Donabate’s capital gain
Recent funding windfall is not just a boost for the club, but the wider community at the heart of its thinking for the future, writes Brian Keogh
GAVIN Moynihan will be at the centre of European Tour action this weekend when he partners pal Paul Dunne in the innovative Golf Sixes event in the UK.
But while the former Walker Cup star and multiple amateur championship winner is closely associated with the lovely links at The Island, he began his golfing career as a junior at Donabate Golf Club, learning the game under the watchful eye of the late Hugh Jackson.
Time stands still for no man and while Moynihan’s quest to make it in the professional ranks continues apace, more than two years after the man he called “Jacko” passed away so suddenly, Donabate continues to strive to improve its facilities, not just for its 600 members, but for the entire community.
Founded in 1925, the club moved to its present location four years later and now boasts a 27-hole parkland course complete with a state of the art clubhouse that’s fully open to the members of Donabate Portrane Tennis Club, which will soon increase the number of courts from four to six.
The Red, Yellow and Blue nines, each set among mature trees and boasting sand-based greens and myriad water hazards, offer the intrepid North Dublin golfers a wonderful challenge.
The club’s best known member, Mary McKenna, is happy to tee it up in friendly fourball or the Lady Captain’s prize at one of Dublin’s most vibrant clubs.
Like the rest of the members, the great amateur champion is justifiably proud that the club was golf’s biggest winner in the latest round of funding offered by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport via its Sports Capital Programme.
Just two years after 12 clubs shared just €332,826 and just 12 months after eight clubs got only €181,067, no fewer than 64 golf clubs shared €1.96 million in late 2017 with Donabate Golf Club receiving €138,119 for the construction of a new practice facility.
It was the biggest award by far – Bray was the next best with €84,500 for its Junior coaching and practice area.
And Donabate believes its success came down to attention to detail and making sure the club was as accessible as possible by the local community.
“We did a lot of work on our application – an awful lot of work – and would have been delighted to get any amount,” explained former club captain and president Pat McNeill, who was one of the driving forces behind the project
“We were certainly very excited to get the amount we did get and we see the award as a vote of confidence in our club and the services and the amenities we provide.
“We brought as many people as we could into the circle and didn’t leave anything out and that was key.
“The fact that we have tennis and golf means there will be an even bigger crossover going forward. Getting involved with the local community was vital – going into the local schools and opening up our facilities to them really added to the attraction of the project.
“We have a basic practice ground with some greens so we got Ken Kearney to draw up plans for a new practice facility, did all our sums and set to work on our application.
“The new practice area is going to be fantastic with six target greens that can even be played as short holes in either direction, offering holes of between 50 or 60 yards all the way up to 165 yards or more.
“So it will be good for people who are just starting out in the game and also for elderly people who are not perhaps as able as they once were and might like to get out and play a bit more.”
With the golf club offering the newly-formed tennis club a parcel of land free of charge for its courts in exchange for a portion of is revenue, the tennis club received a grant of €180,677 in 2014 to build four courts and another €144,000 in 2017 for two more
In other words, golf and tennis in Donabate has received €462,796 in Sports Capital funding since 2014 and all going well, the golf and tennis club will soon become a major sporting hub for an area that also boasts St Patrick’s GAA club.
“With two more tennis courts going in there, we have a huge base in the local community,” adds Pat, who was President for three years as work on the project continued.
“We are here now not just for golf but also to offer people the chance to play tennis. It’s a great amenity for everyone.“
Work on the new practice ground is set to begin later this month and all going well, it should be in play by the autumn.
Not only will it be perfect for introducing beginners to the game, it will also give older members encouragement to get out and play when they might not otherwise feel inclined.
When finished, the project will feature an all-weather studio that will open at the front to allow shots to be played from artificial mats.
The main practice area will feature a 500sq.m. sand based tee complex and six target greens that can also be used as a small 6 – 12 hole golf course, ideal for novices who might be intimidated by a full golf course.
With its modern clubhouse offering great restaurant and bar facilities, and the opportunity for golfers to try their hand at tennis and tennis players to see if they fancy golf, Donabate looks like an all-round winner whatever your sport.