Mahee Island Golf Club - History Information

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DIFFICULT TIMESThroughout the 50’s the club struggled to attract members and the Council must have feared for its survival. The financial statement, 31st January 1950 shows £89 in hand, the next year it was just under £11, by 1953 this had dwindled to less than £5. During the summer of 1953, Mahee lost one of its great pioneers, with the death of Mr. David A Boyd. He had been Honorary Secretary since the beginning, a matter of some 23 years. In the minutes it shows "This Council places on record the great loss suffered by the Club in the passing of Mr. D A Boyd and its high appreciation of all he did for the Club during his many years in office.” He was succeeded as secretary by his son Raymond who held the position until 1966 when he became President. From 1931 the first record of Fee paying membership, shows the subscription was set at £2.2.0 for men and £1.1.0 for ladies, on the resumption in 1946 this was increased to £3.3.0 and £2.2.0. In the aftermath of the war most people were finding it difficult to cope with the cost of living and so membership of a Golf Club was not necessarily a priority. The Council, decided to reduce the fees by half a guinea (10/6). Applications increased to such an extent that it attracted the interest of the Belfast Newsletter golf writer, who under the headline “Man bites Dog” told the story of how a County Down Golf Club had bowed to the “man in the street” and reduced their subscription. All good publicity of course, for which the Council took full credit. During the 50’s the G U I informed Mahee that the Standard Scratch had been revised from 71 to 70. This meant that although the 7th Hole would remain a par 5, the 4th should be changed to a par 3 both times in the round. The members did not take too kindly to this change especially as handicaps were adjusted accordingly. From the beginning the Course was set at par 72 (Bogey it was called then) and there were only two par 3’s in the Round. Recent changes to the Course with the 8th Hole, becoming the only pitch hole and the SSS now set at 70, perhaps reflects the thoughts of our forefathers and a return to our roots. At the same Council meeting the matter of players safety at the “blind” 2nd Hole was discussed. It was suggested that a ladder and periscope be placed on the Tee to enable players to check if the fairway was clear. After some debate it was decided to hang a “ships bell” convenient to the 2nd Green to be rung when those coming behind could hit. What a pity, the periscope would have been a great novelty. An interesting comment appears in the minutes of the 1956 A G M when a proposal by Mr. Valentine, seconded by Mr. W Shankey and unanimously agreed “seats to accommodate up to 12 persons should be placed near the 4th Tee as this was a bottleneck with people waiting for long periods.” One might have thought that with the increased number now playing on a Saturday, this was a modern problem but even in the 50’s when membership was quite low it was still contentious. A solution suggested at that time was to extend the length of the Hole, making it a par 4 but money was not available and so the matter was deferred and never discussed at a later date. Mr. Johnston informed the Council in 1958 that he proposed increasing the rent from £150 up to £300. His terms were discussed and it was felt that the increase was too little, so the Secretary was instructed to write to Mr. Johnston offering £500 per Annum…providing he stopped grazing his sheep on the Course. This proposal was accepted and golf became much more pleasant without the sheep “droppings”. It is mentioned in the Minutes that the Green keeper felt his workload had increased without the help of the sheep. At the close of 1959, Mr. John Boyd, the Honorary Treasurer, retired, he had held the position since the beginning a matter of 30 years. Council was lavish in its praise for all he had done for the Club “he had steered the young Club successfully through many difficult times, his account sheets were beautifully kept and presented accurate in every detail.” Mr. Valentine succeeded him as Treasurer. The minutes of a Council meeting on 5th September 1959, show that the secretary raised the matter of the proposed “Barrage” to be erected across the Lough at Portaferry, this was to reduce the water level in the Lough. Council felt that this would have an adverse affect not only on Mahee but on various other Islands, so the secretary was instructed to write to the County Surveyor and object to it. Unfortunately, there is no record of any reply to the Secretary’s objection but neither is there any evidence of the “Barrage” at Portaferry. The house, built originally for the professional, which had been added to and modernised a number of times, was extended once again when a room with a “commanding view” of the Lough was added. The new room was used as a Tearoom during the 60’s, when Mrs. Darwin was caterer. When the new Clubhouse was completed and opened in 1969, the Tearoom became redundant and was later given to the Ladies Section and used by them as a Clubroom for almost 30 years.