1

Did you loose a ball on the 9th/18th? During the mid 80’s a golfer hit a drive from the 9th/18th tee box. There was a row of trees on the left. Long since gone. The ball went left, hit the trees, and was declared lost. Back to the tee box, for shot number three! The ball was found some 35 years later. (a) Where exactly was the ball found? (b) What was the make and type of ball?

In 2016 a large cypress tree was removed on the 18th to improve the driving line from the Ladies 18th. The tree was to the left of the men's tees.

Several golf balls were buried in the bark of the tree. The balls had been there for so long they were incorporated into the body of the tree. The bark had grown around the golf balls. 

One of the golf balls was in the CENTRE of a tree. During the felling a chainsaw cut the ball in half. The tree had grown around the ball and once it was removed, left a perfect ball mould.

How long had it been there and how did it get to be in the centre of a tree? Well, the dark line in the wood gives us the answer. This ball landed in the V of two branches growing directly from the trunk and as the tree grew the trunk got bigger and the branches fused together. How long did this take? Counting the lines in the tree the estimate is about 30 years. The ball is a Titleist Tour Balata 90 which were around in the 80's, so about 30 years or so!

Points: 2

2

In 1929 KGC won the Junior Cup. Name the members of the winning team.

Junior Cup Winning Team 1929. T M Corbett and G Walker Middle L-R: J Mitchell and H G Moore Front L-R: R M Saunders, J J Carroll, W Burke, Dr R A Wright.

Points: 1

3

The club's logo or crest displays an elephant. Give a credible explanation of the origin of the elephant on the club’s crest. (Hint: If you say, "I think it's of military origin!" you'll get no marks. We're looking for something more specific.)

Edward Pakenham Stewart, President Killiney Golf club, 1903-1915, was a member of 78th Highlanders. The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), part of the Scottish Division. The regiment was one of only two in the British Army with a Gaelic motto - Cuidich 'n Righ which means "Help the King". It is very likely that this is the origin of the elephant on the club's crest - logo.

Points: 1

4

Bridge is a popular social activity in the club. So, if you're a bridge player, this is an easy one. (a) What date was the club’s Bridge Club founded? (b) Who were the founding members?

History of The Bridge Club 1968-1986. Founding committee: D P O’Herlihy, Mrs Creswell, J F Wallis, J R Anderson, and D L Deale.

Points: 2

5

In 2017, three ducks were introduced to the new pond to a thundering applause. Part of Killiney's eco friendly initiative. The ducks were presented to Captain Aisling Sherin by Pauline Martin and Brenda Sheehan. A few Killiney members, the usual irreverent, quick witted comedians, immediately nicknamed the ducks: Pauline, Brenda and Aisling. That's not their real names. What are the correct or official names of the ducks? Three names, please. One point for each correct name. (Hint: Be very careful with one of the names. You might get it wrong)

KGC's ducks! The official name for the ducks are Huey, Deway and Lucy, after Donald Duck's nephews. The last name should have been Louie, but it was discovered "he is actually a she" and therefore was renamed Lucy. They were presented by Pauline Martin and Brenda Sheehan to Captain Aisling Sherin. The are affectionally nicknamed: Pauline, Brenda and Aisling.

Points: 3

6

Which Killiney member won the South of Ireland in 1935?

R M Saunders

Points: 1

7

Captains have arrived in considerable style for their Drive-In. Modes of transportation have been a horse and carriage; a vintage Rolls Royce; a tandem bicycle or a Bicycle Built for Two. Two captains were ceremoniously escorted to the 1st tee by a bagpiper in full regalia. We remember it well. Memories for ever. What we've forgotten are the names the past captains who arrived by: (a) boat, (b) helicopter and (c) motorbikes.

Boat: Gordon Horsfield and Claire Blake (2016). Helicopter: John Green and Terry Kirwan (200). Motorbikes: Paul Kirwan and Anne Waldron (2012).

Points: 3

8

The last "manual" timesheet, that's the pencil and paper version, used for the Men's Saturday Competition was on 8th Dec 2007. The first time the BRS (on-line timesheet) was used in Killiney Golf Club was 15th Dec 2007 for the Men's Saturday Competition, exactly one week later. (a) Name one of the players on the 12:45 slot 8 Dec 2007. (b) Name one of the players on the 12:31 slot on 15 Dec 2007. (c) The paper time sheet was lost. Who found it and where was it found?

12:45 - 8 Dec 2007. Keith Bardon, Dermot McCarthy, 

12:31 - 15 Dec 2007. Ted McCourt, Jack Fitzgerald, George O'Connell and Paul Pratt

Points: 3

9

For some inexplicable reason, KGC is fond of elephants. There's one on the club logo or crest. We're probably unique in Europe and North America, in having a bath for elephants on the course. Someone, inconveniently, plonked it in the middle of the 9th/18th fairway. It's always in the way. Of course, it might have been a drinking trough instead of a bath before being filled with sand. We've no idea. But while we're on the subject of elephants, who was photographed on our golf course with a herd of elephants. (Hint: OK, admittedly, the photo is doctored, and can be categorised as fake news, but we’ll ignore that!) The name of the individual, please.

