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Lucan features on DCB Facebook page

Posted on 18 Feb '17 by Dave Hayden II

New Dublin County Board PRO John Ross Crangle published this excellent piece on the Dublin County Board Facebook page about Lucan Pitch and Putt.

This week we venture back over the Liffey but more so out to the western point of he County where we find a powerhouse of Dublin Pitch and Putt in Lucan P&P.

Founded in mid 1963 along the banks of the Grand Canal it would soon become an official course later on in that year. The design of the course back then is near to exact what it is today and the club has prospered from those small beginnings into not only one of Dublin's biggest clubs but one of the countries. The club celebrated their 50 year anniversary in 2013 hosting the National Matchplay in which legends Geraldine Ward and Ray Murphy returned once again to the top of the game.

The club has a rich history of success in County, Provincial and National events in all grades winning at least one National Title each decade since their introduction into the PPUI stemming from the earlier years in 1968 when Eamon Tully struck a Gents National Strokeplay. In 1974&75 Gus Carolan became part of a very select few to complete a winning double of Gents National Strokeplay titles back to back. In the 1970's in fact Lucan reeled off a total of 6 National Strokeplay titles including 3 Junior Men and 1 Junior Ladies titles to add to Gus's double.

In the 1980's the club also seen success on a National level as the club celebrated their first ever National Ladies Senior Strokeplay Champion when Marie Ruddy took the title in 1982. In the late 80's a new kid on the block arrived in current Dublin County Board Chairman Anthony 'Skinner' Malone winning the Gents Strokeplay in 1989 in dramatic fashion from the car park in St.Lomans a story Skinner has certainly told a few times! He double up two years later winning a 2nd title on another ill-fated course in IGB. It is actually the last time a player from a Dublin club has won the Gents National Strokeplay.

Marian Marks gave Lucan their one and only National Matchplay title when she was victorious in 1995. Since then the Senior titles have dried up but the club still had some success when Brenda Purcell and Damien Creevey both grabbed Intermediate titles in the interim. The club also boasts the reigning Girls National Strokeplay Champion as Aoife Mahon gained her 2nd win in a row last year. The addition of the Over 55's Championships in the mid noughties brought more titles with it as the club celebrated 4 more winners since its inception in 2004. These successes only scratch the surface of the victories over the years with many other titles making their way back to the 12th lock as the club boasts 27 Adult (3 current Strokeplay Champions) and 8 Juvenile Leinster Champions astonishingly along with over 80 Dublin titles in all grades.

The Lucan course itself is one of the toughest tests of pitch & putt especially when it is in firm condition. It is set in two sections with the first 6 holes played in the front field with a mixture of really good chances on the first 3 holes to get your round started before you come to the notorious 4th. A small enough pitch to just over 40mtrs from an elevated tee, the green is sloped from front to back with a big bunker covering anything short. Another tricky pitch downhill to the 5th is followed by another tough pitch to the 6th green. As you walk through the arch to the 7th tee box you are welcomed by another 5 holes with the long 9th playing right towards the canal behind the stone wall. This section of the course though does produce a good chance to get your round moving before once again returning up to the 12th green on the front field, the long 15th is usually played into a fierce breeze and plays its full 70mtrs even on a calm day. 16,17 & 18 all pose potential problems even for the most advanced players as it is a notoriously tough finishing stretch to the course.

The wonderful clubhouse has a fully functional bar with darts, pool and parties throughout the year. It is open most weekends or when there are competitions in full swing.

Lucan has a very strong tradition with their captaincy and all club captains are seen supporting their clubmates at major competitions all around the country with the wine jumpers a synonymous part of the club. The clubs fixture list is jam-packed with weekly competitions, Dublin League team aswell as internal Winter & Summer league teams. They host a magnificent Scratch Cup each year along with their opens. This year they will also be host of the National Mixed Foursomes Championships in August.

The club is open for membership and caters for all abilities, the club has many fully qualified member coaches for the novices and can arrange meet ups with these players if they wish or drop in at one of their designated times.
The clubs website is one of the busiest and most updated within the game of pitch & putt and can be found here:
http://www.lucanpitchandputt.com/index.php