Chapter Name:THE SALE OF THE ESTATE

     On-going work was carried out on the Course following its inaugural opening -bunkers were altered and new teeing grounds were built in 1915. Apart from this work, however, very little alterations were made in subsequent years -Jack Murphy of Gracefield, some-time greens keeper and bar-man at the Club remembers :
-". ..in the beginning the 1st tee was over between the 5th and the existing 1st tee. This was while they were clearing away small trees at the 1st tee to make way to the 1st green from there" "after that the Course never changed".
      The tree stumps left in the ground after the initial clearing of the fairways were treated as natural hazards, and it was not until 1931 that the decision was taken to" remove tree stumps from the first and sixth fairways. The work was not carried out until 1933-34 when stumps were removed from the second, sixth and eighth fairways. Some stumps were not removed from the first until the 1940s.In,1933 it was decided to change the eighth teeing ground to the back of the seventh green, the Golfing Union of Ireland being notified of the alteration.
In 1932 the Golfing Union allocated a Standard Scratch Score of 72. A further standard Scratch of 70 was allotted on 28th January 1950, and a Standard Scratch of 68 was allotted in 1951.
Prior to the mechanisation of maintenance of the golf Course, the fairways mower and roller were horse-drawn. Grass in other areas of the Course was kept under control by letting the grazing to local farmers, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Kenny,-the rent of which in the 1930s, had increased to £10 per annum.To cope with the peak months of summer it was usual to hire extra
labour.
       Ordinarily, the Course duties were carried out by the Steward under the  direction of a "Greens Committee" -its mandate being:
(1) To see that the Course is kept in proper order.
(2) Make suggestions regarding alterations to Course or Bunkers.
(3) See that the groundsman carries out his duties.
(4) To employ help when necessary at any time to keep the Course in
order.
(5) To see that machinery is kept in repair.
Modern machinery has a limit to its working life and in 1933 the ageing mare, which had so obediently pulled the mower and roller for a big number of years, had reached the end of its tether. The question as to whether to sell her or put her down was kept open -W.H.M. Cobbe offered two pounds for her -and he was authorised to pay up to twenty five pounds for a suitable horse.
Development of the Course continued only very slowly. In 1935 the services of Mr. Todd, Kilkenny, and Mr. Alan Kidd, Golfing Union of Ireland, were sought to play over the Course to get their views and
recommendations on areas where improvement might be effected. Views were also requested from one Mr. Davis, Waterford. Later, Mr. Kidd recommended the services of the groundsman of Kilcroney Golf Club to examine the Course, to which the Committee agreed -provided he first
submit his fee for consideration. It is not known ,whether or not the proposed examination was ever carried out.
  However, the development of the Course in the late 1920s and the early '30s was not the main cause of concern to the Club. Rather, in 1931, it was the uncertainty of its future in face of the sale of the estate then pending. As already pointed out, the golf Course was acquired as a yearly tenancy from the Warburton estate. Now deeply in debt, the estate was forced to sell the lands comprising of over six-hundred acres -including the grounds of the golf club. A Scottish Timber Merchant named McAinsh & Co. Ltd., duly purchased the lot and thus became the Club's newLandlord. The Club continued to pay rent at the rate of £40.00 per annum to the new owners. Copies of documents relating to the sale are shown here and are of interest:
The Solicitors for the Estate wrote the Solicitors for Messrs. McAinsh &
Co. Ltd. 15th January, 1931.
"I received your letter of the 13th instant. I enclose the map of Garryhinch demesne. If your friend would make an offer for the entire it would be best, and he might then be able to dispose of so much of the
timber as he thought fit and keep or sell the lands.
The Land Commission made an offer of £4,750 for the whole property, and I understand from private enquiries that they had got an offer from the Forestry Department to purchase the timber and the land under the timber for £3,000. The Court directed us to appeal from this offer, and the Judicial Commissioner raised the amount to £5,500 for the whole and the Land Commission then served notice withdrawing their offer. Kindly return to us the map and let me know what proposal your client
is prepared to make.
