Cork Golf Club features prominently in the latest edition of Irish Golfer.
Here is an extract from the article:
Cork Golf Club is famous for many things, with the Limestone Quarry emphatically leading the way. It created a remarkable setting for golf holes that were first played over while the quarry was still in operation. This was back in the late 1890s. Later, Harry Vardon (1911) extended the club to 18 holes, before Dr. Alister MacKenzie (1925) rerouted the course, added three new holes, created new greens and added sand-filled bunkers – quite the novelty back then. And all the while the quarry remained at the heart of the track.
The quarry dates back to the late 1700s and produced thousands of tons of limestone every year. It was used in the construction of national public buildings, including Cork’s City Hall, but it was shipped much further afield and as far away as New York.
For the past 100 years it has been a unique and stunning feature of a revered course. That said, in recent years it had become less visible. Nature had taken hold and trees, gorse and brambles hid the natural rock walls in several places.
Over the past 18 months the club has carried out a large amount of clearing work. This has opened up the course, including the quarry. It was all prompted by the arrival of Cork GC’s new Course Superintendent – Simon O’Hara – who came from Fota Island.
New blood; new ideas. And so it was to prove as gorse and trees were removed, while new trees were introduced. The quarry, now cleared and on full display, will also see a new wetlands area shy of the par three 7th green. Appropriately, as I was being given a tour of the course, a duck flew in and landed on the water. The first of many, no doubt.