The Royal Belfast Golf Club 1881-1981

The Royal Belfast Golf Club was founded in 1881, making it the oldest golf club in Ireland. The founding members were Thomas Sinclair, who had played golf while holidaying in Scotland, and George L. Baillie The club was initially established at Kinnegar, Holywood where Captain John Harrison, the Laird of Holywood, provided the land rent free to build a six-hole course. Royal Belfast was one of the nine founding member clubs of the Golfing Union of Ireland in 1891. The club moved to Carnalea in 1892. After World War I, it relocated to its current location at Craigavad House on the shores of Belfast Lough in 1925. The course was designed by the renowned architect Harry S. Colt and his work has stood the test of time, with the course remaining largely unchanged since its opening in 1926.
Royal Belfast’s stunning Victorian Clubhouse, built in 1852, was awarded Clubhouse of the Year 2024 by the Golfer’s Guide to Ireland. Craigavad House is a neo-classical house designed by Thomas Turner in 1851. Royal Belfast bought the house and surrounding lands in 1925 for £6k.

The club has seen various property deals over the years, including its relocation to Craigavad House and the surrounding 140-acre estate. The club has also undergone recent extensions to its facilities while retaining its Victorian charm. The club is a private members-only club, with a thriving membership and a focus on maintaining its historic charm and golfing excellence. The club hosted the Royal & Ancient organised Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in 2017 and hosted the Irish PGA Championship in 1958 won by Christy O’Connor snr. together with national junior and senior girls and women’s titles. The most notable players from the club are Harold Reade, David Madeley, R.K.M. Pollin and more recently Finley Eager.