Clare Golf Course
An Ordnance Survey map shows that there has been a golf course in Clare since the 1950’s.
The land had been mined for gravel which was used for runway construction during the second world war. This left the 5 acre lake that the course wends its way around to this day.
The course was created by a colourful local gentleman known as Mr Binns for his personal use. Up until recently one of the employees at the course was part of the original team that stone picked the course during construction.
Mr Binns lived in the adjacent house fashioned around the fuselage of the plane used in the film No Highway to the Sky starring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich
This building was later used as the Clare Country Club.
The golf course ultimately ended up in the ownership of BP International who utilised its 5 second hand prefab chalets that Mr Binns had brought in to accommodate his friends, for their staff to use for holidays. Many people in Clare didn’t even know of the course’s existence as it was for the sole use of BP staff and an honestly box encouraged payment of £1 for playing 9 holes.
The course was tended to by 2 part timers: Alan and Arthur who, when asked what a brand new piece of machinery was, residing at the side of the fairway with grass growing through it, replied “we’ve no idea, It just turned up”! It was in fact a slit-tyner for the fairways. This could be hitched to the old Ford Tractor (addicted to Easy Start) that was also used to drag the gang mowers around. The pins had not been changed for 5 years and without any irrigation the 7th green was almost impossible to play during a dry spell.
The course remained in BP’s ownership until 1993 when it was brought by the current owners: Susan Moore and Peter Clapperton. With an interest in the fishing lake they took over the syndicate of fishermen and a golfing friend opened the course to the general public. Within a few weeks it was apparent that a short 9 hole course was, and is, far more popular than expected and emphasis in the business shifted from fishing to golf.
Today it is still popular with beginners, occasional players, those at the latter part of their golfing careers and experienced players alike. It provides a challenge for everyone and taking only about 1 and a half hours to play, is the perfect option within the time constraints of the world we live in today.