Narin and Portnoo Golf Club

Course Facts:
Address Narin Secretary/Manager:  
Portnoo Captain: Hugh F Shovlin
Co. Donegal Lady Captain: Nan Quinn
Telephone: 074-9545107 President: Dom Gallagher
Public No: 074-9545332 Vice-Captain: Ciaran O'Kane
Fax: 074-9545994    
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Club Pro: Daragh Lyons
Website: www.narinportnoogolfclub.ie    
Founded: 1930 Designed by: Hughie McNeill, Leo Wallace & Eddie Connaughton (2004)
Open for membership. Societies are welcome and group rates are available.
Membership: 594 Course opening hours: Daylight hours
Green Fees Midweek: €20 Clubhouse opening hours: 9.00am to 12.00pm
Green Fees Weekends & B.H.: €30 Mobile phones: Not on course or in clubhouse
Green Fees With a Member: €50% Dress Code: Neat casual, no denim
Green Fees For Opens: €20 Catering: Full catering facilities
Practice Area: Yes Days to Avoid: None (Phone Weekends)
Club Hire: Yes Green Fees and Societies Welcome: All times
Buggy Hire: Yes Pre-booking for open tournaments: Time sheet in operation
Soft spikes: No    



Location
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Course Description
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Course Description:

Narin and Portnoo Golf Club is situated in a beautiful seaside resort in southwest Donegal, six miles from Glenties. It is considered one of the most scenic 18-hole links courses in Ireland , with sweeping views of Gweebarra Bay. A previous layout (designed by Harry Hamill of Royal Portrush) on much of the site of the current club opened in 1905 but had ceased to exist by 1919. Launched officially in July 1930, Narin and Portnoo Golf Club is engagingly old fashioned, with a meandering routing over and around the dunes. A recent course development has increased the par to 73 and has increased the range of shots required to negotiate the terrain. A warm friendly welcome awaits visitors and societies to Narin and Portnoo Golf Club and it is ideal for year-round golf. Voted the No. 80-ranked golf course in Ireland, by “Golf Digest Ireland” in 2008.

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Open & Major Fixtures 2011
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See Event Calendar here.

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Club History
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Club History

Narin and Portnoo Golf Club was founded in 1930 when five local men decided that the warren in Narin had the potential to be developed into a testing links. Canon Ernest Devlin, Rev. Boyce, William Hemmersbach, William ODonnell and Francis J. McLoone saw the fillip to the tourist trade that a golf course would provide and they pooled their resources to rent the land from the five landlords concerned. A number of rudimentary holes were already in existence and help was sought from Hughie McNeill, the professional in Portrush to bring those holes up to scratch. 

On July 9, 1930 William O’Donnell launched a drive down the first and a golf club was born. A committee was formed in 1931 with Mr. O’Donnell the first captain and by the spring of 1932, nine holes had been laid out. 

Jim McCole was appointed greenkeeper in 1934 and would hold the post until 1977. Under his stewardship, Narin developed a reputation for fast links greens and the sight of Jim on his knees plucking rye grass was not an uncommon one. 
Throughout the thirties the membership grew and a decision was taken in April 1938 to build a clubhouse. Joseph Cunningham & Sons, Killybegs were awarded the contract and on September 1, 1939 H.A. McDevitte T.D. officially opened the small, wooden pavilion. It would serve as the clubhouse until 1968. 

John O’Donnell of Ardara and John Gillespie of Narin were the leading golfers in the first half century of the club’s existence, with the latter going round the nine holes in 33 shots on two occasions. Fairways were only cut once or twice a year, which made the course play longer than its actual length, a problem accentuated by the prevalence of moss. 