I see from a report that the Clubhouse is a handsome cut-stone two storey house in excellent preservation.When writing please give the acreage of the golf course. Does it include
the field which is marked "Demesne" on the map. Perhaps you could mark the boundaries in pencil.
The owner is a minor under the Court, and any proposal must be brought before the Chief Justice.
I hope the Golf Course will not be interfered with in any way."
Signed: The Solicitors for the estate
To the Solicitors for Messrs. McAinsh & Co. Ltd.
5th February, 1931.
Re: Garryhinch Estate
"We are in receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant. We are communicating with Mr. Warburton's guardian and when we have instructions will bring the matter before the Court.
The owner will attain his age of 21 next May, and the Court will no doubt take this fact into consideration in connection with the offer.We think that your client would have a better chance of securing the estate if he offered £5,500, which was the price put upon it by Judge Wylie, and as we all known his offers on behalf of the Land Commission are."never excessive.
Signed:

R.G.H. Russell, Timber Merchant, and president of the Club at the time, was also interested in the dealings, and wrote to the Department of
Agriculture:Feb. 1931.
"Some time ago we wrote to you regarding the lands which you propose to take upon the above estate from the Irish Land Commission for Forestry purposes.We have now obtained an option from the Court for the purchase of this estate and we should be glad if you would kindly let us know if your Department would be prepared to take up the Woodlands from us and at what price. The area would be exactly the same as that for which you have made an offer of £3,000 to the Land Commission.
As we are obliged to come to a decision within three weeks from this date in order to exercise the terms of option, we shall feel greatly obliged if you would let us have a definite reply within this time, and as, no doubt, you have already inspected the areas referred to, we think you should have no difficult in doing this."
Signed: R.G.H.
Russell also wrote to Irish Land Commission.
February, 1931.
GarryhinchEstate
"With reference to the above estate for which the Commission offered £4,750 some time ago and which was raised by the Court to £5,500, subsequently, declined by the Commissioners at this price, we beg to saywe have obtained an option for three weeks for the purchase of the whole estate from the Chancery Court at £5,000.As there is considerable agitation for the division of the land which the Commissioners offered, we should be glad to know if they would be willing to take over from us those portions of the estate which they originally proposed to divide for the sum of £1, 750, which is the exact sum they propose to pay for them after deducting the £3,000 which the Forestry Branch proposed to pay for the Woodlands.
We would like to reserve the local golf links, which is situated on this estate and which if divided would cause great hardship amongst the local people.The few acres behind the golf links are almost useless for agricultural purposes.
As we are obliged to give your reply to the Court within three weeks from this date, we trust the Commissioners will find it possible to give us a definite answer well before that time."
Signed:

Again R.G.H. Russell wrote:
March 7th, 1934.
The Department of Agriculture
"I am indeed reluctant to again take up your time with my affairs but I simply cannot lie down and allow the matter of the Garryhinch Estate develop on the lines which appear evident.For your information, I am enclosing another brief outline of the position which, if you will read it through, will most certainly convince you that it would be a gross injustice to my firm if these lands are to be taken over from an entirely Scottish concern and permission given tothem to cut the timber, in view of the fact that a blank refusal was sent to my firm, an entirely Irish one.I feel from what you have said to me, and knowing the attitude youwould be likely to adopt against injustice, you could not possibly stand over this transaction.
I am convinced that the right course to pursue, if the Land Commission feel they really must now purchase this very inferior estate, is to offer the owner a fair price for the whole place, land and timber and afterwards dispose of the woods as they think fit.
The present owner is offering the golf links to the local people but is unwilling to accept anything less than approximately twice its value and the loss of this links would deprive the people of their only recreation.It seems also, that the owners have been able to enlist the services of Land Commission officers in order to assist him in the sale of the property, at a good price, to the golf club, according to the enclosed letter from the Club's Solicitor.I know how absorbed you must be with affairs of great importance, but I hope, nevertheless, you will verify all the facts I have given you and act accordingly.
