Mahee Island Golf Club - History Information

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JUBILEE YEAR AND BEYOND.The 50th anniversary was celebrated during the 1979 season with a number of events, the Pro/Am with special guest Christy O’Connor was a highlight. The publication of a Jubilee Booklet outlining the early days of the Club was received with a great deal of interest. Jubilee day was held on Saturday 1st September, with various competitions for members, culminating in a Five-Club mixed competition and Bar-B-Que in the evening. On Friday 7th September a very successful Dinner Dance was held in the Stormont Hotel. The Council recorded its “deep appreciation for the excellent contribution and hard work put into both the Jubilee Day and the Dinner Dance” by Mr. David Coey and his team of helpers. As part of the celebrations it was decided to hold an Open Week with a different Competition each day, involving both members and visitors. Sponsorship was obtained and with the help of some pleasant weather this proved a successful venture, and was the forerunner of the present popular Open Week format, which has continued ever since. The 80’s and 90’s, brought changes to the Clubhouse when it was extended to include a dining area, and enlarged kitchen. This building although modest by some standards is in keeping with its island setting and adequate for the needs of the membership. Through-out this account of the birth and growth of the Golf Club it is hoped that not only a list of facts, dates and anecdotes appear but that it is a story of the men and women of vision who have been attracted to the Club down through the years. The Cathers, the Boyds and Johnstons did not think only of their generation but planned for a future when their, perhaps humble ideas would continue to be developed. The Landlords, only two in 75 years, have played very much a visionary role and in conjunction with successive Committees have ensured that work done is enhancing the surrounding beauty of this wonderful Island. To mark the centenary of the formation of the Golfing Union of Ireland in 1991, many Clubs throughout the island took up the Unions “twinning” suggestion. So began Mahee Island’s association with Delgany Golf Club, this friendly relationship still continues and is manifested in a very enjoyable yearly get-together when alternate visits are arranged. A final “break” with the past was made in the 1998 when the landlord reclaimed the farm building and the much-modified “ Fred’s Hut”. This small building because of its proximity to the First Tee had become the centre of Club life and many were upset to lose it. However, extensive alterations were made to the Clubhouse these included a shop for the Steward and new changing rooms for ladies and gentlemen. The Club room was modernized in 2002 and an outside “decking area” with a surrounding garden added and a new practice facility convenient to the Club House installed. Gradually the activities and social side of the Club centred more and more on the Clubhouse, which was given its rightful place as the focal point of the Club. In 2001 the Mahee Island Club, was honoured by being invited to host a Qualifying stage of the Pierce Purcell Competition. Nine Hole venues are not often used for such prestigious events, so it was a proud moment, which was grasped with great enthusiasm. The Course was beautifully prepared and set up by Head Green keeper Wilson Gaw and Assistant Stuart Glover ably supported by Ivan Wilson and a band of volunteers. On the “big” day the sun shone and competitors and visitors alike were full of praise for the Course and the surrounding views. Seventy-two years earlier a small group of men inspired by the vision of Stanley Cather set out to convert a rough rocky Island into a Golf Course. They with the help of succeeding generations of people, captivated by the charm of Mahee, all contributed to the success of that day. One would hope that those “old timers” hopefully looking down, approved of what had become of their “brain-child”. Over the years many changes have been made to the Course each important in its own way but the first “major” alteration was made in 2002. The 4th Hole was lengthened to become a par 4, and in an attempt to make play more continuous and finally remove the persistent “bottle neck” the old 6th Hole was changed to the Fourth and the newly extended Hole re-numbered to become the Sixth. Play began on the new lay-out in August 2002 to a mixed reaction. The lengthened hole which puts such a premium on accurate driving has added a further degree of difficulty to the Course, time alone will be the judge as to its success.