Club History

History reflects on events and in the recording of happenings and achievments of a club and more so in the history of St Annes Pitch and Putt club.

Founded in July 1966 , it was the idea of the Cork Health Authority personnel Dr.R. McCarty medical Supt. at our Lady's Hospital and the main driving force came from Mr Tim o' Leary , One could say without any doubt that the first nine holes were built by him with nothing more than a wheelbarrow and shovel (1966). The official opening of the nine hole course was in July 66 by the late Sean Casey Lord Mayor of Cork.

The first A.G.M was held on Nov 28th. Present were Mr Bill Somers President of the P.P.U.I , representing Munster Council was Mr. Jim Twomey and from the Cork Board Mr. T.J o' Riordan.

Committee elected on that night were President :Dr . R . McCarthy , Vice Presidents Mr. P. Kenefick , Mr . S. Murphy , Miss M.J. o' Connor , Dr . R. Mitchell , Mrs. Margaret o' Sutherland , Chairman Mr . M. Greaney , Vice Chairman Mr . V . Allen , Hon Sec Mr . J. Dempsey , Asst. Sec Miss . S Quill , Hon Treasurer Mr . D . Buckley and asst Treaurer Mr . P. Harrington.

The first Captains were Mr . Tim o' Leary and Miss Phil o' Leary (Allen) , Other committee members were ; Mr . M. McGregor , Mr . T. McCarthy , Mr. A. Murphy and Mr . S . McGabhan.

The President at the outset stated that the aim of the club was to provide facilities for the patients and staff of the hospital and to do this it was very necessary to bring in the general public. He stressed that it was primarily for the patients but at the same time founded as a club for the public. Mr. Eugene McCarthy R.I.P was the Juvenile President and a wonderful coach for many years to come. The first Trustees appointed by this new committee were Dr . R . McCarthy , Mr. P. Kenefick , Mr. S. Lucey and Mr . S. Murphy.

Annual subs then were :

Gents = 2 pounds & 5 shillings

Ladies = 1 pound & 10 shillings

Juveniles = 7 shillings & 6 pence

In April 1967 our Hon Sec. Mr .J. Dempsey was transferred to Youghal and a man who served on committee for 19 years to come was co-opted to the committee. Yes indeed we are proud to put the name of Mr J. Murray onto that historic committee. It was at that same meeting that Mr . J . Dempsey read a letter from the Cork Health Authority granting the club additional ground for another nine holes. The first course committee was Mr Tim o' Leary , Mr Vincent Allen , Mr Jim Murray and Mr Ted McCarthy.

Another first that year and a very big undertaking it was , was a fund raising campaign - A car was purchased from Pope Bros . and was successfully raffled , It was an Anglia and was won by Mr. Collins. New car back then was £450.00.

Leagues then as they do today start in early spring and the winning of the Cork Gnets Junior title in 1967 must be recalled with pride as Mr . T . Maye , chairman of the board presented the team captain Mr . Tim o' Leary with the Junior cup. One must say that this was one of our finest hours. Mebers of that team were Tim O' Leary capt, Ted McCarthy , Jim Condron , Jim Twomey , Jim Murray , Michael Hayes , Jim Sutherland and Jack Dempsey.

The winners of the the first Captains prizes were Vincent Allen & Hannah o' Leary. The Gents won the Junior title again in 1969 led by captain Bernard Allen along with Michael Spillane , Pat o' Leary , Gerry Power , John Twomey , Bernard Waters & John Casey.

Another first for St Annes in 1967 was the winning of the much coveted Lota Bowl by Jack Dempsey , Inter club quiz is always enjoyable and in 1974 we celebrated yet another first , this time not on the playing side but in the Inter club quiz and this feat was not to be repeated until 1985. The 1974 team were Liam Houlihan , Charlie Brown , Anne Walsh , Bernard Allen and Ted Foley. The 1985 team was Liam Houlihan , Margaret Mullins , Tom Liston and John Mullins.

In 1970 yet another first was to be recorded for the club when Bernard Allen won the Conquer Cancer Trophy in its inaugural year. This competition was always staged at the Highfield club.

