Letterkenny Golf Club

Infobox Golf Facility
golf_facility_name = Letterkenny Golf Club


location = Letterkenny, County Donegal flagicon|Ireland
establishment = 1913
type = Public
owner =
operator =
holes = 18
tournaments = Donegal Irish Ladies Open
website = [http://www.letterkennygolfclub.com/ www.letterkennygolfclub.com]
course1 =
designer1 = Eddie Hackett Declan Brannigan (redeveloper)
par1 = 72
length1 = 6274 yards +
longest Hole = 11th
rating1 =
record1 =
course2 =

Letterkenny Golf Club is a golf club located on the banks of Lough Swilly in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. The Club was founded in 1913.

History

Golf began in the town many years before 1913 on rough ground near the Ramelton Road. Golfing facilities later moved to a 47 acre course at Crievesmith in 1913 where the club was formed. Crievesmith was sold in 1965 for £3000 and the club moved to Barnhill and remain there to this day. The ground at Crievesmith is currently used for housing.When the club moved to Barnhill an old farmhouse located on the land was used as the clubhouse. This farmhouse was extended in 1967 before a state-of-the-art 10000 sq.ft. clubhouse was opened in 1999 with a restaurant and conference facilities. The current course has 18 holes and has elegant views of Lough Swilly.

In 1999 the club hosted the "Donegal Irish Ladies Open". [ [http://www.irishgolfcourses.co.uk/northwest/letterkenny.php Letterkenny Golf Club ] ]

Two Million Euro Redevelopment

On Saturday 28 July 2007 a new look course was officially opened. The new course was designed by one of golfs leading architects Declan Brannigan and finally addresses the drainage problem which the course has had for many years.

On closer inspection, it was noticed that iron ore blocked excess water from running off of the course into the nearby Lough Swilly. In 2001 a drainage program was drawn up which included ten mam-made lakes to hold the water. The development was funded by the then Minister for Sport, Jim McDaid who secured £200000 with a further £70000 raised by the club itself. In 2005 an extra €1.5 million was borrowed for the completion of the drainage and redevelopment plan. Golf course developers, Green Shapers, excavated and constructed new greens and fairways. Phase two was completed in 2006. Prior to the redevelopment only five months of golf could be played annually but now golf will be playable all year round.

Famous Visitors

There have been many famous professional golfers visit the club. They include:
*Dale Reid
*Pamela Wright
*Laura Davies
*Sophie Gustafson [ [http://www.irishgolfcourses.co.uk/northwest/letterkenny.php Letterkenny Golf Club ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.letterkennygolfclub.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/individual_results.asp?sID=12058 Letterkenny Golf Club at irelandnorthwest.ie]
* [http://www.irishgolfcourses.co.uk/northwest/letterkenny.php Letterkenny Golf club at irishgolfcourses.co.uk]
* [http://www.ireland.ie/golf/Result/IndividualResultTCS.aspx?touristItemID=12058 Letterkenny Golf Club at ireland.ie]
* [http://www.greenfeesavers.co.uk/ireland-north/letterkenny.html Letterkenny Golf Club at greenfeesavers.co.uk]
* [http://www.donegaldirect.com/ws_business_details.aspx?BusinessID=463&Region=Letterkenny&BusinessNm=Letterkenny+Golf+%26+Social+Club&Section=Activities Letterkenny Golf Club at donegaldirect.ie]