In 2005 Rosslare Golf Links celebrated its centenary year. As part of those centenary celebrations Tom Williams researched and documented that history in the book ‘Fairways of the Sea’.
The following significant dates and facts are documented in detail in that wonderful book.
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1905 - History
Rosslare Golf Links founded by James J Farrall as a proprietary 18 hole golf club on 58 acres at Rosslare. ‘However the decision to squeeze eighteen holes into the small amount of land available seems to be an error of judgement and resulted in a course more akin to a pitch and putt course’ even
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1908 -
Rosslare Golf Links was re-established as a members club after the bankruptcy of James J Farrall in 1906. At this time the course was redesigned as a nine hole layout. The first tee was located to the south of the current 18th teebox close to the ‘Iona Hotel’ and ran north wards. The northern boundary
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1909 -
The first greenkeeper in 1908 was a Mr McMahon. He was replaced in 1909 by Mr James J Ennis, Ford of Lyng beginning a very long association of the Ennis name with golf at Rosslare.
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1911 -
Committee decided to spend the considerable sum of £50 to remodel and improve the course. Mr W.C. Pickman , founder member of Portmarnock, was asked to advise.
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1913 -
It was decided to extend the course to 18 holes but this work was delayed for a variety of reasons including the start of WW1 followed by the War of Independence.
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1925 -
The fledgling club was successful in acquiring the house ‘Rosslare House’ and lands needed for the course extension. The old clubhouse close to the Iona Hotel was sold and Rosslare House became the new clubhouse.
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1926-1928 -
The famous firm of Hawtree and Taylor, Golf Course Architects, was commissioned to design the ‘new’ 18 hole course. The ‘new’ layout was 5800 yards long with the longest par 5 measuring 450 yards.
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1934 -
Rosslare hosted three prestigious national golf competitions, The Irish Close Championship, The Irish Golf Cup Finals and the Barton Shield final. The course had been further developed and lengthened for these events and the card of the course then measured 6141 yards. The club was captained that year by Richard G. (Dick) Walsh a 28
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1940 -
Rosslare win All Ireland Junior Cup
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1948 -
Irish Ladies Close Championship held at Rosslare- winner Miss Philomena Garvey Baltray who again won in 1953 when the competition returned to Rosslare.