The Club

The history of Bally Haly intertwines two stories: one of William Haly, a 19th-century British Army officer, and another of the first golf course in Newfoundland.

William Haly, born in Cork, Ireland in 1770, joined the British Army at 16. After traveling extensively, he was appointed garrison commander of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in 1799 and moved to St. John’s. There, he was given land on Logy Bay Road, which he named Bally Haly after his father’s estate in Ireland. The estate grew to 271 acres by his death in 1838 but remained largely unused for nearly 70 years.

In 1896, led by Hon. John Browning, St. John’s citizens introduced golf to Newfoundland, creating a nine-hole course at Buckmaster’s Field. Scottish golf course designer Neil Shannon was hired to lay out the course. As the game gained popularity, the club sought more space and purchased the Bally Haly estate in 1908 for $7,500, expanding to an 18-hole course designed again by Shannon. The original Haly residence burned down in December 1908, and a new clubhouse opened in 1910.

The clubhouse was rebuilt twice more after fires in 1936 and 1957, with the latter leading to the addition of a curling rink. Over the next 60 years, urban development surrounded the club, leading to space limitations. In 2022, Bally Haly decided to relocate to the former Clovelly Golf Course, completing the move in May 2023.

Today, Bally Haly Golf & Country Club welcomes both members and the public, offering golf, catering, event spaces, and dining. With a dedicated management team and staff, the club continues to honor its rich history while looking forward to a bright future.