CONTENTS: 1. The history 2. Professionals 3. Course Staff 4. Golfing Achievements 5. International Honours THE HISTORY [top] There was some confusion as to the foundation date of Bandon Golf Club - The Golfing Annual, 1896-7, gives September 1893 as the date but the same publication in 1909-10 gives January 1st, 1910. Fortunately, the official club records exist and show that the club was founded in November 1909 at a meeting in the town hall in Bandon and was affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland in 1910. Accordingly, the club will officially celebrate its centenary year in 2009. The Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golfing Union, in recognition of this fact, have nominated Bandon Golf Club as the venue for the All-Ireland finals of the Irish Mixed Foursomes in 2009. The first President of Bandon Golf Club was the Earl of Bandon within whose demesne the course is set. The club has had a very cordial relationship with the Bernard family down through the years, the celebrated Lord Bandon officially opening the extension of the course in 1978 and his daughter and heir Lady Jennifer continuing the family tradition when she very kindly made land available, opposite the ruins of the Castle, for an addition of three magnificent holes to the course. The holes were completed and the new course was opened by Lady Jennifer in the presence of the senior officers of the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish ladies Golfing Union, Bandon Golf Club President Michael Stafford, Captain Finbarr McCarthy, officers and club members in 2003. The course is set on the southern slopes of the beautiful Bandon River Valley and enjoys a wonderful sylvan setting. It boasts a wide variety of wild life. Bandon celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in 1969 –Dr E.T. Callanan was President and J. Calnan was captain. The course was extended to eighteen holes in 1978 and it was officially opened by Lord Bandon – M.A. Neville was President and Denis O’Donovan was club captain. It was at this time that the club sought to increase its overall membership. Today, given the huge demands on the course, it is club policy to replace only those members who have left. The original clubhouse site overlooked the present 15th hole. A new clubhouse on its present site was built and opened in 1969, an extraordinary achievement for a club so small, even though widely recognized at that time as the premier club in West Cork. Fred Lynch B.E. was the driving force behind the actual project and much of the physical work was done, on a voluntary basis, by several club members, most notably Con and Michael Tobin, the Mills brothers, Noel and Jimmy, Denis O’Driscoll and Finbarr Hayes. The input of successive senior officers and General Committees around about that time must also be acknowledged. The clubhouse was extended in 1978 and was revamped in 1989. The redesigned course was opened in 2003 and makes Bandon a formidable challenge for all golfers – the course has an out-of-bounds on sixteen of its eighteen holes! PROFESSIONALS [top] Johnny Curran was Bandon Golf Club’s first professional/greenkeeper. Ted Hegarty was professional/secretary/manager, Newry-man Peter O’Hagan succeeded and the present incumbent Paddy O’Boyle (Dublin) has given over twenty years faithful service to date. Stephen Hayes is Assistant Professional. COURSE STAFF [top] Greenkeeper Jim Madden (Ballinasloe, Co. Galway) is supported by a team of fulltime and part-time course staff. GOLFING ACHIEVEMENTS [top] The first national pennant was won by our under 18 girls at Donaghadee GC in 2001 when a team, managed by former international Rhona Brennan (nee Hegarty) captured the Smurfit Girls’ Inter-Club competition. The team was: Alison Kingston, Kate Davis, Liz Brennan, Susan O’Leary (reserve). Bandon won the Irish Mixed Foursomes in 2002. The team was managed by Jimmy O’Leary and Ann O’Regan. The panel: Kate Davis, Helen Hegarty, Hilda Hegarty, Lia Walsh, Noelle Twomey, Rose Lynch, Carol Minihane, Margaret O’Flynn, Aileen O’Keffe, Eileen O’Leary. John Carroll, Kieran Hurley, Donie O’Donovan, J.V. Murphy, Michael Stafford, Bernard O’Driscoll, Timmy O’Keeffe, Patrick McCarthy The club has competed in all of the national competitions at Munster level over the years with varying success. Munster champions Barton Shield 1978 Munster champions Pierce Purcell Shield 1988 Munster champions Jimmy Bruen Shield 1989 Munster champions Irish Mixed Foursomes 1987, 1988 Champions ILGU Junior Cup 1994 ILGU champions Munster Intermediate League 1980, 1987 ILGU champions Munster Minor League 1986, 1994 INTERNATIONAL HONOURS [top] Rhona Brennan (nee Hegarty) is our most celebrated international (1970/80’s). She is currently a Curtis Cup (versus U.S.) and Vagliano Trophy selector. Ian Stafford represented Ireland in the Boys’ Home Internationals at Conwy GC, Wales in 1999. Kenny McGarry was selected on the Irish Under 25 panel and was a reserve on the Irish Senior panel.