Membership at a price: What you get for your money

Druids Glen, Co Wicklow - £40,000 Entrance Fee

Sometimes it is hard to believe that Druids Glen only opened for play in September 1995. In six years, it has come a long way. Not only has it managed to host four Murphy's Irish Opens and earn the accolade of European Golf Destination of the Year 2000, but the quest for self-betterment is on-going with a second course under construction as well as a luxury five-star hotel - under the Marriott banner - that is due to be developed by the end of the year.

We're talking serious money. It is estimated the total spend on developing the two championship courses plus the hotel will hit the £55 million mark by the time the resort is completed and, yet, it is a tribute to those involved in the whole process that a convivial air should pervade.

This area of north Wicklow has always had its mystique. Druids Glen, or Gleann na Draoite as it is known in Irish, is actually named after the high priests who worshipped in these parts in 5 B.C. and a druid's altar stands on the hillside overlooking the 12th green of the original course, designed by Pat Ruddy and the late Tom Craddock.

"When people remark that they consider Druids Glen to be around longer than it is, we tell them it's because it has been 400 years in the making," remarked Denis Kane, the chief executive, a reference to the fact it stands on the old Woodstock House estate. Indeed, the course has that air of being around for quite some time, thanks mainly to the use of mature woodland in the layout and the transplanting of further trees.

The first course - the scene of Sergio Garcia's first win on the European Tour when he captured the 1999 Irish Open - is on 200 acres, and the second course, also designed by Ruddy, is being constructed on a similar area. "When the second course is completed," said Kane, "we'll have a great green belt for the whole of County Wicklow." Apart from that, it will be a magnificent facility for the people of the county and, indeed, the country.

Its location, 30 minutes from south Dublin, and an improved road network under construction that will link up to the M50, makes Druids Glen attractive not only to corporate members but to individuals too. To join, however, is an expensive business with an entrance fee for individual membership of £40,000 (plus 12.5 per cent VAT) and an annual subscription that stands at £1,705.

Kane, though, is proud the members have managed to establish what he calls a "pleasant atmosphere" that goes hand-in-hand with the one which the developers have managed to create. Such a policy is also reflected in the way the hotel

under construction - overlooking the signature 13th hole - has been designed to blend in with the mature look of the course itself. If it managed to win the European Destination of the Year last year, one wonders what the future holds when the second course is completed - as well as the hotel and the luxury houses and apartments which are also under construction.

Carton House, Co Kildare - £20,000 + Redeemable Share

A year ago, on my first visit to Carton Demesne, Conor Mallaghan's four-wheel drive scurried around the impressive estate just outside Maynooth. He pointed here and there, over landscaped grounds, and then pointed occasionally to the blueprints in his hands. It wasn't difficult to visualise the course Mark O'Meara wanted to create, but you still required raw imagination to do so. Even then, however, there was the undoubted promise of something special materialising behind the enclosed walls.

It's true when people say that money talks, because so much has happened in the interim. "History and Heritage in a Unique Partnership with Nature," is how the marketing people refer to the development of 36-holes at Carton - one course designed by O'Meara, the other by Colin Montgomerie - and, certainly, the impression is that those involved in the enormous project genuinely care about it.

The first course to be completed will be the O'Meara, developed on mature woodland with the River Rye coming into play on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes, Carton's very own version of "Amen Corner". Presently, the course is 85 per cent completed and, although there will be privileged play on the layout from August, it won't officially open until spring 2002.

"We'll have the best greens in Ireland the day we open," is the proud boast of the Mallaghans, father Lee and son Conor, and the man entrusted with ensuring that is the case is John Plummer, the course superintendent. Plummer, formerly with Grange Golf Club, where he spent 12 years, was the 1999 Toro Greenkeeper of the Year and admits the move to Carton was career driven. "It was an opportunity to be involved in a five-star development right from the start. There are no short cuts and we're setting the standards at the outset."

Indeed, standing on the greens, it is hard to believe they were only seeded last autumn. Already, there is a texture that would be the envy of many more mature courses and one of the stated objectives of those involved with Carton is that the greens should be of the same quality throughout the year. Needless to say, when the course does open, the soft-spikes option will be pursued.

The two golf courses are central to the development of the 1,000-acre estate, formerly the ancestral home of the Fitzgerald's Earls of Kildare who later became the Dukes of Leinster. It has been in the hands of the Mallaghan family for the past 25 years. "An overnight success after nine years of planning," is how Conor categorises what is happening on the estate, as that is the length of time the family spent in planning the golf/hotel project.

