Courses :: Offaly Pitch & Putt County Board

Courses - Tullamore: History

Tullamore Pitch and Putt Club was founded in 1963 on land just up from the present course of today. The initial course was only 9 holes. The club sought a larger area to develop an 18 hole course and it was at their present location in Arden on the Tullamore/Kilbeggan road just over two miles outside of the town that they found their new home. The course was set on part of the rugged esker, Eiscir Riada, which stretches for miles across the midlands. The course was rented from Jimmy Mathews, the present club's President, and his late wife Dorie. The first club meeting was held in Bolger's Hotel on July 2nd 1962.

The founding members and first committee of Tullamore Pitch & Putt were as follows: Paddy Fahy (RIP), PJ Sheehan (RIP), John Hanohoe (RIP), Joe Burke, George Ryan (RIP), MN Byrne, Sgt. Mick Loftus, John Flanagan, Pat Ryan, Stephen Coughlan (RIP), Eddie Whelan and Michael Kavanagh.

The new course at Arden was opened as a 9 hole course but it wasn't long, within 12 months in fact, that the course was extended to 18 holes. Construction of the clubhouse commenced shortly afterwards with the help of local businesses guaranteeing a bank loan to get the job done swiftly. The course has undergone a number of modified architectural changes through the years. During those intervening years successive and progressive committees have worked hard to put the course among the very best courses in the country. The hard work quickly paid off for those ambitious committees when the club was selected to host the Ladies National Matchplay Championship in 1970, the first time the event was staged in the midlands. The hosting of their first national championship was a memorable and enormous effort for Willy Dunne and his committee which lofted the Arden course to join the elite of clubs at the time. It wasn't long before further honour was bestowed on the course as the prestigious Gents National Strokeplay Championships was awarded to take place there in 1973.

The club members have tasted success not only at county but also at provincial and national level down through the years, you only have to look through the records on this site to gain the clear perspective on the achievements within the club spanning almost five decades. The most successful member of the club is no doubt Margaret Hogan, formally of the Clara Club, her victories span over three decades, winning the Ladies National Strokeplay in 1977, 1978 and 1979 as a member of Clara and then remarkably retaining the title in 2006 as a member of Tullamore. Margaret also has four Ladies National Matchplay titles to her name, three as a member of Tullamore in 1987, 1989 and 1997, her first being in 1980. Margaret has also numerous provincial titles to her name. At Ladies Junior and Inter level Zita Galvin, Annie Galvin, Martina Marron, Kathleen Boland and Maire Owens have all brought Leinster Championship titles to the club over the years. The Tullamore club have the largest ladies membership of the Offaly clubs and thus it is no surprise that the Tullamore women feature frequently in the winning enclosures at National events especially at Junior and Inter grades. National Junior and Inter titles have been won by Nadine Peake in 1987, Peg Cronly in 1989, Marie Owens in 1999, and Martina Marron most recently in 2007. The Tullamore Gents have also brought success to the club, although not as prominent as the Ladies of Tullamore! Ronnie O'Shea captured the first Gents provincial title in 1971 winning the Junior title. The most prominent Senior in Arden since the late 70's is the one and only Vinny Murphy, whom won many scratch cups and two Leinster Strokeplay titles in 1980 and 1993. Vinny is hailed as one of the best Seniors of his time not to have won an individual National title. However, Vinny was part of National Mixed Team Winners in 1996, partnering his wife Alice and the Cravens to victory. Other winning pairings include Unda and Enda Pyke who won the National Mixed Foursomes in 1984. The only Gent to claim an individual National title is Keith O'Connor who took full advantage of his club hosting the championship in 2003 when he won the Inter grade in fine fashion.

There have been many driving forces behind the ambitious committees through the years, the most without a doubt was the late Dick Abraham. Dick joined the club as a playing member in 1963 and he was drafted onto the club committee as Gents Captain in 1965. This was the start of a long dedicated administrative career at club, county and national levels for almost 40 years. Dick served spells as Captain, Chairman and President of the Tullamore club, as chairman of the Offaly/Westmeath County Board and later as Chairman of the Offaly County Board. Dick was drafted early onto the Leinster Council in 1970, elected under the Presidency of Eamonn Birchall. It wasn't long before he assumed the Presidency himself from 1975 to 1979, following which he took on the provincial duties as Treasurer until 1988 when he returned to the Presidency once again. After his second presidential term came to an end in 1991 his attentions turned to provincial publicity matters and became the Leinster P.R.O. and Central Council delegate in which he continued his hard work and commitment to the game for roughly a decade until his untimely death in 2002. Dick was honoured by the Pitch & Putt community in 1988 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. This was no more than the Arden man deserved as he was the instigator behind the development of the game in Offaly and indeed Westmeath in the 70's and 80's is attributed to Dick and his good friend Eddie Recks from Clara. Dick's legacy certainly lives on within the club and county today.

Another prominent Tullamore officer who served long administrative roles is Annie Galvin. Annie joined Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club in 1968where her husband Dinny was already a member. Annie was elected Lady Vice Captain in 1977 and it was this election that kick started her administrative involvement that quickly gathered momentum. Annie has served many years on Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club'committiee including various terms as Lady Captain, Secretary, Registrar and also as Chairperson. Her long standing colleague and friend Dick Abraham encouraged her to stand for Leinster when a vacancy for registrar came up in 1987. She took on the challenge and spent ten seasons in control of handicap affairs in the eastern province and also served as a Leinster delegate to Central Council. Annie continued to serve the Leinster Council as Secretary into the 21st century until the Council was disbanded. She now dedicates her time to the club administration and playing side of things, where she still competitively competes for her place on the Offaly Ladies Inter-County Team. Annie and Dick were also joined by fellow club members Mary Fogarty and Paddy Keely for various periods on the Leinster Council.

Tullamore today is still a thriving club with a dedicated committee, grounds staff and members behind it. They continue to play the sport at a social and competitive level on a course that is still hailed and acknowledged as being one of the finest and most enjoyable courses in the country. The club boasts many talented players who continue to chase National titles and represent Offaly at the annual Inter-County Championships. To name a few would be unfair as we do not want to leave anyone out! However, tribute must be paid to the late Ber Roche who passed away suddenly in 2008 for his dedicated work as greens keeper of Tullamore Pitch & Putt. Andy Boland has now taken on the responsibility and undoubtedly has big green keepers golf shoes to fill.