The Majestic Pitch and Putt Club, an 18-hole course in Gooldshill, Mallow, Co. Cork, will close its gates for the final time on February 6, 2026, bringing an end to 55 years at the heart of the local community and North Cork’s sporting life.
The Majestic has long been a focal point for the town, providing generations of residents and visitors with a place to enjoy pitch and putt, form friendships, and compete at county, Munster and national level.
Founded in 1971 by Jack O’Rourke R.I.P., who won the inaugural All Ireland Mixed Foursomes tournament that same year alongside his wife Marie, the club has been run entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers and has remained open year-round to members and green-fee players. Its location next to the old Majestic Ballroom further cemented its place in the town’s social and sporting history.
The 18-hole, 800-metre course has challenged and delighted players for over five decades. Its opening hole is a downhill 34-metre first over a grass bank to a round green at the bottom of the course, while the sixth hole rises 27 metres uphill, adjoining the clubhouse. The ninth plays 61 metres downhill, with a towering tree on the right and a bush to be carried near the green. The eleventh demands a teeshot through trees to a small green ringed by grass banks, and the longest hole, the twelfth, stretches 70 metres to a green partially hidden from the tee, with a sharp fall off to the left. Other holes, including the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth, offer challenging slopes, pitches over high banks, and greens that fall away to the left, testing skill and precision at every turn.
For members, players, and visitors, the Majestic has been more than just a course, it has been a community hub, a place to meet friends, and a venue for countless sporting achievements and memories. Its closure marks the end of an era not just for Mallow, but for pitch and putt enthusiasts across North Cork.
Residents and former members are invited to share memories and photographs as the town reflects on a club that has provided enjoyment, competition, and camaraderie for over half a century.
