Established in 1966 Shannon golf course which was designed by John D. Harris has been tested by golfers from all over the world including European professionals and a host of US stars.
FACTBOX:
Length of course: 6,763 yards
Captains: Keith Buckley and Maura McMahon
President: Christy Moylan
Unique features of course: 17th hole is the club’s signature hole, 220 yards par 3 across the Shannon Estuary
Most difficult hole: Index 1, 9th hole, 455 yards of the medal tees
Major club honours: All-Ireland Pierce Purcell champions in 1980
Lowest handicap of a member: Ed Hickey at 1
Course Structure: 4 par 3’s, 4 par 5’s and 10 par 4’s
The club has hosted both the Irish and European amateur championships as well as the men’s amateur Irish close championships. The staging of an annual PRO-Am tournament in the eighties proved a huge atraction when players of the calibre of Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman were amongst the stars to play the course. A special stone was erected on the 18th fairway to mark the drive of Norman during one of those Pro-Am tournaments
According to the chairman of the Shannon club’s board, Neil O’Brien, the club has almost 1,000 members, “The late Dr. William Flynn was the club founder and driving force and his grandson, Dr Robert Flynn is currently on the board of management at the club”.
Continuing the board chairman said “we have a strong junior section currently headed up by the club’s men’s captain, Keith Buckley with lady captain Maura McMahon in charge of the junior ladies. The club’s assistant professional Paul O’Neill has come through the junior section at the club as has Shane O’Sullivan who is the Callaway representative in Ireland. Shannon native Daniel Brennan also came through the club junior section and he is currently in the U.S. where he has won a number of collegiate titles”.
Like all golf clubs “we have been severely impacted by Covid 19 as our revenue streams, competition, bar and restaurant, societies, were affected. However membership of the golf club has benefited and we have got in the region of 100 to 150 new members”, explained Mr. O’Brien.
The board chairman went on to point out that the club has “a driving range that is open to non members and this is a great facility and has proved a huge success for the club. We compete in all inter club competitions”.
The club boosts Paul McGinley and Anika Sorensen as honorary life members while club member Heather Nolan, an Irish international, is also an honorary member. Club members Niamh McMahon and Lisa O’Shea are also Irish internationals
Water hazards are a feature of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th and 17th holes.
Golfing history will be made in 2021 when the annual inter Pro competitions will be held in Shannon in August as this will mark the first time that the men’s and ladies events will be held together.