The war years were traumatic for the golf club due to transport difficulties and finances didn’t improve much afterwards. Attracting new members wasn’t proving easy and but for the fundraising efforts of the Portnoo Dramatic Club, the club may have folded in the mid-fifties. The thespians toured throughout the county and presented £600 to the committee after several years fundraising. The corner had been turned. Improvements were made to the nine-hole layout and in 1957 the current sixteenth hole replaced the sodden second on the initiative of Louis Walsh. A decision was taken in 1960 to rent more land from Barney McNelis and on June 24th, 1965 Donagh O’Malley, T.D. opened the new eighteen hole course. A first-ever victory in the Inter Club League in 1967 under the captaincy of Patsy Sweeney showed that the club was moving in the right direction on the playing front. 

Membership improved sufficiently to justify the building of a bigger clubhouse and this was accomplished by Joe McMenamin & Sons, Stranorlar in 1968 with a grant of £6000 from Bord Fáilte easing the financial burden. A new car park followed in 1970, while new machinery made life a little easier for the greens staff. Donal McBride became Honorary Secretary in 1978 and he entered the club for the first time in the Pierce Purcell, Scratch Cup and Ulster Cup. Fr. Brendan McBride represented Ulster that same year, a first for a Narin & Portnoo player. A successful Pro-Am was launched in 1979 which heightened the club’s profile even further. 

The likes of Eamon Darcy, Christy O’Connor and David Feherty were big draws and the standard of golf reflected this, with Bobby Browne shooting a 63 in 1979 to set a new course record. The amateur record of 63 was set by Ballybofey’s Enda McMenamin in 1990. 

An extension to the clubhouse was added in 1990 and in 2001 the club purchased that part of the course owned by Mrs. Mary McNelis for £750,000. A course re-alignment in 2004 has increased the par to 73 and created several holes of unquestioned beauty. From eighteen members in 1930, the club now caters for close on 730. Its founders’ vision has been justified and the best years surely lie ahead.

