Kilkee Golf Club Centenary Book 1996

Kilkee Golf Club, located on the Wild Atlantic Way in County Clare, Ireland, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1896 although its contended that there was a golf course there since 1886. The initial layout of the course near the West End Links was hotly debated in favour of the East End links being more suitable terrain for a links course. Despite the East End winning the day it was improvements to the existing West End links that went ahead with James McKenna designing the new nine-hole layout. Tourists would come from Limerick in the summer months to play Kilkee but when Lahinch got a foothold this depleted the numbers going to Kilkee and the club suffered as a result and a revival of sorts took place in the early 1900s. The course was laid out along the cliffs about a quarter of a mile from Kilkee Station. The views were of the Cliffs of Moher, the Shannon Estuary, the Kerry Mountains and at the time the Castle of Baltarde but was later pillaged for the stone.

In 1937 the inferior quality of the West End Links was again addressed and the decision made to move to the East End and onto 78 acres of the Marquis of Coyngham’s land which must have vindicated the position of Miss Blake and Mrs Griffin that the monies collected when the club was originally formed should have been directed to an East End Links course. The layout of the course was supervised by G. Bryan, a professional formerly of Malahide and Portmarnock. The freehold of this land was obtained in 1976. In the fifties and sixties while the membership dithered over the erection of a new clubhouse it was Debbie who eventually made up their minds, Debbie was a 100mph hurricane that wiped out the existing structure, known as the Hut. Bord Failte was convinced to help out with a grant for a clubhouse that was dressed up as a motorway on George’s Head to circumvent the terms under which grants could be approved and the new clubhouse was opened by Dr. Patrick Hillery who was no stranger to the game. Hillery repeated this ceremonial duty in 1984 when a new clubhouse was erected.

Originally a 9-hole course, it was expanded to an 18-hole championship standard course in 1994, offering breathtaking cliff-top views of the Atlantic Ocean. Attempts were made earlier when the purchase of additional land meant the possibility of 18-holes but the committee insisted on existing greens remaining in tact and the plan produced by Eddie Hackett came with a health and safety warning so the plan was shelved. Later they bought 42 acres on Geroge’s Head and Eddie Hackett stamped his approval and presented a plan for the course layout. The club had received a grant under the European Regional Development Fund (EDRF) and assistance from the Royal and Ancient by way of a grant and an interest free loan. Teagasc were appointed advisers of the construction of the greens, John Mulqueen (U.C.G.) was responsible for the drainage and Noel Davidson was supervisor on construction.

The views in Kilkee are breathtaking, with first and second tees looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean and the third Tee overlooking Chimney Bay with a spectacular clifftop view. A €270,000 development programme was underway in 2020 which, although interrupted by COVID, saw the clubhouse upgraded together with a six-hole practice facility and two remodelled greens designed by Ken Kearney in 2023.