Malone Golf Club 1895-1995 A History

Malone Golf Club, founded in 1895, is one of Northern Ireland’s premier golf clubs. Belfast was a thriving city at the time and the club was initially established at the Polo grounds at Newforge but within a year had moved to Stranmillis, the club moved to Harberton Estate (110 acres) in 1915. Queen’s University Golf Club was affiliated to the GUI in 1907 and gave Malone Golf Club as their base which continues to this day.

The club is privately owned and has been a member-owned club since its inception. The core founding members were from the Belmont Golf Club which ceased to exist from the early part of the 1900s. The course was designed by the world renowned golf architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie, who also designed famous courses like Augusta National and Cypress Point. Although the fee had been agreed in 1915 play didn’t move to Harberton until October 1919 because of World War I. The membership was not happy with the course and MacKenzie returned GBP200 of the GBP300 paid as reparations. The overall cost of developing the course was expected to be GBP1,2k. In 1957 the proposals for new development in the area initiated a search for an alternative location and by 1959 terms had been agreed for the purchase of land at the Ballydrain Estate and the new course was designed by Comdr. John Harris from C. K. Cotton and Company. In 1965 the first nine holes (‘Ballydrain’) were redesigned by Fred Hawtree.

Some of the signature holes include the 1st hole at Drumbridge, a 382-yard par 4, and the 8th hole at Ballydrain, a 525-yard par 51. These holes are particularly memorable for their design and the challenges they present to golfers.

The club has a rich history, including hosting the Irish Women’s Amateur Close Championship (1898), the 1933 Irish Open and the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship (2008). It would also hold a number of exhibition matches which would include Vardon, Braid, Duncan, Havers and Locke amongst others.

The club has undergone several property deals over the years, including the significant acquisition of the Harberton Estate in 1915 and the purchase of Ballydrain House in 1960, which now serves as the clubhouse.

Notable members would include Matthew McClean, F.B. Newett, Jean Marks, Alfred Lowe, Carol Mitchell, E.F. Spiller and A.H. Patterson.