Portarlington Golf Club : A History 1908-1987

Portarlington Golf Club was founded in 1908 and is situated in Garryhinch, about 2.5 miles from Portarlington. William Henry Cobbe was the driving force behind the creation of the club but there were many others who had an active role in the club’s formation. Initially a 9-hole course was part of the Warburton Estate, which at the time was being sold to tenant farmers as part of the Land Purchases Act, and it was only when the final part of the estate was being sold off in 1931 did this present an existential threat to the future of the golf club. The remaining lands of the Warburton Estate were sold in the thirties to pay off debts and the 600-acre estate was sold to a Scottish timer merchant, McAinsh & Co. Ltd. and was, except for the golf course, later acquired by the Land Commission. In 1935 the club, after protracted negotiations, secured the purchase of the land from the timber merchants.

Following the purchase of 22 acres referred to as Lawlor’s Wood there was the possibility of extending the course (currently 83 acres) to eighteen holes based on a report by Eddie Hackett which was present in 1983. In 1987, the club embarked on an ambitious program to extend the course to 18 holes, with a budget of £300,000. The clubhouse, once an old gate-lodge dating back to 1660, was brilliantly integrated into the new surroundings. It was extended by Hackett to 18 holes in the early 1990s, incorporating the River Barrow and surrounding woodlands. The course is known for its magnificent old trees and wildlife, including mallard ducks, swans, and red squirrels. Portarlington Golf Club is a member-owned club, with a board of directors overseeing its operations.

The book is available on the club’s website to download here.