Howth Golf Club

The Howth Golf Club was initially proposed as Kilrock Golf Club in an article in The Irish Field on March 12, 1910, with plans for its establishment near Kilrock. However, by November 1910, it was reported that a provisional committee, led by Mr Julian Gaisford St. Lawrence and the Right Honourable Justice Boyd, formed with the goal of setting up a course in the Howth area, as detailed in a printed document from November 1910.

In 1915, Mr A. Butson, who had previously worked for the Jameson Distillery Family and owned a Temperance Hotel in Howth, successfully negotiated with Mr Gaisford St. Lawrence for a fifty-year lease on 80 acres of land for the course. Tom Shannon, the professional at Portmarnock Golf Club, was tasked with designing the nine-hole course, which led to the establishment of Howth Golf Club, recognized as starting in the year 1916.

By the end of 1915, with enough members to hold a general meeting, the club's first officers were elected, with Mr E. Stuart becoming the first Captain of Howth Golf Club. The first golf competitions began in December 1915, and the club planned a variety of events for the 1916 season, indicating a strong foundation for the future of the club.

The expansion of the course to 18 holes was considered as early as November 1916, due to strong member interest and demand. However, this extension was not realized until over a decade later, partly due to the challenging terrain comprising gorse and rock, which required significant effort to prepare for golf.

The issue of club control became a priority by 1917, with relations between the members and the club's founder and proprietor, Mr Butson, eventually leading to the club members negotiating a buyout. By 1919, after extensive discussions and negotiations, the members had raised £800 to purchase the club outright from Mr Butson, successfully transitioning Howth Golf Club into a member-owned entity. During the same year, the club was also accepted as a full member of the Golfing Union of Ireland.

James Braid, a renowned Scottish Professional Golfer and Architect, was responsible for the course's redesign in the late 1920s, transforming it into an 18-hole course. Despite the ambitious predictions of having an expanded course ready by May 1917, it was only in 1929, after the designs and work of Braid, that the extended course was officially inaugurated.

As of the knowledge cutoff in 2023, Howth Golf Club, primarily designed by James Braid, is noted for its 18-hole course and for being an integral part of the development of golf in the Howth area. The course has evolved over time, now offering members, visitors, and golf enthusiasts a full-fledged golfing experience within North County Dublin.