The Knock

The Knock Golf Club

Address	Summerfield
	Dundonald
	Belfast, BT16 2QX
Telephone:	028-90-483251
Public No:	028-90-482249
Fax:	028-90-487277
E-mail:	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website:	www.knc.co.uk
Founded:	1895
Membership:	675
Green Fees Midweek:	£26
Green Fees Weekends & B.H.:	£35
Green Fees With a Member:	£13/16
Green Fees For Opens:	£13
Practice Area:	Yes
Club Hire:	Yes
Buggy Hire:	Yes
Soft spikes:	Yes
Secretary/Manager:	Mrs. Anne Armstrong
Captain:	David Rush
Lady Captain:	Vivien Allen
President:	Peter Sinclair & Margaret Johnston
Vice-Captain:	Garth Russell & J. Bell
Hon. Secretary:	Robin E. Pooke & J. Sinclair
Club Pro:	Richard Whitford 048-90-483825
Hon. Treasurer:	Terry Casement & M. Wilson
Designed by:	Harry Colt, McKenzie & Alison
Course opening hours:	Daylight hours
Clubhouse opening hours:	9.00am to 11.00pm
Mobile phones:	Not on course or in clubhouse
Dress Code:	Neat casual
Catering:	Full catering facilities
Days to Avoid:	Tuesdays & Saturdays
Green Fees and Societies Welcome:	Other days
Pre-booking for open tournaments:	14 Days in advance

Location

Course Description

The Knock Golf Club moved to it’s present location in 1920 and retained the services of world renowned course architects Harry Colt and Dr. Alistair McKenzie to layout what is one of the best Par 70 courses in the country. Measuring 6,437 yards with a standard scratch of 71 off the white tees it is a true test of golf. Christy O’Connor "Himself" won his first important tournament here when he captured the Ulster Professional title in 1953.

As testament to the quality of The Knock Ernie Jones captured the Irish Professional Championship with a score of one under and four years later Christy Green won the same title with a score of two over.The course has a wonderful variety of large and small trees, with many deep bunkers and a river coming into play in front of the 8th and 18th greens. The 453, yard Par-4 sixth is considered to be one of the best holes on the course. The hole features what is reputed to be the oldest araucaria "Monkey-Puzzle" in the British Isles, said to be over 100 years old it stands at over 70 feet tall and is still thriving.

This hole is particularly attractive in the spring when the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom.The Knock Golf Club has produced many fine golfers but none more famous than Clare Robinson (nee Nesibtt) who dominated Ladies golf in the 70’s and played on the Curtis Cup at Chepstow in 1976.The Knock Golf Club has a very fine clubhouse that caters for the golfers every need. The visitor is extended a warm welcome here and a memorable game of golf.

Open & Major Fixtures 2011

See Event Calendar here.

Club History

Instituted 1895 affiliated 1896. At a meeting held in the lecture hall adjoining Dundelea Presbyterian Church, in December 1894, the Knock golf club was formed. Dr. King-Kerr was in the chair and the meeting was told that the ground could be leased for £77 per annum. The course could be laid out at a cost of £26, according to G. L. Bailey, a founder member of the Royal Belfast Golf Club. Mr. Peddie proposed and was seconded by Mr. Buchanan, that the club should be formed. The first committee was Dr. King Kerr, Messrs. Todd, Peddie, Malcolm and Buchanan, who were charged with negotiating the rent of the land and drafting the rules. The first Captain was Mr. R. Webb, and Hon. Secretary was Dr. King-Kerr.

The "Irish Golfer" on the 14th February, 1990, documents " The opening ceremony of the club was a memorable one as it was the largest gathering of golfers ever held at a function of this kind in Ireland. The club’s enjoyment of this pretty course was not of long duration, for in less than three years the committee was compelled to prospect for pastures new, owing to the ground being taken for building purposes. The new course was leased in Shandon Park, beneath a hill called Knock. This was a wooded area for nine-holes, but soon became too small. So in 1920 the club moved to its present site at Dondonald. This was a family estate called "Summerfield" and world famous architects, Colt, Allison, and McKenzie were employed to turn it into a golf course.

Members Achievements

The Knock Golf Club won the Ulster Championship of the Irish Senior Cup in 2006, when they beat Castlerock Golf Club on their home course by 3 and half matches to 1 and half matches on Sunday the 20th August .

The Knock Golf Club won the Belfast & District Cup in 2006, when they beat Banbridge by 7 and a halve matches to 6 and a halve matches.

Michael Sinclair was selected on the Ulster team for the Interprovincial Matches played at Portmarnock Golf Club from 11th to 13th August 2004. Michael, was then selected to play in the Home Internationals at Prestwick Golf Club from 8th to 10th September 2004.

Joanne Black was selected on the Ulster ILGU Team for the Interprovincial's. Played at Ballybunion Golf Club from 18th to 20th August 2004.

Joanne Black was selected on the Ulster Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial’s at the Island Golf Club on the 8th to 10th August 2001.

The Knock won the All-Ireland Final Irish Junior Cup at The Royal Dublin G. C. in 1968.

