| However,
changes were afoot and in 1954, due to the industrial development
of Larne, the Golf Club was forced to relocate to a more
suitable site. The East Antrim Hospital Authority agreed
to lease the club the land next to Cairndhu Hospital. This
land was duly surveyed, the report was found to be favourable
and a 99 year lease was signed with the existing course
being sold to the Borough Council for£19,500. The
new land was originally owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon
who took a great interest in botany; this would explain
the great variety of trees and shrubs throughout the course.
Mr
John SF Morrison was commissioned to design the new course
and work commenced in 1956. The exact date of the move from
the Roddens is not recorded but the old clubhouse closed
on 12th October 1957. The new course was declared a great
success and was opened in May 1958.
The
sport of golf was growing quickly and soon it was decided
that nine holes were not enough. A further 49 acres to the
west of the clubhouse were leased for a period of twenty
five years and Mr John SF Morrison was re-employed to construct
another nine holes. Work again went well and the second
nine holes were ready in 1961 and opened in 1963.
Throughout
the transition from Larne Town Golf Club to Cairndhu Golf
Club many members gave freely of their time and services,
none more so than Mr WK Harbinson who provided men, machinery
and materials for the benefit of the club. The Golfing Union
of Ireland surveyed the course in 1964 and assessed it to
be 6,071 yards long, par 70, Standard Scratch Score 69.
As
the course matured the membership grew. It is recorded that
in 1968 a record number of members played in Captains Day
– 121. Other projects also took place such as the
extension of the clubhouse with the addition of the function
room in 1971.
Cairndhu
was now fielding teams in most GUI competitions and in 1974
won its first major trophy, the prestigious Ulster Cup,
sparking some serious celebrations that went on for days.
In the same year the club hosted its first GUI qualifying
event in the Pierce Purcell Foursomes.
1976
saw the club’s first tentative steps into the world
of the Pro Am, an event we now host every year. This first
Pro Am, however, was to be the catalyst for the biggest
event in the club’s history. The three-day Pro Am
in 1981 drew a field from all over the world including Nick
Price and Ian Woosnam, Major champions, and European Tour
winners Roger Davis, Mark McNulty, Simon Owen, John O’Leary,
Des Smyth and Christy O’Connor (Jnr).
Additions
and improvement continued to the course with the installation
of a watering system in 1986. Improvements were also carried
out to the clubhouse with panoramic windows put in the bar
area to maximise our stunning views.
Cairndhu
established itself as a Championship venue in 1990 when
it hosted the Ulster Boys, a very successful event won by
Gerry Sproul from Rosses Point.
Over
the years much has changed, we now own the entire course
having bought the front nine from the Health Authorities
and the rest from the Borough Council. Many alterations
have been made to the course, clubhouse and storage facilities
over the years Most recently the restructuring and refurbishment
of the Professional Shop, the office and the whole bar and
television room area.
There
are however some things that have not changed and never
will - the warm welcome afforded to visitors, the stunning
views and a first class golf course.
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