Lisburn Golf Club 1905-1980 75th Anniversary

Lisburn Golf Club was founded in 1905. However, an earlier attempt to establish a club in Lisburn was made in 1890, but it only lasted until 1896. The club initially occupied a nine-hole 40 acre course at Longstone Street in Lisburn, “The Manor Lands”. This was ideal golfing land with sandy sub-soil, excellent turf and majestic trees strewn around the property. The backdrop wasn’t bad either with Slieve Croob and the purple hue off the Mourne Mountains visible on a clear day. In 1957 the club took ownership of The Manor Lands for £7.5k. Due to increasing housing developments and trespass issues, the club sold the Manor Lands to the Borough Council for £110k in 1971 and moved to its current location at Blaris Lodge in 1973. The new 18-hole course was designed by the renowned architect Fred W. Hawtree of Messrs Hawtree & Son who was engaged in 1970, in anticipation of the move, at a cost of £3.3k.

The course at Blaris Lodge features two loops of nine holes, each starting and finishing at the clubhouse. Notable players associated with Lisburn Golf Club include David Feherty, who won the Ulster Professional Championship in 1989 and set the course record. The club has also hosted the Golfing Union of Ireland All Ireland Cups and Shields Final in 2003. Notable players for the club include Paula Grant and Aaron Marshall.