Christmas Holidays

Please note that the Club will close for the Holidays from 5.00pm on
Friday, 23rd December and re-open at 9.00am on Tuesday, 3rd January 2012.

Members are reminded that they are entitled to a complimentary copy of the hardback book published by the Club last year as part of our 125th Anniversary celebrations. “The Ulster Reform Club Past and Present” is a highly readable account of the Club’s history, full of interesting facts and attractive photographs. If you have not already done so, please simply call into the General Office and collect your free copy. Alternatively, your copy can be posted to you on payment of the requisite postage.

The Management Committee decided last year to waive the entrance fee, which is currently £200 plus VAT, for new junior members under the age of 27. Applicants for Junior Membership therefore now benefit from no entrance fee and half price subscriptions that offer superb value for money when you consider all that the Club has to offer.

As a further step to encourage more young men and women to join the Club, the members unanimously voted at the recent Extraordinary General Meeting to increase the upper age limit from 27 to 30, thus making membership of the Club more affordable for younger people. The current half price subscription of £147.58 plus VAT gives Junior Members all the benefits of membership of this unique City Centre Club including a decent gym.

 A few existing members in the 27 to 30 age bracket will see cheaper subscriptions next year and it is hoped this step will  encourage them to retain their membership.

The Club can only grow with the support of the existing members so please spread the

 word to your families, friends & contacts. The General Office will be hapy to help with any queries you may have. 

On Thursday 14^th October 2010 the Club was delighted to host a merry band of golfers from our reciprocal Club, The Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club, Dublin. A grey but dry day dawned as our friends from Dublin, led by their Chairman, Denis McAdams, met us in the bar at Royal Belfast Golf Club. Being mid morning, no alcohol was taken but introductions were made and friendships formed over soup, sandwiches and coffee. The Dublin party comprised Mr Peter Doyle, Mr Brian Dowling, Mr Chris O’Flanagan, Mr Donal Boylan, Mr Peter Needham, Mr David McCarthy and Mr Hugh McGahon.

We then ventured to the first tee, to be seen off by our non golfing President, Brian Balmer and our Chief Executive, Alex Graham. To the horror of the higher handicappers, Alex had also arranged a photographer to not only take group photos but also capture the inevitable duff off the first tee ! Unfased, Sam “Jimenez” Dunlop simply proceeded to light up his customary big cigar. In team order our pairs were David Boyd/Geoffrey Menary, Sam Gillespie/James Crawford, Michael Copeland/Jeremy Mills and Jonathan McAlpine/Sam Dunlop. Suffice to say, all four North/South matches were hard fought and the final score was two points each. The undoubted highlight was David Boyd’s round of 68 gross, he and Geoffrey Menary thus securing the first point and getting back to the bar in record time ! The course was excellent and not a drop of rain fell.

After a quick freshen up and drink in the bar, our Dublin guests retired to the Club’s reciprocal hotel, Malmaison and then we all met up again for drinks in the Reading Room at the Club. Our golfing visitors were then joined by their fellow member, Senator Paul Coghlan. The Club’s “French Evening of Wine and Song”  provided the perfect opportunity for us to show the Club to our Dublin visitors and return their superb hospitality from last year. Peter and Neal McAlindon engaged members and visitors in an interesting and fun journey through a fine range of French rose, white, red and dessert wines. This was interspersed with amusing tales and a wonderful selection of French and, in honour of our Dublin visitors, Irish songs from Ulster Baritone, Terry Blackburn accompanied by Gerry O’Neill. A lively sing-a-long ensued in the Dining Room, by which time all were ready for a superb buffet served from the reading room by the Club chefs and staff.

Our guests and members thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and thanks are due to David Boyd, Jonathan McAlpine, Michael Copeland and Alex Graham for organising everything. Reform Club members are, of course, more than welcome at the Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club in Dublin anytime.

The Management Committee has recently accepted a recommendation from the Club’s Membership sub Committee to waive the entrance fee (currently £200 plus Vat) that applies to applications from prospective members under the age of 27. Applicants for this Junior Member category of membership already enjoy half price subscriptions that offer superb value for money when you consider all the Club has to offer. We hope this will encourage more younger men and women to join the Club and would urge all members to please spread the word to friends, relatives, business associates and contacts. The Club office will be happy to assist with any queries

Our lovely new website launched today for the benefit of all our members and welcome visitors.

A lot of hard work has gone into ensuring users are provided with a pleasurable experience as well as providing a useful reference point.

One of the most obvious new features is an online Events guide. You still book Events in the normal manner - by getting in touch with the General Ofice - but if you wish to keep up to date with forthcoming Events (in between the regular mailing) then check out the website. Please check for updates and make sure you book early as tickets for very popular events tend to sell out fast. Places are available on a strictly first come - first served basis. The Annual Sporting Dinner on 24th October is already SOLD OUT with 16 on the waiting list! Book early to avoid you and your guests being disappointed.

Members are able to use their existing login to the ’Members Area’.

Make sure you bookmark the website into your Favourites folder for easy future reference. Enjoy the website and make yourself familiar with it.