FAITHFUL MEMBERS STAY COURSE
Club spirit key as Arklow looks to centenary celebrations.
ARKLOW Golf Club will celebrate its centenary year in 2027 and it’s fair to say that after surviving 90 years of economic and environmental battles, the plucky Co Wicklow club is very much here to stay.
After all, there was very little interest in golf in Arklow when the idea of providing a course was first mooted in 1922.
But fortunately for the 500-strong membership that enjoys this lovely links today, a small group of local business people saw it as a worthwhile proposition.
After considering a number of costing and design options from different course designers, the world famous firm of Hawtree & Taylor were commissioned to build an 18-hole links next to the harbour on the 21st November 1926 at a cost of £1,700.
Concluding their initial feasibility study, Messrs Hawtree & Taylor, stated: “From a very wide experience in the making of golf courses and the promotion of golf course schemes, we have no hesitation in saying that the town of Arklow has in the site a most valuable asset, which if developed on the right lines will prove inestimable value to all classes of its inhabitants and to the town generally.”
Fred Hawtree and JH Taylor went on to create Arklow’s 18-hole course in 1927 and while erosion and economic hardship forced the club, reluctantly, to reduce the course to just nine holes in 1963, refused to go away.
The club succeeded in restoring the course to 18 holes in 1975 when Eddie Hackett was called in to work his particular brand of magic in bent and sand.
With the town booming, the golfing population grew exponentially and Arklow continued to work hard to make the course one of the most pleasant and welcoming on the east coast.
In 1992, the club introduced a new irrigation system and with the expert guidance of well-known agronomist Eddie Connaughton, the course matured spectacularly.
The 15th, 16th and 17th holes were redesigned at a cost of €250,000 and with the coastal defences in place, the club looked to the future with optimism.
Economic factors have since taken their toll on the town, which has lost many important industries in recent years.
Rock armour defences, which were paid for by the club and neighbouring Roadstone in the 1980s, required government funding to help cover the cost of important repairs in recent years.
The battle for survival never ends but despite all these challenges, the clubs remains hugely popular with societies and links lovers alike and it continues to work hard to boost its membership numbers after the most recent economic downturn.
“Despite all the many obstacles thrown in our way, the club’s bank loan will be paid off and the club will be debt free in time for our centenary in 2027,” says club secretary Paul Murphy.
“Our town needs our unique links course to thrive and to do that the club needs support and participation from the town.”
Golf clubs are major economic movers for the community and Arklow Golf Club, which employs 16 full and part-time staff, generates an estimated €2 million for the local economy every year.
However, there is major pressure on clubs to rejuvenate their memberships and Arklow, which offers full membership for as little as €235 for those aged 18 to 21, is fighting to boost its income so it can escape the poverty trap that affects many Irish clubs.
With eligible older members and under 35s paying a reduced fee, not to mention a large contingent of life members, there is little spare cash to reinvest in the course after the running costs are paid.
It’s a Catch 22 that faces many clubs — without income, you can’t invest but without investment, opportunities to generate income are limited.
Fortunately, Arklow boasts a strong community spirit and the members have been generous in helping the club in practical ways.
“Prior to 2017, the club leased petrol-powered buggies and hired them to members and visitors,” Paul explains.
“So a member offered a five-year, interest-free loan to the club to purchase six new, electric buggies last year and they are now generating income for the club.”
Two greenside bunkers were also rebuilt thanks to funding offered by another member and the club contracted UK-based EcoBunker to carry out the work using recycled artificial grass layers in the foundations of revetted walls, topping them off with natural turf.
The new bunkers will be virtually maintenance-free for the next 20 years and the club is now aiming to replace up to six bunkers per year, using local sponsorship and club funds to pay for the work.
The par-69 course now measures 6,505 yards from the Championship tees but while maintenance of the course and the battle against erosion is always a concern, the fact that just 230 of the club’s 500 adult members are paying the full membership subscription is the biggest battle of all.
The Juniors are the future and the club expects to have 80 on its books this year with former Junior Girls Captain Katie O’Hart, called up for Ireland at Under 16 level, an inspiration to the young guns.
The club is currently in discussions with the four secondary schools in the town to arrange an annual inter-schools competition and see what can be done to include golf in the transition year programmes in each school.
Thanks to the support of the CGI’s Jennifer Hickey, coaching will resume in local primary schools in March.
But the club is not sitting on its hands and has several big events lined up for 2018, including an open singles league every Saturday, culminating in the Grand Final on St. Patrick’s Day.
Visiting amateurs and professionals can also take part in the open “Blue Tee Challenge” on the first Friday of each month from April with the Grand Final set for September.
Considering the many challenges the club has faced, it remains a manicured beauty thanks to the sterling efforts of course staff — Martin, Jonathan, Andrew and Jim.
As Hawtree & Taylor pointed out, it has proved to be an amenity of “inestimable value”.
Attracting new members is the challenge for the next 10 years and given the club’s instinct for survival and its strong club spirit, links golf in Arklow looks set to endure for another 100 years.