Compiling and documenting the history of our club and its evolition has been a daunting task. First, the club was dedicated to the great game of GOLF, the competitions, the "craic", the trips, and the enduring members friendships. However, in the past years, the Celtic Golf Club has evolved into much more than just Golf, fun and friendships: The Club's commitment to our families and community as shown with our Members Scholarship Fund and our Charitable Fund is clear are evidence of our expansion.
The History is a continuing story of bonding and camaraderie of a group of neighbors with like Irish heritage. Each with the love of golf and wanting the opportunities of fun and great competition. The Celtic Golf club started out devoted to just golf competitions under the umbrella of the then new Rockland Irish-American Cultural Center in Blauvelt. The Center was our original home and sponsor. From this beginning we have grown to be an independent, tax exempt, not for profit community service organization. However, we still focus on our golf competitions, trips and social events, as these are important elements for the members of Golf Club.
As a club we decided that there was a need to expand our activities beyond just golf. We wanted to be of service to our community and to help our neighbors in their times of need. In order to protect the Club and avoid potential tax problems it become evident that our Club must achieve "Not For Profit" status. In May of 1999, under the able Presidency of Des Neary, the Celtic Golf Club filed with the Internal Revenue Service to Incorporate and become a "Not For Profit" Organization. It took considerable time, effort, hard work and dedication to achieve this goal. Many members were involved but primarily four individual members; Des, Tony Whelan, Paul Rowley and Joe Wrafter spearheaded and dedicated themselves to this goal. Our Celtic Golf Club was granted an Exempt and probationary "Not For Profit" status in July of 1999. This probationary status was up for five years. In July of 2003 we finally received official notification from the IRS and the Celtic Golf Club became officially incorporated as "Not For Profit". This effort spanned three Club Presidents administrations. This was an important milestone in the 25th year history of the club.
The club members compete in a number of tournaments throughout the year at their home course Blue Hill Golf Club in Pearl River, NY. The Club even sponsors and runs a tournament here every year.
Trips to Ireland were highlights over the years, as a club we organized and took numerous trips. We played all the prestigious Irish golf courses including, Ballybunnion, Lahinch, Druids Glen, Waterville, Killarney Fish and Golf Club, Dooks, The Hermitage, Tullamore Golf Club and many many other great golf venues. Most of these trips concluded in Dublin where had a final tournament and we were hosted at the Stackstown Golf Club (the Dublin Garda private club and Pro Golfer Padraig Harrington's Irish Home club). This most enjoyable day of Golf ended with an evening dinner and entertainment by Finbar Furey of the famed Furey Brothers and Davy Arthur.