Monkstown Golf Club A Centenary History “Cumann Ghailf Bhaile an Mhanaigh Stair Cuimhneachain – Cead Blian” 1908-2008

Monkstown Golf Club was founded in 1908 and boasts a rich history and a unique setting overlooking Cork Harbour. The Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway extended its services to Monkstown in 1902 and they would promote the formation of a golf club. Monkstown Castle (the clubhouse) and grounds were leased from the de Vesci family who now owned the property.

The original nine hole course (2,500 yards) layout was designed by Peter O’Hare (the Monkstown professional), with assistance from David Brown, the professional at Cork Golf Club. In the twenties Alister MacKenzie, (who was working in the area with Cork, Muskerry and Douglas) was engaged to propose changes to the layout and his plans, which no longer exist, were eventually accepted after much debate and centred around the holes 5-7 with contours around the bunker to gather golf balls and reduced rough. Major Charles MacKenzie, Alister’s brother, of the British Golf Course Construction Company carried out the construction work.

In 1958 the Viscount de Vesci died and the agents for the estate gave the club three months’ notice to quit or to purchase the entire demesne for £5k after negotiations a final offer of £4k was accepted by the vendors. The purchase was financed by loans and voluntary contributions together with the sale of small parcels of land. In 1966 the neighbouring Parkgarriffe House Estate on 63 acres was bought for £12.5k by the club and the House, which was burnt down in 1956, was to become the site of the new clubhouse. Monkstown Castle and 32 acres of land were sold to help finance the purchase and the future plans for an eighteen-hole course. It would be Commander John D. Harris who would design the new layout but Tom Carey, an employee of the Sisk construction company, would play a large part in the final course layout and construction. The back-nine would be mainly on the Parkgarriffe and the remainder, apart from the first, would be based on a redesign of the original nine-hole course. The new eighteen-hole course was opened in 1970 and a new clubhouse was opened the following year. Drainage continued to be an issue and, the cash-strapped club, took advantage on an interest free loan from the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company in exchange for membership cards. In the late seventies Eddie Hackett was brought in the redesign because of land sales but the course was reinstated when the land was repurchased. The drainage problem persisted on the Parkgarriffe section and the new irrigation system introduced in the nineties together with other measures helped alleviate the problem.
In 2006 the current clubhouse was designed by Wilson Architects who provided a state-of-the-art facility that maximises views over the 18th hole. A major bunker remodelling, tee upgrade and drainage project was started in 2023 which was designed by Ken Kearney and being constructed by DAR Golf. Prior to this the same team had put in place a new practice range and teaching academy which was opened in 2023.

Monkstown Golf Club has been associated with several notable figures. Jim Long and John O’Reilly, former Presidents of Golf Ireland were members of the club. The club has also been home to famous golfers like A.H. Patterson, Thomas Egan, Ada O’Sullivan (2004 and 2006 Curtis Cup captain), Robert McK. Fleury and Denis O’Sullivan.