On this day 125 years ago the first golf competition was played at Bundoran Golf Club

Golfers at Bundoran Golf Club played their first competition on 24th August 1894. See Roguey in the background

One hundred and twenty five years ago golf was first played at Bundoran, when the Highland Hotel Company decided to build an hotel and golf course on a spectacular site overlooking Bundoran and Donegal Bay. The company built hotels in seaside resorts such as Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and Bundoran as these towns were served by the Great Northern Railway. Their business plan was to also construct golf courses, beside the hotels, and to attract tourists to travel by rail, to play golf and stay in the hotels. Ninety six acres were initially purchased on scenic Aughross Hill to construct a 60 bedroom hotel with billiard room, reading rooms, tennis courts and golf course. Work on the construction of the hotel commenced in 1894, but the golfers were quick off the mark and had started playing golf in 1894 before the hotel was opened in 1895. Unlike today golf in the early years was the preserve of the gentry and the first President was the Duke of Abercorn from Newtownstewart Co. Tyrone, the first Captain was a local landlord James Johnston from Kinlough Co. Leitrim and chairman of the club was James Caldwell Bloomfield who lived on his estate at Castlecaldwell near Belleek Co. Fermanagh. Bloomfield had been instrumental in bringing the railway to Belleek for his pottery there and the line then extended to Ballyshannon and Bundoran. 

G .L.Baillie designer of Bundoran and Portrush G.C.

The course was initially a nine- hole course and was designed by one of the most prominent Victorian designers G.L. Baillie, originally from Musselburgh in Scotland. The British Open recently won by Shane Lowery played at Portrush golf course was originally designed as a nine- hole course by Baillie who also designed the world renowned Royal County Down course in Newcastle. The first golf competition was played on the Bundoran links on Friday 24^th August 1894 for the club handicap monthly prize played between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m

Book available from  A Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon, Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town and Local Hands Ballyshannon.

Hardback and softback book also available from the author Anthony Begley- contact anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com