Members Achievements

2004 Lady Captain Maria Rafferty (30) and her Captain's Prize Winner Natalie Guildea (10) were qualifiers with 34 pts. in the Volkswagen-Irish Independent Lady Captain's Classic at Co. Sligo Golf Club in August 2004 they qualified for the National Finals at Hermitage on 4th October.
Holes-in-One
Person Date Hole No. Club Used Distance
Anne McBride 13 July 2005 16th   100 m
Austin Laverty 21 December 2004 8th   130 m
Barry Doherty 29 June 2003 16th   110 m
Benny Quinn 19 March 2005 16th   120 m
Bert Hill 15 March 1997 8th   130 m
Brendan Quinn 22 July 2004 8th   130 m
Brian Robertson 14 February 2002 6th   198 m
Colette Bonner 28 May 2005 6th   143 m
Colm Melly 12 April 1987 8th   130 m
Connell Kennedy 16 May 1993 6th   198 m
Danny McGinley 6 June 1992 8th   130 m
Danny McGinley 14 November 1993 3rd   171 m
Denis Carberry 8 June 1986 16th   110 m
Denis Carbery 11 July 1993 16th   110 m
Dom Quinn 12 June 1994 8th   130 m
Eamon McGill 13 April 1997 13th   170 m
Finbar Boyle 13 April 1992 16th   110 m
Fr. Brendan McBride 1 July 1965 6th   187 m
Frank McGinley 8 June 2003 16th   110 m
Frankie Kennedy 24 August 1991 6th   198 m
Frankie Kennedy 15 November 1992 16th   110 m
Frankie Kennedy 2 May 2004 11th   180 m
George Doherty 17 August 1991 3rd   171 m
Gerard J. Doherty 10 October 2001 8th   130 m
Harold Reid 7 December 2003 11th   180 m
Harry McGee 10 July 2002 13th   180 m
Hugh Jackson 19 June 1983 11th   180 m
Hugo McGarrigle 1 August 2002 11th   180 m
J. A. McNeill 17 October 1990 11th   180 m
J. J. McBride 1 July 1952 2nd   144 m
James Byrne 1 November 2004 8th   130 m
James McGinley 16 October 2000 16th   110 m
James McGinley 1 June 1978 16th   110 m
James McRory 9 August 2002 11th   170 m
Jim McRory 22 August 1997 16th   110 m
Jimmy Cunningham 13 May 1995 6th   198 m
Joan McCole 21 February 1997 16th   95 m
John J. Doherty 11 April 2004 8th   130 m
John Lennon 22 August 2004 8th   130 m
John McBride 15 May 1994 13th   170 m
John McBride 1 May 2002 16th   110 m
John McCole 16 February 2005 13th   170 m
John Michael McDonnell 8 September 1991 11th   180 m
John Michael O'Donnell 20 February 1983 16th   110 m
John Molloy 24 June 2004 8th   130 m
Josie O'Boyle 23 July 1997 16th   110 m
Kevin Harley 17 July 2005 16th   110 m
Kevin McCready 25 February 2005 8th   125 m
Lee Heron 4 August 1986 16th   110 m
Leo Gallagher 1 June 1961 3rd   141 m
Marie Walsh 21 July 2005 16th   95 m
Marie Walsh 24 August 1996 3rd   131 m
Marie Walsh 30 March 1997 13th   154 m
Martin Arnold 25 September 1993 11th   180 m
Martin Sweeney 1 June 2001 8th   130 m
Martin Whelan 1 June 2000 6th   221 m
Mary Nicholson 12 July 1994 6th   163 m
Mary Nicholson 12 February 1996 16th   95 m
Max Cannon 13 August 2005 16th   110 m
Michael Bonner 23 July 1989 13th   170 m
Michael Naughton 14 April 1982 8th   130 m
Myles Cunningham 1 June 1995 16th   110 m
Myles Cunningham 22 March 1998 16th   110 m
Nan Quinn 9 April 2004 16th   95 m
Nan Quinn 21 April 2003 6th   163 m
Nan Quinn 22 August 2000 16th   95 m
Nora Gormley 13 May 1991 3rd   136 m
Owen Bonner 15 July 1990 8th   130 m
P. P. Roddy 1 November 1937 6th   166 m
Pat Connaghan 10 September 2005 16th   106 m
Pat McGinley 1 August 1995 16th   110 m
Patrick A. Ree 8 August 2004 11th   175 m
Patrick Gallagher 22 September 1997 16th   110 m
Patsy Sweeney 1 November 1963 7th   95 m
Patsy Yankee Boyle 11 October 1992 16th   110 m
Paul McNamee 12 April 2004 11th   180 m
Peter Logue 6 August 1994 13th   170 m
Rory O'Boyle 17 April 1990 3rd   171 m
Seamus Bonner 7 September 2003 16th   110 m
Seamus Doherty 19 June 1983 13th   170 m
Seamus McDonagh 1 January 2001 11th   180 m
Sean Joseph Gallagher 30 March 2003 16th   110 m
Sean McKenna 15 January 1995 16th   110 m
Sean McKenna 10 May 2002 16th   110 m
S Barry 1 July 1940 4th   143 m
Stephen Cullen 5 December 2004 3rd   171 m
Stephen McGinley 12 May 1996 11th   180 m
Thomas Breslin 19 March 1990 8th   130 m
Tom Glynn 5 June 1992 11th   180 m
Vincent Rankin 10 July 1988 13th   170 m
James McGuinness 11th October 2006 6th     198 m
Brid O'Keeffe 2nd June 2006 13th     102 m
Marie Corrigan 16th August 2006 11th     146 m
Dennis Carbery 1st April 2007 7th     130 m
Harry Reid 2nd April 2007 7th     130 m
Michael Cooke 7th April 2007 16th     110 m

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Card of the Course
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Card of the Course (yards)
 