John Morgan

Points: 1

10

We've some fantastic golfers in Killiney. Our own Pauline Martin has impressive credentials as a golfer. One of her many achievements is that she held the course record. (a) What was the date of her round and (b) what was the score?

9 Aug 1990

Gross 83. H/C 5. Nett 68.

Points: 2

11

The Club held an Open 9 Hole Competition in aid of Irish Prisoners of War held in Germany during The Great War - World War 1 (1914-1918). (a) What was the date of the competition? (b) How many entries in the competition?

11 December 1915

70 Entries 

Points: 2

12

2018 Snooker competition between Killiney and Royal St George. Who is this snooker player?

Michael Thunder

Points: 1

13

In the Summer of 1944, a film was made of a Fourball in KGC. (a) Who was the cameraman? (b) Who acquired the film for the club?

(a) Kevin O'Connor

(b) Terry Kirwan

The origin or providence is somewhat of a mystery. It is believed to have been acquired by a Dr. O'Herlihy from someone in Foxrock Golf Club. It was found, circa 2011, in an attic and given to Terry Kirwan. The film was on a Sony Betamax cassette. The cameraman was Kevin O'Connor, the son of one of the players, Sam O'Connor. In 2011 Rory Dungan, a film maker, was making a film of the history of golf in Ireland for the Setanta TV Channel. He expressed considerable interest in the footage and spent time researching the origin of the film, but drew a blank.

Points: 2

14

Our centenary was held in 2003. The 1903-2003 Centenary Cake was big. And we mean BIG. The dining room was full for the gala dinner and everyone, as far as we know, got a slice of cake. Who baked the cake? (Hint: It wasn’t our celebrated, Chef de Cuisine, Mark Clarke. So if you say, "Mark", you'll get no marks.)

The cake was baked by Hilary Cronin. Hilary with John Morgan and Terry Kirwan.

Points: 1

15

J L Stirling was captain in 1906 and 1911. He presented a magnificent trophy to the club in 1911 for the Captain's Prize. The same year, the trophy disappeared. It was lost or mislaid. It was discovered in 2006, approximately 90 years after it disappeared. It was a chance discovery. (a) Where was it found? (b) Who found it? (The Tiebreaker Question No. 22 is also on this subject).

(a) Rome

(b) Alister Smith

Points: 2

16

The 1st Tee. A fox on the left and a fox on the right. The inquisitive fox is on the left. The golfer on the right is as cute as a fox. Who's the golfer? A name please. (Hint: It's not Louis Fox.)

Paul Kirwan

Points: 1

17

Captain Diane looked particularly impressive and totally in command in her snow-white military dress uniform during this year's Captains' Drive-In. It was a fantastic day, and we remember it well. Do you remember how many buttons were on the front of Captain Diane's uniform? (Hint: This is a trick question. It's a bit unfair. So we want to help. Don't forget the buttons on the two pockets).

7 Buttons, which includes the buttons on the pockets.

Points: 1

18

Nowadays we have fancy electronic watches, GPS gadgets and rangefinders to give us distance on the golf course. We remember the days when these gadgets didn't exist and you had to use your brain and eyes to estimate distance. The only aid available to a golfer was a good pair of glasses. We're particularly impressed with these specs. Who's the lady?

Captains' Drive-In 1989. Betty Kirwan shows how it's done.

Points: 1

19

There are some interesting people in KGC. This individual displayed impressive sartorial elegance and we love the hat. Who is he?

Captains' Drive-In 1978. Margaret Robinson and Ronnie Kane arrive for the Drive-In.

Points: 1

20

Our Course Superintendent Michael Browne is not an excitable individual. He's cool, calm and relaxed. Except on one occasion. He was on the course during a strong wind, and spotted a stationary UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) or flying saucer hovering over the course. The thing was stationary. He took a photograph. What exactly was he looking at? (Hint: If you say "a cloud", you’ll get no marks. We need a much more specific answer.)

Lenticular. Relatively rare, but frequently spotted from Killiney.

Points: 1

21

Who’s this cool dude? Initially we thought he was The Fonz or Fonzie. You do remember The Fonz? But we were wrong. He's not The Fonz. So who is he?

Proof that it's him! 

Brendan Seaver

Points: 1

22

Tiebreaker Question

Just in case! In question No.15 we ask for information about the lost J L Stirling Trophy. It was found some 90 years later. In No.15 we want to know who found it, and where it was found. As a tiebreaker, we want to know much it cost to get it back? (Hint: The information is not divulged on the website. So save yourself the trouble of looking. You'll have to guess. We'll allocate marks for the closest number to the correct answer. Any figure between €1 and €10,000 is acceptable. So take your pick).

Most contestants got this wrong, and many were widely off the mark. Estimates ranged from €50 to €1,600.

The cup was found in an antique shop in Rome by Alister Smith who purchased it on behalf of the club, for €600.