CLONMEL: THE JEWEL IN THE COMERAGHS
Members’ labour of love shines through in this stunning setting. By
THE Duchess of St Albans never did take up the game, but 107 years after she motored up to Clonmel Golf Club to open its original nine-hole course, golf continues to flourish at ‘The Jewel in the Comeraghs’.
It’s all just as the mayor, Councillor James Meehan, predicted that July afternoon.
“Golf is an ancient game, but it is only in the last twenty years that it has been known in Ireland,” The Nationalist reported him saying.
“Our people have always shown a great aptitude for games of all kinds, and I am glad to know that in golf, as in other games that require skill and prowess, we are able to hold our own.”
His words were greeted with a hearty ‘hear, hear!’ but he had not finished.
“Golf is a manly game and will succeed, I have no doubt. It tends to improve health, and is so fascinating a game that I am told that wherever a golf club is formed, it was never known to fail.”
The little nine-hole course laid out in the verdant valley that cut its way into the foothills of the Comeragh Mountains did not fail and is now a superb, 18-hole test with a clubhouse and facilities to match.
In common with many Irish clubs at that time, its founder members were from the gentry – the Earl of Donoughmore, the Duchess of St. Albans and Villiers Morton-Jackson of Powerstown Park.
But it was the local people who made it what it is today, and they worked hard to turn the little nine-hole course into the 18-hole gem they enjoy today.
It was not until 1973 that the course expanded to 18 holes, created by the prolific Eddie Hackett and opened by Paddy McPolin, President of the Golfing Union of Ireland.
According to the club’s history, much of this preliminary work, which consisted of filling in drains and stone-picking, was undertaken by groups of members working three nights a week through spring and summer.
They were aided by Brother Harry Johnson and a group of boys from Ferryhouse – the local name for St Joseph’s Industrial School in the town – who became popularly known as “Johnsons Fusiliers.”
These snippets on the club’s origins speak volumes about Irish history and the changes that have occurred in Irish society over the past century.
But given that the forthcoming creation of “One Governing Body” for the administration of golf here will change the face of Irish golf once more, Clonmel is well placed to take a leading role.
Nestled in the foothills, just two miles from the bustling town of Clonmel, this wonderfully elevated golf course offers unparalleled views of the breathtaking valley of Slievenamon and the Comeragh mountains.
Now a par-72, measuring 6,365 yards, it is owned and run by the members and it is actively looking forward to creating an environment in which the club can prosper throughout the next century.
Many enhancements have been made to the course with significant upgrades carried out to nine greens and improvements also made to the 13th and 15th fairways.
With its undulating terrain, meandering streams and testing greens, it has recently attracted a new tranche of members thanks to the Get Into Golf scheme and having hosted the 2016 Irish Under 16 Boys Open Championship, many new Juniors are now on the books, which bodes well for the future.
It’s a testament to the quality of the course that letters of thanks flooded in from the visiting Lady Captains in the wake of the club’s successful hosting of the Munster finals of the ILGU Munster Senior Cup last month.
Having changed its constitution to allow the Club President and Hon Secretary to serve for two years, greater continuity of all policies is assured, including implementation of the club’s five-year Strategic Plan.
Increased social media activity and the creation of a new club website, set for launch next week, adds to the experience for members and visitors, making it a highly popular club with societies.
“We have focused our energies on providing a warm and friendly atmosphere to members and visitors alike and were delighted to have hosted groups from all over Ireland and the UK last year,” said the club’s Marketing and Recruitment Officer, Sinéad Healy.
“We offer a meet and greet service to all our visitors, and Chef Martin Kane has recently taken over the running of our clubhouse bar, offering a variety of new catering and entertaining options for groups and societies.
“We are very proud of our club and the efforts of its members to ensure the next century of golf at Clonmel Golf Club and look forward to seeing many new faces play at the ‘Jewel of The Comeraghs’.”