History

Killarney Golf & Fishing Club is one of the oldest, well established and internationally recognised Clubs in Ireland . It has a membership of over 1,700 members from all over the world and the Club’s location is one of the most enviable in the World, nestled amidst the splendour of the famous Killarney lakes with the spectacular backdrop of the Macgillycuddy Reeks.

In 1893 when the Club was first founded was another matter. Forty members formed the Club paying an annual subscription of 10 shillings each. The Earl of Kenmare, the local landlord, gave use of some of his land in an area of land in Killarney called Deerpark for a course and became President of the Club. (Deerpark, the location of the original Club is situated on the current Killarney town bypass).

The fourth Earl of Kenmare, Valentine Browne, had a keen interest in the development of the Killarney area. Patron of the Golf Club, he became it’s president in 1893 and held that position until his death in 1905. After the 4 th Earl’s death the Presidency was held afterwards by succeeding members of the Kenmare.

A shock decision in 1936 by the land agent for the Earl of Kenmare to increase the rent for the course from a nominal 1/(5p) to £75 a year jolted the members into looking for an alternative location for the Club. It proved to be a fortuitous move for the club, when the Club’s President, the Viscount Castlerosse led the campaign to provide Killarney with “the best and most beautiful course in the world”. With this in mind the Killarney Golf Club Ltd was formed in 1937 to build a course at it’s present location.