History of Kilcock Golf Club
Kilcock Golf Club came into being in 1984 when a group of local golfers decided that they had grown tired of travelling outside the area to play a round of golf. Gerry Canning, a local landowner, converted part of his land to a 9-hole golf course and Kilcock Golf Club was born. While the initial membership was small in number a warm friendly atmosphere was quickly established and as a result the membership began to grow.
In 1990 Mr Canning purchased some additional land adjacent to the existing course and as a result Kilcock became an 18-hole course. The course was designed by Eddie Hackett, one of the best known course designers at the time, and provided a reasonable test for most golfers with small yet difficult greens and a nice mix of long and short par fours with varying degrees of difficulty.
Another chapter in the history of the club was written in 1999/2000 when an opportunity arose which allowed the members to purchase the club from Mr. Canning. Following a great deal of work from the committee at that time a plan was put together and passed at a General Meeting of the Club and a members’ owned Kilcock Golf Club finally became a reality.
Over the next few years a new machinery shed was built, course mounding and a hazard across four of the holes were put in place and in 2003 new Ladies’ and Gent’s Locker Rooms and Showers were added . The Club was quickly gaining a reputation for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere and was now ready for the next and most important phase of its history.
At a meeting held in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth in June 2007 the members unanimously passed a major course redevelopment plan, known as “Play 52”, which involved a spend of €2.2 million on the installation of sand based greens and tee boxes, major drainage and an automatic irrigation system. An opportunity was also afforded to allow for the remodelling of some of the key feature holes of the course resulting in an even greater challenge. In addition the car park was resurfaced, a new stone entrance, including electronic gates, and a boundary wall were constructed giving the club a totally new image which this ambitious plan fittingly deserved.
Phase 1 of “Play 52”, comprising the first 9 holes of the re-development, was completed in early 2008 and opened for play to members and visitors on 5th May 2008. Phase 2, the second 9, commenced in late August of the same year and was completed in early 2009. The completed course was officially opened with great pride and satisfaction on 31st July 2009 by one of Ireland’s great Golfing Ambassadors, Des Smyth, and was indeed a fitting event to mark the Silver Jubilee of Kilcock Golf Club.
Although still going through a maturing stage the course has already acquired a reputation as one of the best golf courses in the area. The Club has come a long way in a relatively short period of time and we welcome you to come and play the course and prove beyond doubt that seeing is really believing.
