Date posted: 5 December 2020
Paraic Lavelle
Paraic Lavelle has been busy. He's researching the history of coast guard stations. I understand he's writing a book on the subject.
The British Newspaper Archive is one of his sources of information.
Being a curious soul, he also checks for references to Killiney Golf Club. He's unearthed some fascinating pieces of information about the club.
All have been added to the History and Photo Archive as part of our Memorabilia collection. Here are three of his latest finds.
World War 1, and President Maxwell Vandeleur Blacker Douglas
Maxwell Vandeleur Blacker Douglas was president of Killiney from 1916 to 1923. He supplied the horses to help cut the grass during WW1. In 1917 the club has 124 members, 34 of which were on active service. That's 27% of the membership. The club has 72 lady associates.
Killiney Golf Club
Wicklow News-Letter and County Advertiser
Sat 6 Jan 1917. Page 6.
The report to be submitted to the members of the Killiney club at the annual meeting on the 13th of January must be considered satisfactory. It will be pleasant news to the general run of golfers to hear that the club has so far come through the exceptionally trying period: for this was one of the clubs about whose welfare many unfavourable rumours were spread. The report shows that a profit of £48 13s. 8d. has been secured on the year’s working, and this happy state of affairs the committee attribute to rigid economy, and to those members and lady associates who generously contributed to the special fund which was opened to meet the loss of income caused by the large number of members who are serving with His Majesty’s Forces, and are, as such, exempt from payment of their annual subscriptions.
The membership of the club at present number 124, of whom 34 are on active service, and 72 lady associates. During the season Lieut. Col. C. E. Goff and Lieut. Cecil Wilson, two members of the club, were killed in action. A food deal of assistance was given to the Committee in keeping down expenses by the generous action of the president, Mr. M. V. Blacker Douglas, who provided horses for cutting the course during portion of the summer months. While quite satisfied with the financial state of the club, the committee wisely impress upon the members the necessity of keeping the links in good order, not only for the benefit of the present playing members, but also for the members who are now on active service, and who, when home on leave, greatly enjoy the facilities offered by the club.
In order that this may be accomplished, the committee believe that the membership must be increased, and appeal to each member individually to introduce new members during the coming year. The special fund to meet loss of income caused by absence of members at war realised the tiny sum of £50 7s. 6d., which enabled the committee to show the profit stated, but, with still more trying times before it, the club will depend largely on the energy and loyalty of its members to carry on as before. The club and its links are a strong asset to the district, which embraces some of the most charming residential quarters in the Dublin vicinity, and we hope every effort will be made to keep this course in its usual excellent order.
It is true that Killiney in only a nine-hole course, but such variety is introduced to the character of the holes that one never finds the round monotonous. Varying winds also contribute towards bringing variety of play at every hole. Killiney in recent years has had more opposition to content with: new clubs came into existence in neighbouring districts, and the war coming on tip of other troubles left the committee with a very uphill task to face in order to carry on. That they have done so with such success in certainly a tribute to their business qualities.
Ref:
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/wicklow-newsletter-and-county-advertiser
Killiney's Assistant Professional George Duke breaks the course record with a Buzzard
A new golf ball. The Buzzard. You have to give it a go. August 1907 Assistant Professional George Duke breaks the course record using a Buzzard.
Golf Ball Records
Globe - Monday 12 August 1907Golf Ball Records
Golfers everywhere are growing quite enthusiastic about the latest invention in Golf balls – the “Buzzard”. And no wonder, for the “Buzzard” has enabled them to break all their previous records. If you, as a golfer, wish to do the same, you should lose no time in making acquaintance with the “Buzzard Ball”. You will like it for its remarkable resiliency, for its great durability, its wonderful accuracy on the putting green, and because you will feel at home with it at once. From information recently received, this new ball has been instrumental in lowering the records of many courses, of which we can from memory quote the following:
At Town Golf Club, Merioneth, the Professional, S. Pearson, using a “Buzzard” Ball, on Friday, July 5, lowered the record of the course by six strokes, going round in the following score:
Out 4 5 3 5 4 4 4 4 2 35 Home 3 4 5 4 5 3 4 4 4 36 Total 71
At Killiney Golf Club, County Dublin, the Assistant Professional, George Duke, using a “Buzzard”, on July 19, went round the course in 72 strokes, beating the record held by himself by two strokes. He considers the “Buzzard” Ball, without doubt, to be the finest on the market and a splendid driver, and very satisfactory on the greens.
Do you have a Killiney Goat?
A novel golf competition.
A Novel Competition
Sport (Dublin) - Sat 11 April 1925
In the club notices in the papers recently I saw a reference to the Killiney Goat, and was interested as to what the goat was like. I was enlightened by a fellow golfer, who explained that it was a form of competition which has become popular with members of the Killiney club. It seems that for a nominal sum each member of the club is entitled to a small badge, shaped in the form of a goat, and that each member can obtain only one goat. He wears it in the club, and it is open to any other member to challenge the wearer of the badge to play for the goat. As I have remarked no member can, under any circumstances, get more than one badge, and at the end of the year he who has the greatest number of goats is declared the winner of the Goat Prize. It is a novel form of competition, and I hear that it is going very well at Killiney.
Enjoy. And thanks Paraic.
Has anyone got a sample of a Killiney Goat or a photograph. We’d love to see what it looks like and add a photograph to the archive. Contact Peter B, Gordon or Ronnie.
Peter Bennett