Ardee chronicles its first century

The 11th at Ardee. The club is celebrating its centenary year with the launch of a commemorative book.Ardee Golf Club is celebrating its Centenary Year and the launch this Friday of “Ardee Golf Club Celebrating 100 years of golf” is considered the blue ribbon of the festivities.

The centenary book, writted by Noel Malone with photographs by Ken Finegan, traces the remarkable progress of a small golf club in Ardee from its foundation in 1911 and documents the various steps the club took to become what is now regarded as one of the finest parkland courses in the country.

From humble beginnings on a site in Baltrasna to the south of Ardee, the club moved to its current location at Townparks, Ardee in 1919 and established a nine-hole course there.

Having rented the lands for 46 years from the Land Commission, the Club purchased the land in 1965 and built its first purpose built club-house in1965-6.

The book goes on to document the further developments of an 18-hole course in 1985, the extension of the clubhouse in 1987, the extension of the golf course in 1997 and, most recently, the clubhouse extension in 2003.

Most importantly, the book attempts to highlight the achievements and dedication shown by a number of individuals, whose actions over the last 100 years has been pivotal in the development of Ardee Golf Club.

The fetching and arresting landscape style book of Ardee Golf Club Celebrating 100 Years of Golf is well suited to feature the fascinating historical photographs both donated by members and friends of Ardee Golf Club and the professional views captured by Ken Finegan. There are a number of striking pictures of the wildlife and golf course by this noted photographer.

The book will be launched by the Author Noel Malone and Centenary Captain Brendan Healy and Centenary Lady Captain Kathryn Whately with a number of speakers due to address the audience. Books will be available for sale on the night at €20.00 per copy.