Foxrock Golf Club Captain in 1926

Foxrock Golf Club President 1942-43

Honorary Member Foxrock Golf Club 1963

James Lindsay Crabbe, affectionately known as “Bonzo”, won the West of Ireland Championship in 1924, the same year he also won the South of Ireland. Where the nickname originated, we do not know, but the Foxrock man was clearly made of stern stuff as a report from the Irish Times correspondent at the 1924 South Championship in Lahinch revealed. While his opponent Mr. W G McConnell was blown off his feet during a particularly nasty Lahinch gale, completely missing the ball, Crabbe stood firm and went on to win the title by two holes.

“Mr Crabbe won because he was the steadier golfer…it was that extra steadiness, and his refusal to accept the defeat that seemed likely, that pulled him through one of the best and most exciting finals of the South of Ireland Championship...”

Minutes of a Committee meeting in Rosses Point dated 20th May 1924 refer to damage to the trophy whilst in the possession of Foxrock. The suggestion that it was due to excessively robust celebrations is unproven, and an arrangement for sharing the cost of replacement was eventually reached.

In 1925, Crabbe was runner up in the South of Ireland Championship, and in 1926 he again won the West. In context, three times Major Champion Padraig Harrington won his first senior title at the West of Ireland in 1994, while Rory McIlroy was the youngest ever winner of the West in 2005 at the age of 15, winning again in 2006. In 2008 Shane Lowry claimed the coveted title. In 1928 Crabbe Captained the Leinster Golf Alliance. He played for Ireland in the Home Internationals in 1925, 1927 and 1928. In 1935 he won the Open Stroke Competition played preceding the Irish Amateur Open Championship. All in all a most distinguished golfer.