Black Bush Golf Club

It is only 32 years ago since Black Bush Golf Club was one of the first Golf Clubs in Ireland to offer full membership to both men and women. What we take for granted today was quite a radical departure from the status quo at the time but the founding members of Black Bush showed vision in many ways when they set about starting the first new club in County Meath in decades. They even changed the advertised location of the club from Black Bush (Near the “County Club”) when planning conditions proved unfavourable. They moved the location to Thomastown, Dunshaughlin, and set up the first 27 Hole golf facility in County Meath. Voluntary effort was the order of the day with members of the founding committee giving not just their time but also their professional services free to the fledgling club. In the 1980s many people were taking up golf and attending evening classes at Dunshaughlin Community College with Bobby Browne (PGA Professional at Laytown Bettystown) but they had no chance of getting membership in local clubs as long waiting lists were the order of the day. It was from this situation that Bobby Browne and Seamus Ryan called a public meeting in Dunshaughlin Community College in April 1987 which led to the formation of Black Bush Golf Club. Today the club has first class facilities and no debts. This current situation reflects the prudent way the club was established, with the total cost of the land for the club paid off within 18 months back in 1989. Each subsequent development of the club including the cost of constructing the 3 courses, the two phases of the clubhouse, and later the most comprehensive drainage programme ever undertaken by a club at that time, were all undertaken and paid for with short term borrowings and members contributions. From these solid beginnings Black Bush Golf Club is reaping the benefits today, in very challenging times. The Club now offers a mature parkland course which is playable and dry under foot, in even the most difficult weather conditions, has a choice of 3 nines with what are recognised as some of the best greens in the country, a beautiful clubhouse (designed by founder member Leonard Morgan now sadly deceased), with good food and excellent practice facilities, and a legendary welcome for members and visitors alike. 2020 is the 32nd year that golf is played at Black Bush and we look forward to the next 32 years when our current huge junior membership will hopefully continue to enjoy the fruits of the labours of the original founders and all the hard working committees since then.