If the much needed and long delayed legislation for our trade was introduced, these wretchet happenings could not take place".
Signed:
R.G.H. Russell.
The estate was sold to Messrs. McAinsh & Co. Ltd., and was later acquired by the Irish Land Commission. It was allotted in 1935 and revested on various dates between 1940 and 1949.
In 1931, notwithstanding its new position, the club continued to function uninterrupted. The course was maintained to its normal standard. The mare -in its old age -was fitted out with a new set of"Pattisson" boots -leather covers to prevent hoof damage to the fairways -and supplied by a London Firm.
The greens were given their usual feed of sulphate of ammonia in preparation for open week -confined to men -that year and, to ensure that etiquette was observed on the Course, a set of cast iron "Replace the  Turf' plates was fixed in position. Some plates have survived and are still in place.
It was in 1931, too, that the Club hired professional-cum steward -Joe Nangle and his sister, Tess, at £1.10.0 and 5/- per week respectively. Joe worked each week day to 4.30 p.m. and got a half-day off on Saturdays and Sundays.
In his spare time he gave golf lessons at 2/- per hour or, alternatively,per 18 holes of golf.
He was allowed two gallons of oil per week from October to March. He was in charge of the mare which was apparently well fed -one order for feed stuff comprised two barrels of oats, one cwt. of bran and one cwt. of hay. He was also responsible for the collection of green fees. Joe replaced Jack Lutterall who had been steward for the previous ten years.
When Jack Lutterall retired he was presented with a honorarium of £10.10.0 by the club.
At this time, too, the Club fitted out its rooms with new benches, Major Tynan being the procurer at two shillings and six pence each. The club purchased eight of them.
Caddie cars were not in vogue in Garryhinch in the early days, but there seems to have been no shortage of local boys to offer their services as caddies, and a Caddie Master was employed on Match days.
  The scale of caddie fees in 1931 was nine pence for 9 holes of golf, and one shilling and three pence for 18 holes. Members were directed not to exceed that amount except where the caddie cleaned the clubs. But should a caddie refuse to caddie he was debarred from the club "until further notice". The caddie, too, was well accommodated ,a shelter being erected for their convenience. The site, however, is not indicated. For important meetings they were sometimes attired in red jumpers, supplied by the club, as indicative of their official appointment. The Club, however, did have its setbacks. It suffered financially when many members were lost to the; Heath Club which opened in 1930. The
migration so dented its coffers that the Club's Solicitor, T. N. Wardrop, was instructed to write Messrs. Franks & Carter, Solicitors to the Estate, pointing out this loss and, as a consequence, to suggest that the rent should be reduced from £40.00 to £35.00 per annum. The approach was successful and a reduction was effected.
 Financial strain was again suffered when losses occured as a result of inclement weather during the Club's Open Week of 1931. But through the generosity of Committee member, Agnes O'Connor of O'Connor's Hotel, The Square, Portarlington -regular meeting place of local golfers when dining with visiting golf teams -the losses were ameliorated. As though stung by these reverses, and determined to recoup its losses, ..
the Club ruled ". ..any member buying golf balls from caddies will be fined 5/- for the first offence and will suffer expulsion on the second. .,"
The collection of subscriptions was accelerated and a limit of fifteen shillings for drink for visiting teams was set. The credit limit ofmembers in the Bar was fixed at £2.00. Later even more stringent measures were taken and credit facilities were available only when members signed the Official "Chit" which was now introduced. Such was the thrift and good management that the Club ended the year with a credit balance of £85.00.In 1932 the credit balance was increased to £128.00.
And credit balances were desperately needed. The next five years proved to be the most momentous in its entire history. Pressure was now being exerted by outside agents to purchase the Course or suffer the loss of the amenity. Numerous meetings were called. Deputations were selected
to take on the challenge of negotiating the terms of the purchase of the Course and Clubhouse with the hard-bargaining Scottish owners Messrs McAinsh & Co. Ltd.
A full account of these negotiations is in the Chapter "Purchase of the Course"