I joined the Irish Chemist Golfing Society in the early sixties, being warmly welcomed by the stalwarts Jack Foley, Joe Lynch, Con Collis, Phil McAuliffe, Brennie Smyth and Tom Hogan, not forgetting Diamond Jim and Black Ned, who were like extras from a cowboy film.

War years

During the war years there was no petrol and no cars. Outings were difficult to arrange and attend. Indeed, one member arrived in a pony and cart on two occasions. Post-war, membership soared. Tramore became the spiritual home of the Society. Some senior members told me that the four days they had in Tramore was the only holiday they had all year. Golf was not a priority for them, but discussing the affairs of the day and an elbow leaning on the counter was more enjoyable. Prominent golfers during this period included Percy Delaney, Jim Brosnan, Sean O Neill, Brennie Smyth and John Fitzgibbon. John played off scratch for most of his career. The rest of us battled with our handicaps as best we could. In 1977 Joe Lynch was elected Captain for the second time.

Rule indiscretions

Being the 50^th anniversary of the Society that year, Joe asked me would I take up the position of Secretary for a year — little did I know I would be in that position for the next 26 years. I was not long in the post when a senior member approached me, saying “now you have the chance to remedy some rule indiscretions”. I did not know what he meant at the time, but I soon found out.

I was playing one day with a member who had a reputation for never losing a ball. He lost his ball in the rough and while helping him, I heard him shout, I have it, I have it — I looked around in time to see a ball emerge from the left leg of his trousers. All I could say was, “What a cunning stunt”. He picked up his ball and left the course. A few weeks later I played with a man who had a unique method of marking his ball. When he got to the green, he casually flicked a coin over the ball, landing a few inches nearer the hole. When I quizzed him on this, he said he had difficulty stooping. I told him I had recently made up an embrocation for a tug of war team and I could give him the same — all I got back was a wry smile.

Next day was Captains Day, and I found an esteemed member practising his putting on the 18^th green. This was taboo, particularly on the day of a Captain’s Prize. He agreed he was wrong and would not play that day. The day was almost over when I saw a man approach me from the car park with a card in his hand. We had not seen him in 10 years. He handed me a high scoring card, which had no marker’s name, signature or handicap. I asked him who his marker was. He said, “He was a small little man, and I don’t know his name”, but he is gone home. I tore up the card. He then proceeded to give me a tirade of abuse, even questioning the authenticity of my birth.

That evening with my friends Michael Hennessy, Tim O’Malley and Jim Brosnan we went on a tour of outlets in West Waterford to check on their suitability for our membership. It was a pleasant evening but led to a delay in the presentation of prizes. Luckily for me, Tom McAuliffe came in as Treasurer and took over all financial affairs. He also organised Uniphar to issue outing notices to members. Great help was also received at this time from Pearce Meagher, Cecil Maxwell, Mick Barrett and Kevin Banks, who checked all the scores.

1970s

In the 70s there was a great deal of political unrest in Ulster and I thought it was an opportune time to invite our Ulster colleagues to joint outings. We also had the Scots for a couple of years, which gave us the opportunity to play Troon and Prestwick. For many years our Ulster colleagues joined us in Tramore.

1990s

In July 1990 I had a call from Melbourne. The Secretary of the Australian Golfing Society stated that they hoped to come to Scotland and Ireland for a few outings and could I organise a few courses for them. It is a tribute to the regard in which our Society is held that I was able to organise five stamina testing courses, beginning with Portmarnock, then Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee and Killarney. We had a joint meeting in Portmarnock to which I invited members of the Australian Embassy. This cemented our relationship and indeed, they come back on two further occasions. As a result, we were invited to go Down Under.

“One morning going to the first hole, we found a family of kangaroos snoozing on the first tee. This was a very pleasant reminder of the continent we were on. ”

Playing further afield

In the early 90s a party of us headed for Australia. Our first stop was on the Whit Sunday Islands where we were taken to mooring the Barrier Reef. Here we entered a submarine with a glass floor. We then glided past an amazing tapestry of coral and shell, with fish of all sizes rambling around. When we finished, myself and two others had the opportunity to board a tiny helicopter, which took us along the reef at a height of 100 feet. At one point we came to within 10 feet of the water, where six huge sharks lurked. One could imagine they sensed a feast was inside if they could only gain entry.

After that wonderful experience, we headed to the mainland for golf and hospitality. We played Perth and had a chance to visit Freemantle, from where a group of Fenians escaped to America in the 19^th century. We played two courses in both Sydney and Melbourne and a golf resort in the direction of Brisbane. One morning going to the first hole, we found a family of kangaroos snoozing on the first tee. This was a very pleasant reminder of the continent we were on.

We went back to Australia two years later and went to New Zealand on a third occasion where we played Auckland, Queenstown and Dunedin. We also has a visit to a Maoir settlement in Rotorus. We were given a tribal reception and a meal in the longhouse. They are a wonderful people and are well established in New Zealand, unlike the Aborigines in Australia who are treated rather shabbily. On our way to and from Down Under, we played golf in places like Los Angeles, Singapore, Fiji and Hawaii, where we also paid a visit to Pearl Harbour. At Pearl Harbour could be seen the outline of the American battleship, the Arizone, which contains the remains of 800 American soldiers — a sad reminder of men’s inhumanity to men.

The ICGS marks its centenary in 2027 and is always open to new members. We would like to share any memories of the ICGS on these pages in the lead up to the centenary. Please email ipureview@ipu.ie if you would like to share stories or photos.

ICGS outings 2025