Hole No White Yellow Par Index Red Par Index
1 289 283 4 11 280 4 13
2 480 450 5 9 410 5 1
3 171 161 3 15 140 3 15
4 416 407 4 1 390 5 17
5 367 357 4 7 310 4 7
6 400 380 4 5 365 4 3
7 130 125 3 13 130 3 5
8 311 301 4 17 275 4 11
9 365 355 4 3 247 4 9
Out 2,929 2,819 35   2,547 36  
10 485 475 5 2 389 5 2
11 180 160 3 16 112 3 16
12 390 370 4 10 329 4 8
13 463 439 5 12 372 5 4
14 490 470 5 8 430 5 12
15 110 106 3 18 95 3 18
16 480 460 5 4 420 5 10
17 377 367 4 6 300 4 6
18 365 350 4 14 321 4 14
In 3,340 3,197 38   2,768 37  
Total 6,269 6.016 73   5,315 73  
SSS 73 72     73    



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Roll of Honour
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C. Bonner 1989 Ladies Captain
M. McHugh 1990 Ladies Captain
A. O'Shea 1991 Ladies Captain
A. Hayden 1992 Ladies Captain
M. Nicholson 1993 Ladies Captain
C. McGee 1994 Ladies Captain
B. Shovelin 1995 Ladies Captain
F. Munnelly 1996 Ladies Captain
G. Cafferty 1997 Ladies Captain
B. Cunningham 1998 Ladies Captain
Mauire Walsh 1999 Ladies Captain
Colette Bonner 2000 Ladies Captain
Annette McGettigan 2001 Ladies Captain
Brid O'Keeffe 2002 Ladies Captain
Mary Doherty 2003 Ladies Captain
Maria Rafferty 2004 Ladies Captain
Phillipa Mullen 2005 Ladies Captain
Goretti Cunningham 2006 Ladies Captain
Margaret Murphy  2007 Ladies Captain
Sally Jennings 1990 Ladies President
Sally Jennings 1991 Ladies President
Peg Gillespie 1992 Ladies President
Peg Gillespie 1993 Ladies President
Bridie Rankin 1994 Ladies President
Bridie Rankin 1995 Ladies President
Breid Boyle 1996 Ladies President
Breid Boyle 1997 Ladies President
Anne McBride 1998 Ladies President
Ann McBride 1999 Ladies President
Francis Munnelly 2000 Ladies President
Francis Munnelly 2001 Ladies President
Bridie Cunningham 2002 Ladies President
Bridie Cunningham 2003 Ladies President
Maureen Cunningham 2004 Ladies President
Maureen Cunningham 2005 Ladies President
Wendy Paterson 2006 Ladies President
Wendy Paterson 2007 Ladies President
Michael Bonner 1989 Men's Captain
Michael Gallagher 1990 Men's Captain
Austin McNeill 1991 Men's Captain
Enda Bonner 1992 Men's Captain
Seamus McGarvey 1993 Men's Captain
Francis Cunningham 1994 Men's Captain
Jim Gallagher 1995 Men's Captain
Paddy Campbell 1996 Men's Captain
Tony Bonnor 1997 Men's Captain
Tom Glynn 1998 Men's Captain
Dom Gallagher 1999 Men's Captain
John Michael O'Donnell 2000 Men's Captain
Bobby Cunningham 2001 Men's Captain
Willie Quinn 2002 Men's Captain
Harold Reid 2003 Men's Captain
David Kelly 2004 Men's Captain
Frankie Kennedy 2005 Men's Captain
Justin Gillespie 2006 Men's Captain
Conal Keeney 2007 Men's Captain
Rev. Brendan McBride 1989 President
Liam O'Hagen 1990 President
Liam O'Hagen 1991 President
Rev. George Good 1992 President
Rev. George Good 1993 President
Donal McBride 1994 President
Donal McBride 1995 President
Michael Naughton 1996 President
Michael Naughton 1997 President
Patrick (Yank) Boyle 1998 President
Patsy (Yank) Boyle 1999 President
Vincent Herron 2000 President
Vincent Herron 2001 President
Seamus McGarvey 2002 President
Seamus McGarvey 2003 President
Colm Melly 2004 President
Colm Melly 2005 President
Enda Bonner 2006 President
Enda Bonner 2007 President
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