50 Years of Golf – Nenagh Golf Club 1929-1979

Nenagh Golf Club, nestled in the rolling hills of County Tipperary, Ireland, boasts a rich history dating back to 1892. Although the golf club states 23 February 1929 as its formation date Bill Gibson’s research in his book Early Irish Golf indicates that a Nenagh Golf Club existed as far back as the 13 October 1892 with Lord Dunalley (fourth Baron Dunalley) being the link to the two clubs. The original course which was beside Nenagh may have been laid out by James McKenna who was a professional at Lahinch G.C. at the time.
In 1929 the golf club was affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland and the 9 hole course on the Toler Estate was redesigned by Major Charles McKenzie in 1931. The layout was considered one of the best 9 hole courses in Munster and remained substantially unchanged until 1973, when Eddie Hackett designed Nenagh’s first 18 hole course on an additional 93 acres of land that had been purchased in the forties for £775 but it isn’t clear if this was an extension or whether any of the McKenzie design remained. Prior to this Commander John Harris reported on the course extension in the late sixties and was proposing 16 holes with the first and second being played twice to make up the 18. Harris had decided that the exisitng holes were of such quality that he would not propose altering them so it is likely they remained intact.

The purchase of an additional 52 acres of land in the seventies and eighties allowed the club to undertake a major re-development and the new 18 hole course was completed by Patrick Merrigan in 1999 and official opened in 2001. Merrigan’s restructuring cost £800k in total and involved 13 new greens and tees.The 150 acres of superbly maintained parkland provide the backdrop to a golf course of the very highest quality. Manicured sand-based greens offer perfect putting surfaces and the free-draining soil of the Beechwood hills provides firm and fast fairways which remain playable all year round.

The club will host the 2025 Irish Senior Men’s and Women’s Championships and the most notable golfer from Nenagh is David Reddan who won the 2023 Munster Mid-Amateur Open Championship.