Michael Sinclair was selected to represent the Irish Men's team in the Home Internationals at Royal Co. Down on 22nd-24th September, 1999, and was 2nd in the Willie Gill Perpetual Award in 1999 He won the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush G. C., in 1997, and participated in the Boys' Home International matches in 1989 and represented Ulster from 1995 to 1998.

Justin Parsons played Ulster Youths' in 1995, having played Ulster Boys' from 1996 to 1998, playing 18 matches.

Miss Claire Nesbitt played for the Irish Girls' in 1970 and 1971 she won the Scratch Match Play Foursomes together with Miss Lillian Malone of Cairndhu in 1976.

Sonya Verschuur played for the Irish Girls' in 1984 and 1985.

Joanne Black played for Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals at Formby Ladies Golf Club in 1996 and at Forfar Golf Club in 1997.

Card of the Course

Hole No	White	Green	Par	Index	Red	Par	Index
1	328	312	4	11	321	4	5
2	379	370	4	16	354	4	15
3	457	452	4	2	388	4	1
4	136	115	3	17	129	3	17
5	377	367	4	9	330	4	3
6	453	447	4	3	429	5	13
7	402	374	4	7	299	4	11
8	410	397	4	6	300	4	7
9	359	349	4	13	345	4	9
Out	3,301	3,183	35		2,895	36
10	493	483	5	12	439	5	4
11	417	410	4	5	409	5	2
12	147	135	3	15	116	3	16
13	377	367	4	10	334	4	10
14	447	442	4	1	440	5	6
15	400	390	4	4	325	4	8
16	185	178	3	14	179	3	12
17	270	260	4	18	268	4	18
18	398	389	4	8	392	4	14
In	3,134	3,054	35		2,902	37
Total	6,435	6,237	70		5,797	73
SSS	72	71			73

Roll of Honour

Mrs. D. Goldbrough	1990	Ladies Captain
Mrs. R. J. Johnson	1991	Ladies Captain
Mrs. D. R. Molyneaux	1992	Ladies Captain
Mrs. B. Hanlon	1993	Ladies Captain
Mrs. A. Boucher	1994	Ladies Captain
Mrs. L. Davidson	1995	Ladies Captain
Mrs. D. B. Smith	1996	Ladies Captain
Mrs. V. L. Hamilton	1997	Ladies Captain
Dr. R. Hamilton	1998	Ladies Captain
Mrs. M. McCormick	1999	Ladies Captain
Mrs. P. Jordan	2000	Ladies Captain
Mrs. J. Reid	2001	Ladies Captain
Mrs. Doreen McVitty	2002	Ladies Captain
J. S. Crozier	2004	Ladies Captain
Joan Law	2005	Ladies Captain
Sheila Boucher	2006	Ladies Captain
J. Gibson	2007	Ladies Captain
Mrs. J. Nesbitt	1990	Ladies President
Mrs. J. Nesbitt	1991	Ladies President
Mrs. J. Nesbitt	1992	Ladies President
Mrs. J. Nesbitt	1993	Ladies President
Mrs. R. M. Williamson	1994	Ladies President
Mrs. R. M. Williamson	1995	Ladies President
Mrs. R. M. Willamson	1996	Ladies President
Mrs. H. Barr	1997	Ladies President
Mrs. H. Barr	1998	Ladies President
Mrs. H. Barr	1999	Ladies President
Mrs. P. Affolter	2000	Ladies President
Mrs. P. Rollins	2001	Ladies President
Daphne Molyneaux	2005	Ladies President
Margaret Johnston	2006	Ladies President
Margaret Johnston	2007	Ladies President
Mr. B. McMonagle	1990	Men's Captain
Mr. D. A. B. Knight	1991	Men's Captain
Mr. C. H. Whittaker	1992	Men's Captain
Mr. W. E. Smyth	1993	Men's Captain
Mr. W. R. Hamilton	1994	Men's Captain
Mr. S. W. Buller	1995	Men's Captain
Mr. T. V. M. McKirgan	1996	Men's Captain
Mr. R. O. Reid	1997	Men's Captain
Mr. R. E. Pooke	1998	Men's Captain
Mr. D. W. Alderdice	1999	Men's Captain
Mr. A. R. Blackbourne	2000	Men's Captain
E. D. Brown	2001	Men's Captain
Derek Grant	2002	Men's Captain
Harry Flanigan	2003	Men's Captain
Brian Crothers	2004	Men's Captain
D. J. Stanley Smyth	2005	Men's Captain
Gerry McWhinney	2006	Men's Captain
P. J. McClelland	2007	Men's Captain
Mr. G. I. McCormick	1990	President
Mr. G. I. McCormick	1991	President
Mr. J. L. Gorman	1992	President
Mr. J. L. Gorman	1993	President
Mr. G. D. A. Hanlon	1994	President
Mr. G. D. A. Hanlon	1995	President
Mr. G. Caskey O.B.E.	1996	President
Mr. G. Caskey O.B.E.	1997	President
Mr. K. Wallace	1998	President
Mr. K. Wallace	1999	President
Mr. B. Drain	2000	President
Mr. B. Drain	2001	President
B. H. Slieth	2004	President
Norman Douglas	2005	President
Norman Douglas	2006	President
Peter Sinclair	2007	President