slieve Bloom mountains turned it into a raging torrent.
For fifty years the inhabitants of the area had petitioned the authorities to have it drained. It is said that the first petition was made during the reign of King Henry VIII.
In 1901 the Portarlington area "suffered such heavy flooding fears were entertained that the bridge in the centre of the town would collapse. Five square miles were under water. Farm houses were flooded, hay ricks were carried away and it was feared that a large number of cattle were drowned".
Earlier, in March 1889, the Royal Commission of Public Works Report stated "46,000 acres of the upper portion of the catchment area are damaged by floods" ..."the basin of the Upper Barrow suffers more than any other part of Ireland".

The founding members of the club were, of course, familiar with these problems. Each one of them had been associated with Barrow Drainage Committees over the years. Whether in the belief or not that sooner, rather than later, the Barrow Drainage Scheme would be put into operation and thus bring much longed-for relief from the disastrous flooding which affected areas of the land on which the Course was laid out, they took the momentous step to establish a golf Course for the town. It is a tribute to their unflagging dedication and vision that a golf Course exists at all at Garryhinch today.

These gentlemen, of course, may well have been familiar with the game of golf and aware that the game, in a private way, was played at Garryhinch and hence its suitability as a site long before the club was formally instituted.
But while there is evidence to show that golf was played at The Heath in 1891 and '92, no such evidence was seen as regards Garryhinch. Nevertheless, a letter from Mr. Richard Warburton, Dublin, dated 24th August 1987, is of interest and it reads -"..." As you are aware this club (Portarlington) was founded by my grandfather some 100 years or so ago. Unfortunately, I never knew him, as he died in 1921 and is buried in The Commons graveyard. Although now overgrown his grave is easily found as it has a railing, and there is a fine engraved memorial on the granite tomb.

The state maps of 1854 refer to that part of Garryhinch, now the golf links, as the Fourteen Acres and "Brickfield". It was lined on the north, on both sides of the avenue, by Wiley's Wood. These lands were part of Garryhinch and not leased out by the Estate as the lands of Annamoe adjoining were. It is interesting, too, to note that the map was never updated indicating that this golf links was very much a personal possession -at least until the time of his death ..."

However, there is evidence to show that Portarlington Golf Club was instituted in 1908. Reference to its institution is found in the GOLFING ANNUAL 1908-09. An extract from page 549 of that publication shows that Portarlington Golf Club was instituted that year.
The entry reads: "PORT ARLINGTON; Portarlington Golf Club -instituted 1908: Hon. Secretary, Rev. H. Beauchamp. The course of 9 holes (circuit over 3,000 yards) is laid out on old pasture land in a park near the town, and hazards are sunk fences and woods".
Reference to the club is also made in WISBET'S GOLF YEAR BOOK, 1911. The entry on page 336 reads: PORTARLINGTON (QUEENS) Portarlington Golf Club, founded 1909.
Number of members:- 150
Station (G.S. & W.R.) 2 miles.
Hon. Secretary:- Miss Marjorie Mulvany, Barrow Bank House, Portarlington.
Entry Fee:- 10s 6d. Ladies: 5s 6d.
Subscriptions:- £1 1s. Ladies 10s 6d.
Number of holes:- 9
Professional:- H. C. Lafolly.
Terms for Visitors:- 1/- per day; 2s 6d per week; Sunday play with caddies. "Inland course situated in the demesne of Garryhinch; well bunkered and with both natural and artificial bunkers; lies are excellent and the course shows a marked improvement every day" -Marjorie Mulvany".

