This is the final instalment focussing on Sir Anthony Babington's reminisences. In this episode he remembers his great friend Harry Shapland Colt. They were first introduced in 1919 by the Secretary of The Royal Dublin Golf Club, Cecil Barcroft. The relationship would prove fruitful for both men over the following decades.

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound

In this episode Sir Anthony shares his memories of the purchase of the the Holyrood Hotel and its transformation into the current clubhouse at Royal Portrush. He also details the R&A's decision to host the 1951 Open Championship at Royal Portrush which was won by Max Faulkner.

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Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound

In this episode Sir Anthony details the modernisation of the Royal Portrush Links under the combined efforts of HS Colt, JSF Morrison, Franks Harris, ABB & Hugh McNeill.

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In this episode of the continuing series, we learn about Sir Anthony's early golfing days on the North Coast of Portrush. He also covers the consequential matters of extended tenure, security and opportunity that access to additional golfing grounds to the east of the town afforded the wider membership.

The thorny history of Sabbatarianism also raises its head through a golfing lense as he teases out how this matter was resisted, debated and resolved over the course of the mid 1920's.

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound

Over the course of the next number of short episodes we wilI take a look at another character that influenced the early development and growth of golf in Ireland.

Anthony Babington was a native of Co. Derry, educated at Glenalmond in Perthshire and Trinity College Dublin.

Babington was introduced to golf at Lisfannon in Donegal and Royal Portrush. He was a scratch player of some repute, competing extensively in the elite national amateur championships of the day. However, it was in the administration of the game that he really excelled, influencing golf at Trinity College, Dollymount, Portrush, Belfast and beyond.

Through the medium of his recently uncovered memoirs and historical writings I'm pleased to introduce you to the long golfing life of A.B. Babington and the positive influence that he brought to bear throughout the island of Ireland.

I hope you enjoy his recollections!

Many thanks for tuning in.

For more information on the history of Ireland please click here for a link to The Empire podcast referenced in this epiosde. Please see episodes 236 - 246 which relate to same.

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Chris Breen has been the Superintendent at Rosapenna Golf Resort since 2019. A recent trip to Downings enabled us to sit down for a chat that we've been meaning to have for the past 12 months or so.

We take a look at how he's ended up back home in Donegal overseeing the 63 hole, 1200 acre property.

The importance of getting "your homework right" from a course setup perspective.

Many thanks to Chris for his time, we hope you enjoy the listen.

Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound

Special Guest: Chris Breen.

Thomas Gilroy contributed greatly to the growth of the game of golf in Ireland over the period from 1885 to 1895.

During his time in Ireland he was recognised as the best player in the country, holding a handicap between scratch and +6.

Gilroy was a founding member at Dollymount, Portrush, Mornington & Baltray.

A serial winner and course record setter, he spread the gospel a gift from Scotland.

I hope you enjoy his story!

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound

In celebration of St. Patricks Day it seemed fitting to feature the story of Michael Moran (1886-1918).

To this day, Moran, holds the record for the number of wins in the Irish Professional Golfers Championships.

That he did this all before turning 27 is all the more remarkable.

His story is indelibly linked to that of my home club at Dollymount,

I hope you enjoy the story. Thanks for tuning in and Happy St. Patricks Day!

Episode music supplied under licence from Epedemic Sound

Mike Morrison joins us on this episode to introduce the upcoming R&A Heritage Conference which will take place in St. Andrews on March 11th & 12th 2025. The event has been organised through the longstanding partnership between the R&A and the British Golf Collectors Society.

'History is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of the fire' - Philip Truett (Founding Member of BGCS.).

The Conference is focussed on providing Historic Golf Clubs with the tools, resources and support to further the collection, documentation, preservation and presentation of their unique histories some of which may have been forgotten or misremembered through time.

We hope we've cast a little light on some of the interesting sessions scheduled for attendees over the course the two days in St Andrews.

Please follow this link for the full Heritage conference agenda.

Mike also gives us an introduction to some of his own research, writing and current research interests.

If you would like to order a copy of Mike's book, The Great English Golf Boom, please contact him directly via email at [email protected].

Stephen Proctor's book, The Long Golden Afternoon (mentioned as a great companion piece to The Great English Golf Boom) can be purchase directly from the Publisher, Birlinn Books.

Please also find links to Mike's 3 part series on Tom Dunn below for which he was awarded the 2023 BGCS Presidents Medal

Through the Green March 2023

Through the Green June 2023

Through the Green September 2023

Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy our chat!

Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound

Special Guest: Mike Morrison.

Mat Goggin joins us on this episode to chat all things 7 Mile Beach.

Listeners will undoubtedly be aware that Mike De Vries and Mike Clayton of CDP Golf Architects have been toiling away on Mr Goggin's behalf over the last few years massaging a sandy waterfront site into one of the most eagerly anticipated golf developments of the past few years.

Mat fills us in on the three years that have passed since his last appearance on the show, providing us with updates on the ongoing grow in, a likely opening timeline, an interesting story of Mr De Vries and his bullet cut - unsurprisingly this particular shot type works quite well around the course that he built! We also get the low down on the North course development that King Collins Dormer are planning on the city side of the 7 Mile Beach site.

It was great to welcome Mat to the pod again, thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the chat.

The 7 Mile Beach proshop can be visited by clicking here.

Episode music supplied under license from Epedemic Sound

Special Guest: Mat Goggin.