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Tipperary course a fitting setting for 2018 AIG finals. By Brian Keogh
Enjoy a four ball for €50 at Thurles Golf Club in County Tipperary:
CHOOSING the right venue for a special occasion requires no little inspiration but in awarding the 2018 AIG Cups and Shields Finals to Thurles, the GUI has found the perfect cocktail for Ireland’s great festival of golf.
Given the quality of the course, the convenience of the location, the enthusiasm of the membership and the club’s 108-year association with the game, it would be difficult to find a more fitting choice for the biggest event in Irish amateur golf.
It’s a huge honour for a club that was founded in 1909, and it’s a deserved one too considering the contribution so many of its members have made to the game.
Long regarded as one of the finest parkland courses in the country, the par-72 test that’s enjoyed by the members today is a very different test to the club’s original homes at Leugh and Loughtagalla, east of the town.
By 1932, the club had moved northwest to Dovea where the prolific course designer and golf writer, Col. Lionel Hewson, laid out a nine-hole course, later extended to 12 holes, on the lands of a Captain Trant.
Today, the club boasts 18 magnificent parkland holes, caressed by the River Suir at Turtulla, beautifully enhanced between 2006 and 2007 when the outward nine underwent a major re-development to prepare a classic course for the club’s centenary celebrations.
The construction of new tee complexes and undulating greens, built to USGA standard, the planting of over 300 trees, not to mention the introduction of water features on four holes — off-set beautifully by natural stone bridges— transformed the classic course into a true gem.
Like the decision to accept the invitation to host the AIG Cups and Shields, the move to Turtulla was a brave, but ultimately inspired decision, by the golfing denizens of Thurles.
“A choice Residential Holding, with all the advantages for up to-date farming . . . well worthy of inspection,” ran the advertisement for the sale of Turtulla House and 218 acres in the 5 February, 1944 issue of the “Tipperary Star”.
The leading members of the club were quick to see that Turtulla would make an ideal home for the club.
Situated little more than a mile from the centre of town, the club history describes the site as “prime parkland, well stocked with mature timber, draining readily towards the Suir – and even adapted by nature for two separate nines, divided by the road.”
A local solicitor, the Honorary Secretary P.J. O’Meara, was charged with completing the sale and while he exceeded the limit by agreeing to pay £6,100 after a competitive bidding process, part of the cost was offset by the sale of a parcel of land left of the current seventh and eighth holes to the Pallottine Order.
The house itself once played host to Daniel O’Connell when he was on his Repeal Campaign, early in 1843, and addressed a “monster meeting” on the hill of Knockroe, less than a mile from the club.
The laying-out of the new course was entrusted to a Mr. J McAllister – terms £5, plus expenses.
And while his design has changed over the years, its essence has stood the test of time, hosting national and provincial championships at many levels.
The old house underwent a major reconstruction at the end of the 1970s, opening in 1981 before being further enhanced in 1993.
Today, the imposing 18th century home dominates the surroundings and is home, not only to the golf club’s golf shop and four comfortable restaurant and bar areas but also to vibrant squash and snooker clubs.
As for the course, a 1999 proposal by Walker Cup player Peter McEvoy to redevelop it was discussed and rejected but the desire for change did not go away and re-emerged in 2004.
Plans drawn up by Mel Flanagan of Irish Golf Design were approved in 2005 and the new course opened to great acclaim in July 2007.
The present 18 is split into two nines either side of the road leading to the Horse and Jockey and it is a very worthy test.
Like many clubs, Thurles has its own “Amen Corner” and the 10th, 11th and 12th, situated close to the clubhouse, will either make or break your score.
The tree-lined 10th rewards the long, straight hitter while the 200-yard, par-three 11th is arguably one of the best in the country. The dog-leg 12th might be short but demands accuracy for both drive and approach.
The teams that make it to next year’s AIG Cups and Shields Finals will long remember the par-five 18th with out of bounds lurking in the shape of the adjacent N62 on the left, stretching from the tee box all the way to the green, which is overlooked by the charming clubhouse veranda.
The members love to gather there to watch matches conclude, and while their numbers waned somewhat during the recent downturn, the club is in the midst of a revival.
“Like most golf clubs, Thurles has struggled to maintain its membership over the past number of years,” explained club President and local businessman, John Corbett.
“However we believe there is a turning point in sight. This year we
have seen our numbers stabilise and we look forward to an increase in our membership next year.
“With no joining fee and competitive subscriptions in all categories, including Beginner Incentive, Outlying, Overseas and of course Juvenile, together with an inclusive and inviting club, we look forward to new members and indeed old friends re-joining.
“We have seen an increase in our Outlying category this year, probably due to the easy access we have to the M8.”
Hugely popular with golf societies, who appreciate the quality of the test, the convenience of its location on relatively flat terrain and the comforts of its clubhouse, it’s little wonder that the GUI has opted to take its most popular event there next year.
“We have had a very successful Women in Golf campaign over the past few years and were one of the first clubs to introduce Men in Golf to try and get more people playing golf,” added the President.
“We are very much looking forward to hosting the Cups and Shields finals in September next year.”
Winners of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1997 at Dundalk and again just two years ago at Carton House, the club won the Irish Mixed Foursomes in 1997 and 2001 and the Jimmy Bruen Shield in 1996 and 2001.
“Thurles Golf Club competes enthusiastically in all GUI and ILGU competitions and indeed has enjoyed some success in recent years particularly in Pierce Purcell and Jimmy Bruen,” the President added.
“I believe that we have great buy-in from our members whom I’m confident will make every effort to put our best foot forward and show that Thurles is both an enjoyable test and a welcoming venue.
“We have had some experience in hosting GUI events over the years including Irish Boys Opens, Munster Boys, Munster Seniors and Veterans Championships producing Champions like Tom Corridan, Garth McGimpsey, Seamus Power, Tom Cleary and Mary McKenna.
“In 2015 we successfully hosted the ILGU Senior Cup and this year we hosted the Junior and Senior Foursomes.”
There is no shortage of help at hand from hugely enthusiastic membership for next year’s festival of golf from a club that has strong links with the GAA.
“We’re delighted to be asked,” Corbett added.
Given the quality of the test, the warmth of the welcome and Thurles long-standing love affair with the game, it doesn’t seem such a long way to Tipperary after all.