In the IRISH GOLFER'S GUIDE 1910 and 1916 Portarlington Golf Club is listed and the entry reads: "Portarlington Golf Club, Queen's County: Founded 1909. A 9 hole inland course situated within two miles of Portarlington Station, G.S.W.R'1 Dublinl Railway vouchers are obtainable".
Hon. Secretary:- Miss Marjorie Mulvany, Barrow Bank House, Portarlington. President:- Rev. Canon J. F. Cole. Captain:- Rev. H. Beauchamp. Treasurer:- W. H. M. Cobbe. Vice Presidents:- Rev. H. Beauchamp, Capt. H. Armstrong, W. O'Donnell, I. J. Creighton, H. Farrell. Membership Fee: Annual Subscription -Men £1 Is; Ladies 10s 6d. Membership -Men: 30; Ladies: 40. Visitors Fees 1/- per day. Bogey: 39. Sunday play allowed. Professional: MacSweeney. Not yet affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland.
A sporting course only opened this season (1909) -length 2,240 yds. The hazards are natural and well placed and the greens closely guarded. A course was badly needed in this district and the thanks of local golfers are due to the Rev. H. Beauchamp and Rev. Canon Cole for having promoted the club. There is every prospect of the club being successful. ..."
The earliest report seen of the club's A.G.M. appeared in the Leinster Express of 1912. The report reads:- "Portarlington Golf Club: The annual general meeting was held on January 13th, 1912. The report of the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer showed the affairs of the club to be in a very satisfactory position. The following officers were elected:- President: Rev. Canon J. Cole. Vice Presidents:- Rev. H. Beauchamp, H. Farrell. Captain:- T. N. Wardrop. Vice Captain:- Dr. T. W. Eice. Treasurer:W. H. M. Cobbe. Hon. Secretary:- Miss Marjorie Mulvany.
The prizes for the ladies, presented by Miss Cobbe, have been won by Miss Eileen Mulvany and Miss Lily Purcell...". Miss Lily Purcell later married W. H. M. Cobbe.
The course was not opened for competition until July 1909 when the prize was the "Lord Portarlington Cup". The club was not affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland until 1911. . In 1956, as the club approached its fiftieth anniversary the commIttee of the day, in the belief that 1907 was its inauguration year, planned to celebrate the occasion accordingly. But in a letter to the Editor of The Nationalist & Leinster Times of 21st April 1956, Mr. W. H. P. Cobbe, son of the renowned W. H. M. Cobbe, founder member of the club, submitted the following information:

"Sir, -I was very interested to read a report in last week's issue of "The Nationalist & Leinster Times" that the Portarlington Golf Club are contemplating holding celebrations to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the inauguration of the club next year. Unfortunately, I have to pass along some disappointing news about the date of inauguration. The Portarlington Golf Club was founded through the efforts of my father W. H. M. Cobbe, Mr. Wardrop, Solicitor, Monsignor Beauchamp and other residents of the Portarlington and Mountmellick districts. While the idea of a club was originally put forward about the year 1907, the club was not officially inaugurated until 1909. The links was established on its present site, then part of the Warburton Estate, and one of the gate lodges was acquired as a clubhouse. The original building, with additions, still serves that purpose. I have here an address very kindly presented to my father, in 1914, by the members of the club to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the inauguration of the club, of which my father was president. This nails down the inauguration of the club to 1909. It may be of interest to present day members to have the names of the officials of the club at that time: President:- W. H. M. Cobbe; Vice-President, T. Worrell; Captain, A. F. Carr; Hon. Secretary, Rev. H. Beauchamp, C.C. In addition to these I can give the names of most of the founder members if anyone wishes to have them. I trust that this information will be of use to the committee, and if there is any matter that I can assist on, I shall be only too pleased to help.
Yours faithfully,
W. H. P. Cobbe, Ardeevan, Gorey, Co. Wexford."

Mr. W. H. P. Cobbe is still living and he resides in Tramore, County W a terford. Sadly, the list of names of the founder mem bers which were in his possession are no longer available. However, it is said that J. Daly, Clonaslee, and J. S. Tedcastle, Kilmullen, Portarlington, were listed among the founder members. The foregoing, then, is the earliest documentary evidence seen showing the date of the institution of the club in 1908, and its inauguration in 1909. The earliest known photographs extant showing the club in its early days of development are affixed to the Cobbe "address". The photograph on the left shows fresh mounds of soil surrounding the ninth green. The clubhouse stands out and is seen as it was when in use as a gate lodge. The roadway from the entrance gate, passing at the back of the green to the Warburton House, can be quite clearly discerned. The caddie is holding the pin staff indicating the ninth green. The figure to the left of the picture is Lady Lily Cobbe. The other lady is unidentified. It will be noted, too, from this photograph that trees are being felled in the area of the present first teeing ground. The general appearance is that construction work is still in progress. The photograph to the right-hand side shows Rev. Fr. Beauchamp in the act of putting on the sixth green, watched by W. H. Cobbe, the tall man with hat to his left, and Tom Wardrop. The older man on his right is unidentified. The caddie is holding the pin staff indicating the sixth green, which appears to be flatter in contour than it is today.