ALLAN McMullen, from the first tee, was on hand to provide an ‘parful’ historical recollection of Kilkeel Golf Club!
Before 1924, golf was played at Greenore, Ballyedmond, Warrenpoint and Royal County Down.
This prompted interested parties in the Kingdom of Mourne to seek out their own golf course, which was found by the sandy shores of Cranfield, which belonged to the Earl of Kilmorey and Mr Harry Nicholson.
From that meeting in Spring 1924 the first trustees were appointed.
They included Pat Carey, Headmaster of Mourne Grange School, Harry Nicholson, Mr Prentice and Mr Gibbons.
Lord Justice Babington, who had a holiday home at Cranfield, and who also was a member of the Golfing Union of Ireland, was able to design the course, which was opened on the 5th of June.
A cottage opposite Harry Nicholson’s gate was the first clubhouse and then later a wooden-framed building was erected at the first tee, which was built by Major W.J. Hanna.
This was shown by Allan and indeed it was a rare and fascinating photograph, which many of the group had not seen before.
Incidentally it was bought by the Royal British Legion and placed in the Mourne Hospital grounds at a later stage.
The cottage of one of the first groundsmen, Pat Rogers, overlooked the seventh green and marked the boundary of the course.
Other groundsmen were James Morgan, Sydney Graham and Harvey Quinn, who worked on the course at different times up to 1940.
Other founder members were Dick Nicholson, Edmund Hanna, Bob Linton, J.J. Small, H.H. Stevenson (Kilmorey Hotel), J.F. Morgan, Bobbie Nicholson, Rev Belton, T.H. Ferguson, Pierson Ferguson, T McGonigle and John Boyd McKeown (a brief biography of each person was given).
With the steady rise in membership, many a golf ball has been hit, including one from Fred Daly, the Open Champion of 1947, who won the title at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, collecting a prize of £150, the equivalent of just under £5,000 today.
Allan was able to show a great picture of Fred, along with members of the golf club, when he visited just three weeks after winning the Open.
The Lighthouse Café was owned by Frank Ryans. Light refreshments and food were served as folks finished their round of golf and at night social dances were held.
After WW2 there were added risks as more people came to Cranfield to enjoy the coastal waters.
Unfortunately, on the 1st of May 1947 tragedy occurred when a golf ball hit Mr Ryans, the owner of the Lighthouse Café, and, unfortunately, he passed away.
Discussions then occurred over the further relocation of the golf club. Several options were sought, with eventually Mourne Park being the preferred choice.
The new nine-hole course was opened in July 1949 by the Governor of Northern Ireland, the Earl of Granville, himself a keen golfer.
Throughout the years, many friends have been made through a round of golf with a competitive edge, but all in good fun.
In 1993 a new 18-hole course, designed by Eddie Hackett, was officially opened, with a new clubhouse opening in 2001, built by RG Coulter.
Various events have been played out at Mourne Park, including British Amateur Championships qualifiers, Irish Schools’ finals and the Irish Seniors Championship.
Great players have played the course.
And anyone who has played at Mourne Park cannot not be impressed by the beauty of the landscape, the Mourne Mountains and views of Carlingford Lough through the trees.
Allan mentioned that Eric Quinn is considered to be one of the best players in the history of Kilkeel Golf Club.
In 1949, he won the Armstrong Cup for the third time and outright, so it was never played for again.
His family presented the cup back to the club during the club’s centenary celebrations in May 2024, which was a special occasion.
A vote of thanks to Alan was, ironically, given by Mrs Anne Campbell, granddaughter of Mr Harry Nicholson who owned the original Cranfield Golf Links, which was as good as seeing ‘an ace’ down on the 18th!
How history can come full circle!
The next meeting of Mourne Local Studies Group is on the 5th of November, where the group will be entertained by the Moneydarragh Hub at the Mourne Gospel Fellowship at 8pm.
We hope to see you there and bring a friend!
