Cork community rallies to save world's first pitch and putt course in Fountainstown

Irish Examiner

10 hours ago

A Cork community is fundraising to save the world's first competitive pitch and putt venue in the seaside village of Fountainstown.
Established in 1936, the pitch and putt club — now a piece of Irish sporting history — was founded by WA Collins, the inventor of the game.
A miniature version of golf, pitch and putt needs a relatively small area of land for a course, and became a way to bring communities together through sport.
WA Collins, who managed the National Bank in Cork, suggested the first pitch and putt course in Fountainstown, Co Cork, in the 1930s.
That first course was constructed in the seaside resort and its popularity quickly inspired other courses across Ireland, and later internationally.
The Irish Amateur Pitch and Putt Union was then founded under the presidency of WA Collins, with its headquarters in Cork.
WA Collins, founder of Fountainstown pitch and putt club.
'WA Collins, also known as Collie, was married to a Scottish woman, and her father, Pickman, had once played a role in planning the course at Portmarnock Golf Club. Golf ran in the family, and Collie himself wasn't just a player; he had a real passion for the game.
"He was inspired to create a sports club in Fountainstown, complete with a pitch and putt course, tennis courts, croquet and more," campaign organisers wrote on GoFundMe.
Jimmy Fitzgerald, who lived in the first cottage ever built in Crosshaven, was part of the original crew that built the pitch and putt course in 1936. His granddaughter, Aoife Fitzgerald, is now one of the people campaigning for a revamped pitch.
'We must fully appreciate the work produced by Mr Collins and his crew back in the 1930s,' organisers say.
Fountainstown is proud to be credited with the start of the game, to have played its part in this global sport, to have faced the challenges which the development of any competitive sport can entail.
'What they had 89 years ago was raw enthusiasm, gumption, an ideal and a dream. Today, we would like to continue that dream and breathe new life into this community gem.'
One of the world's star ballerinas, who had family roots in neighbouring Crosshaven, visited the club in 1939.
Alicia Markova, formerly Lilian Alice Marks, was one of the greatest classical ballerinas of the 20th century and was involved in founding the English National Ballet.
But the nine-hole community course based in Fountainstown Sports Club is now 'tired', club members say, and needs to be restored so it can be passed on intact to future generations.
Donations are to fund restoring and improving the greens; enhancing course accessibility and playability; and "preserving the beauty and history of this unique and historic Cork gem," organisers say.
Aiming to raise €15,000, the group had raised more than €4,000 at the time of publication.
To donate, click here.