The limestone walls and Cork harbour feature prominently at Cork Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
There’s a change taking place on the course in Cork Golf Club, and in some senses it could be viewed as going back to the origins of the course. Course Superintendent Simon O’Hara and the course team have set about clearing gorse, trees, shrubs and vegetation to reveal stunning views of the water and the quarry. The changes don’t affect the tees, fairways or greens, but the vista around the quarry holes has changed and the new views may give golfers a glimpse into the course as it might have looked early in the last century. This is the latest series of changes that Simon O’Hara has brought to Little Island. O’Hara moved from Fota Island to Cork around 18 months ago, and soon after he arrived he started to make a few changes. He reinstated the practice chipping green which is adjacent to the 18th fairway and last spring he oversaw the removal of the large putting green and replacing it with a brand new one. While the course Continue reading
After 54 years, Anthony Gillis is finally handing over the keys at Cork Golf Club. The Head Greenkeeper is retiring this month after a lifetime on the famous Alister MacKenzie course in Little Island. After starting in a temporary role in 1965, Gillis became a full time green keeper soon after and in 1968 he became assistant greenkeeper. That started the labour of love for the Little Island native who lives no more than 300 yards from the Club. Having grown up on the other side of Island, not far from the eastern side of the course, he has memories of coming in over the quarry and chipping and playing “four-quarters” on the sixth green. Working under Francis Devane, Anthony quickly learned his trade and he went on to take over the head greenkeeper in the early 1970’s. After working with famous agronomist James Arthur in the 1970’s, Gillis went on to study in Bingley, Elmwood College and the National Botanic Gardens, giving him a formal background in greenkeeping which complimented his own passion and knowledge for the job. A lot has changed in six decades and Anthony doesn’t miss the hard physical work that was involved back in his early days. “The work isn’t as hard 
Cork Golf News 