There has been plenty of change during its 133-year history, the initial course took shape at the Batteries, then relocated to Garnafailagh and it wasn’t until 1938 that Athlone Golf Club settled at Hodson Bay.
Michael Evans moved to the area over 40 years ago and later joined the golf club. He is now a trustee member in Athlone and this year he became Golf Ireland President, the culmination of decades spent volunteering at the coalface on golf courses across the island.
“There’s two words to describe the presidency, honoured and privileged,” said Evans.
“Rosemary Tully mentioned when I was President-Elect, you won’t really appreciate it until you’re there. The esteem that the office of President is held when you go to a club, it is incredible.
“Club members really appreciate the President being around the place. The respect that there is for the office is tremendous, so a real honour.
“Many people would say that I’ve served my time, but there are lots of people who serve their time in a volunteering capacity who don’t get that honour and I’m privileged to have it.”
Evans previously worked in the financial services sector where he was the CEO of a number of Credit Unions, including in Athlone.
Prior to golf he spent his time on the GAA fields in Castleblayney while he also played inter-county hurling for seven years where he represented his native Monaghan.
Once he and his wife Anne moved to Athlone they found a new community in the local golf club and they contributed their time and efforts in return.
Michael Evans with his wife, Anne, at the Golf Ireland AGM. Photo: Ryan Byrne / Inpho
“I live quite close to the course, which is a big help, and the scene down there is spectacular in that it’s on Lough Ree,” said Evans.
“It’s got a hotel on-site in the Hodson Bay Hotel. It’s an 18-hole championship course, that has hosted many championships throughout the years and we’re used to visitors coming around the place and enjoying the facilities.
“For me, it’s where the four of us in the family would go on a summer’s evening and play a game and maybe have a bite to eat afterwards, we grew into it and became part of the volunteer framework within the place.
“If one of us weren’t involved in watching a match, somebody was at a meeting about handicaps or whatever else, so we got involved and got good support from our fellow members, and being able to be captains, we gave back some of the benefit that we’d received from it.
“I’m now a trustee, I have responsibilities on behalf of the members and legal responsibilities in terms of holding the asset.
“We’ve had some challenges there, but we’ve come through them and we’re now at the other side of that. The future is very bright for Athlone.”
While they became part of the fabric in their local golf club, having joined in 1981 Michael became secretary in 2010 and Captain two years later, Anne had been Captain back in 2004.
They also raised their son and daughter, Richard and Rachael, in the area only acting to copper-fasten the link to the club.
“The fact that Anne and I could play together and go off and throw the clubs in the car, was great,” said Evans.
“But we in Athlone were very fortunate to have Colin Moriarty. He made the Walker Cup so we were part of that journey, and we followed him through all the various stages for many years.
“Then a past-President of the GUI, Eugene Fayne, is a neighbour of mine, a close friend, and certainly he shared his learnings when he was President.”
It has been a hectic year on the road for Evans, which included witnessing Rory McIlroy complete an historic career Grand Slam in Augusta and win the Amgen Irish Open in The K Club, the 50th anniversary return of the European Amateur Team Championships to Killarney and The Open coming back to Royal Portrush.
“The game of golf has brought me to places that I would never have been, I’ve made so many friends from it, and Rosemary Tully used the acronym Game Of Lasting Friendships, and certainly it is,” said Evans.
“No matter where you go now, if you’ve played somewhere in a match, or you’ve been on a team with someone, there’s a bond there with them that lasts forever.
Michael Evans with Paul McGinley at the Golf Ireland Season Launch. Photo: Ben Brady / Inpho
“There have been many highlights this year. Within a few days of the appointment, we launched our championships with Paul McGinley in Carton House and I shared the stage with top amateurs and emerging professionals.
“The season culminated in Douglas last month, for the AIG Senior Cups and Douglas won both. Being Inter-Club it was just an incredible, a tremendous occasion.
“One event has led into another and there have been many, many highlights throughout the year.”
Evans represented Athlone in Inter-Club, his bronze medal in the AIG Jimmy Bruen was the proudest moment of his own golfing career.
And having played in finals himself, together with volunteering for Athlone and Golf Ireland, he is well aware of what it means to fight for a coveted pennant.
“The great thing about Inter-Club is that every range of golfer is catered for, from scratch to the high handicap,” said Evans.
“They all have an opportunity to play for their club. Most of them have an opportunity to get to a regional final and then there are many opportunities to get to an All-Ireland final.
“I have a bronze medal for the Jimmy Bruen back in Royal Tara, I think it was 2013, while at the time I came away from it very dissatisfied, I cherish it now because I know I’ve played in an All-Ireland semi-final.
“Inter-club is at the heart of all affiliated golf clubs. They all want to beat their neighbour. They all want to get to the next stage and if at all possible, to an All-Ireland Final and bring home a green pennant.
“I’m in a club that’s been around since 1892 and has been a big contributor to golf across the country with past-Presidents and various other things, and we have one green pennant and that was in 1958 despite having tried, tried and tried every year.
“Inter-club is a heartbeat of every golf club and getting to a final like this is a magnificent achievement.”
Michael Evans volunteering on the course as a referee. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile
This weekend Athlone will host the AIG Men’s Pierce Purcell and Women’s Intermediate Foursomes.
It will be a huge weekend for the club and in the year of his presidency, Evans, is determined to make it an unforgettable couple of days for all involved.
“The excitement is building,” said Evans.
“We’ve hosted many Golf Ireland events in the past, we’ve a proud tradition of welcoming visitors and assisting volunteers to run successful events but naturally, when it’s in your own club, you’re more apprehensive. I’m trying to help where I can, but at the same time, I don’t want to interfere.
“The volunteers are actively involved in all sorts of planning, car parking, scoring, score-recording, ball-spotting. We had the quarter-finals there recently and we had a 90-year-old man eager to help us out in the car park and he got a hole-in-one the week before. That’s what it’s all about.
“The catering in Athlone Golf Club is award-winning and a lot of people turn up, so I’ve encouraged visitors to book in advance. We’re operating a shuttle from the car park beside the Hodson Bay Hotel, and we’re bringing people up and down.
“A lot of teams are already here practicing and enjoying the course. All I can say is best wishes to the teams and their supporters.”