Also in 1967 the Ladies Cork stroke took place in St Annes in wet and windy conditions , We had 2 winners in Hannah Lynch and Phil o' Leary in the Junior and Marie Dorney qualified for the National Finals that year in Ierne Dublin. To prove the spirit of the ladies that year the above players gave there travelling expenses to the club funds and also served as club administrators.

Ladies also participated for the first time in Munster Championships when on the 11th June 1967 they travelled to Castleisland , The bus arrived in Castle island full of reporters and M. F. Hayes will verify there were more men than women. The first ladies committee formed to organize our first dinner dance were Mrs Kay Foley , Miss Phil o' Leary , Miss . M . Dorney , Mrs . C . Byrne , Miss . M. Finn and Mrs Kiely. The function was held at the Country Club Hotel on the 29th November 1967. Another great honour for the club was that John Foley also of Highfield was selected as Munster sports personality 1967/68having won the gents national m/play at Rocklodge. John was presented with his award at the Imperial Hotel by Mr Jack Lynch T.D. , Indeed all present that night were very proud that John brought such recognition to our game of Pitch & Putt.

First copies of the club constitution were distributed at the A.G.M on the 13th Oct 1967 and were read in full and adopted . Work continued on the extra nine holes thus the official opening of the 18 holes was being discussed at numerous meetings and on the 16th June 1968 Lord Mayor Ald. Pierse Wyse T.D. performed the official opening in the presence of a very distinguished gathering and the formal cutting of the tape was followed by the President Dr. McCarthy teeing the first ball ( not without a lesson or two around the corner from Tim o' Leary ) hit the perfect shot to officially open the beautiful course that is recognised as one of the best in the country. This was followed by an exhibition fourball played by two well known golfers namely Mr G.F. Crosbie and Mr M.N. Conlon and two Irish champion pitch and putt players Mr John Foley and Mr Ted . Riordan. Winners of course were Mr John Foley and Mr Ted . Riordan !!!

The first hon member of the club was Mr . Tim McElligott the professional at Muskerry Golf club who gave time and untold advise in the formative years in our club.

A.G.M 1968

Held on the 15/11/1968 saw Mr Ted McCarthy in the chair for the second year , He appealed to his committee to continue with the progress made by their predecessors and of course he had in mind a new clubhouse. He told the meeting that we were a new club catering for a very large membership with no club house ( from the very start we are indebted to St Anne's Hospital and Staff for the facilities given to the members e. holding all out meetings and changinf rooms etc... He was adamant that nothing less than a modern pavillion should be considered the chairman and his committee there and then pledged themselves to build an edifice that would be in keeping with the attractive surroundings in St Annes and would do everything in their power to bring this about during there term in office.

The contract to build the pavillion was given to Mr S . Casey of Shanakiel to cost in the region of £6,000 , the authority agreedto pay 2 pounds for every one that we could raise with a stipulation that the Health Authority could use it for there use as well. The official opening of the pavillion was performed by Mr Jerry Collins TD Minister for justice deputising for Mr Erskin Childers Minister for Health and Cllr . Tim o' Sullivan Lord Mayor. On 9th August 1970 a dinner was given at the Imperial Hotal and Mr Willis o' Brien gave plaster piping to bring water to the greens in exchange for an invitation to the opening.

AGM time again dated 9th Dec 1970. With Mr Tim o' Leary the chairman elect he forewarned his committee that the pace would be a hot one and how right he was , He continued to describe plans for an extension to the club house , This of course was the lounge , bar and stockrooms. The meeting to discuss the extension with Mr M.J. Conlon (President) was held on Nov 25th 1970. It was agreed to go ahead with the extension.

All work on this was done on a voluntary basis. In order to finance this Bernard Allen , Ted Foley , and Jim o' Leary had a meeting with the bank and during this meeting the interst that was been charged was excessive therefore an agreement was made to use the pitch and putt room as a bar until the extension was complete to help the finances. In fact the profits from the Saturday night paid for the extension before it was ever actually opened.

And there you have it from the course to the club house

Special thanks to Vincent and Phil Allen for the information provided !