Clonakilty Golf Club

Clonakilty is a West Cork Gem

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Clonakilty Officers Jim Scannell (President), Paul Crosbie (Captain) and Denise McCarthy (Lady Captain) pictured at the recent drive in.

Clonakilty Golf Club is a West Cork gem with major plans for 2025 and beyond.  Having started as a six hole course back in 1994, it subsequently extended to 9 holes ten years later.  That was extended to 14 holes and there are firm plans to extend to the full 18 holes.

Situated on the Cork side of Clonakilty, with the Argideen River winding through the course and Lisselan House and Gardens serving as a scenic backdrop, Clonakilty Golf Club is a charming course with it’s par signature par three 4th hole.  In 2023, the Golfers Guide of Ireland awarded the 9 hole Munster prize to Clonakilty Golf Club.  The first 6 hole layout was brought into being by previous owner David Blackburn, and current owner Colette Twomey saw the course expand further.  It was Blackburn’s original plan to build an 18 hole course in the estate back in 1990 only to find himself limited to six holes due to planning constraints.  Over 30 years later, it look’s like local entrepreneur Twomey will realise the original ambition, with designer Paul Walsh at an advanced stage of designing the new Continue reading →

Pennant wins for Clonakilty, Douglas and Fota Island

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Fota Island, winners of AIG Women’s Junior Foursomes Munster East Final at Fermoy.          Pic: Niall O’Shea

Clonakilty, Douglas and Fota Island all claimed Munster East pennants over the weekend as more of the Golf Ireland Inter-Club finals took place.  Fermoy was the venue for five finals over the weekend, and the north Cork course was in great condition for the event.  Fermoy has been held in high regard as a finals venue for many years and they club delivered a great experience yet again for the travelling teams and supporters.  Occasional showers over the two days challenged the golfers and the spectators but the course held up and as usual the greens provided a tough but fair test for everyone.   Clonakilty made it two wins for Cork clubs when they defeated Slievenamon in the AIG Challenge Cup.

Clonakilty, winners of AIG Women’s Challenge Cup Munster East Final at Fermoy Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Fota Island made it two wins in two weekends when the Women’s Junior Foursomes team defeated Youghal.  Paula Whitley and Suzanne Hickey put the first point on the board for Fota Island and the title was secured when Marissa O’Flynn and Theresa Roche won the final match.

Hopes of a second pennant for Fota Island were dashed with a dramatic 19th hole finish in the Flogas Irish Mixed Foursomes.  With the match balanced 2-2 the large crowd of spectators made their way to the first hole.  Their opponents, Co Tipperary Continue reading →

West Cork’s Golfing History

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Bandon’s 7th green with Castle Bernard in the background.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

West Cork is famed for it’s sporting traditions, and golf forms a big part of that with the sport going back to the 1880’s.  That means that golf pre-dates many other organised sports, although in the early years the sport was dominated by army officers and based bear garrisons, barracks and camps.  From rough and ready makeshift courses that rarely lasted longer than a short lease, the courses that survived have developed into a number of nine and eighteen hole gems.  Bandon and Kinsale are both in West Cork, but their proximity to the city allow for a large travelling membership from the city and surburbs.  Bandon is now over 110 years old, and has been based in the Castlebernard for all of that time.  It has the distinction of being the first West Cork Club to extend to 18 holes back in 1978.  One of the largest and most successful clubs Continue reading →