Morrow, who was born in County Antrim in 1860, was a Presbyterian Minister who moved to the Clontarf area in 1890.  As a young man he enjoyed fishing and shooting, but was soon to develop a passionate interest in golf.  He became a player of the highest standard, reaching the status of a plus handicapper.  He was later to become a member of Royal Dublin, Portmarnock, Royal Portrush, Lahinch and Knock.

Morrow’s commitment to the game continued to grow and in 1898 he became the Irish golf correspondent of Golf Illustrated.  By the year 1900 he had become involved in the administration of the game, and six years later he was appointed Hon. Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland.  It became generally accepted, in those early years, that he had done more than anyone else to popularise the game of golf in Ireland.  His talents also led him into course design and he was the architect behind the Rossmore course in Monaghan.

His dream to set up Clontarf Golf Club became a reality in 1912 when he successfully negotiated with the owner, Picton Bradshaw, for leases of land at Mount Temple.  He called and chaired a General Meeting in January 1912 to form the Club, and it was agreed that the entrance fee for Clontarf residents would be two guineas and three guineas for those living outside the area.

At the time of its foundation the total membership numbered 280 of which 70 were Lady Associates and 20 were Five-Day Members.  Clontarf Golf Club was to become the first Irish Club to have Five-Day Members and, at the time, no golf was played on Sundays.

The Clontarf Members, however, were confronted with the problem of whether they should content themselves with another nine-hole course with the move to its present site, which would leave them with considerable land to spare, or utilise the land to its full capacity by going for a larger layout.  It was finally decided that they should opt for 12 holes, comprising outer and inner loops of six.  With the loops being played in opposite directions, the result was an ingenious method of completing 18 holes.

Meanwhile, a crucial move towards achieving an 18-hole layout was the purchase, in January 1927, of the interest in McCullagh’s Field (the present 16th and 17th holes) for a sum of £20.  An option was also obtained on Corbett’s land (quarry holes) at that time and all details were finalised with Dublin Corporation and those particular individuals in February 1927.  So it was that at the Club’s annual dinner later that month, Dr. Morrow informed the Members of the deal, emphasising that Clontarf would now be the only Club in the country to boast an 18-hole course within a city boundary.

While the entrance to the original nine-hole course on the Mount Temple lands was on the Howth Road the postal address was Clontarf, whereas today the entrance is on the Malahide Road with a postal address of Donnycarney.