While the O'Meara course has been created in mature woodland, the Montgomerie course - on gently undulating hills that create a rolling effect - is intended to be more reminiscent of linksland. It measures over 7,200 yards and among the features are pot bunkers.

Combined with the presence of a 228-room Starwood Hotel and, to further enhance the golfing connection, a Colin Montgomerie Golf Academy, the project is aimed at the top end of the golfing market.

"We want to create a members friendly club," remarks Lee Mallaghan, a golfer himself with membership in Hermitage and Luttrellstown, but eagerly anticipating his first round at Carton. It won't be alone. Since the first "walkabout" was held over the O'Meara design in July 1999, the inquiries have been consistent and 160 members have been accepted. An initial ceiling of 500 members has been set, with total membership not set to exceed 670-680, which indicates the seriousness about creating a members-friendly club.

The first tranche of memberships went on offer at £10,000 and were snapped up and subsequently rose to £12,500 for the second tranche and to £15,000 for the third. The fourth tranche will shortly be offered at £20,000 but, in truth, there is no knowing where it will end by the time the final lot of redeemable preference shares are released.

One of the attractions of membership is that those who join receive Preference Shares which means that, if they so wish, they can transfer their shares to a third party in the future, although there is a stipulation that no such sale can take place until after five years.

"One of the most pleasing aspects of the membership to date is the large number of local people, from the north Kildare and West Dublin areas, who have joined. There is also a very good mix. We have businessmen, and some from the showbusiness world. In general, a really good mix, which is what you need to develop a good club atmosphere," remarked Conor Mallaghan.

South County, Co Dublin - £15,000 + Equity Share

In an Irish context, this is a ground-breaking development. Not only are potential new members parting with their money to become members, but they're becoming owners too . . . which means they are investing their money and, at the same time, getting a course in Brittas - on the Dublin-Wicklow border - which is being developed to the top USGA specifications.

It's a concept that has found great appeal. Since the launch last July, with the first tranche on offer at £10,000, over 310 members/owners have jumped in. The second phase was released at £12,500, the third - currently on offer - is up to £15,000, and the next tranche due to be released in May will be on offer at £18-20,000. "We have recently set up a website and we're getting about 200 hits a week, which would indicate that quite a number of people are stalking us," said Joe O'Connor, head of marketing, who anticipates that, at the present rate, membership (i.e. the number of owners) will be up to about 450 by July. The promoters have placed a ceiling of 695 on the eventual number of members.

"We're getting a good cross-section of members, not from any one particular area," remarked O'Connor. "Quite a few were on waiting lists to join other clubs and simply decided not to wait any longer, while a number of others were five-day members or country members of clubs who found this whole set-up appealing and decided to join."

Things have moved fast at South County. It's only last June the first sod was turned on what was once farmland and it is believed the course will be ready for some light play by the autumn. However, it won't by fully ready until March/April of next year, by which time the members will have a new course designed by Nick Bielenberg that has all categories of golfers in mind. "I'm conscious that something like 70 per cent of golfers are over 18 handicap, and this is a course that members will want to play," he said.

Bielenberg, who was responsible for designing Luttrellstown Castle, has used the 180 acres at his disposal to create a course that blends in nicely with the surrounding Dublin and Wicklow mountains. For instance, there is clever mounding around greens that measure between 500 and 600 square metres. Yet, unlike many modern greens, there are not unduly severe undulations. The course itself measures 7,013 yards off the back tees - but the architect has included four different sets of tees to cater for all standards.

Starting this month, there are also plans to plant around 40,000 new trees (supervised by Coillte) while plans for a clubhouse, in an elevated area of the course known as "The Fort", are due for submission. And, from today, an on-site office will open to deal with queries from those who may wish to get a slice of their own golf course.

Ring of Kerry GC, Co Kerry - £3,000 Entrance Fee

As far as stunning locations go, it would be hard to beat this course, designed by the late Eddie Hackett, which has magnificent views across Kenmare Bay to the Caha mountains. If it were centred in any urban area, you'd be on an eternal waiting list to gain membership; yet, given the sheer quality of the course and the ancillary facilities, it is still something of a mystery to discover that membership - at £3,000 entrance fee - is still open.

Close to £6 million has been spent on constructing a golfing facility that has ensured it is firmly established as part of the golfing tourist circuit in the south-west. The architect's brief was to design a "worldclass golf course" that would be sufficiently flexible to challenge competent and experienced players from the back tees, while also be capable of being played from forward tees by the higher handicap golfer.

That has been achieved, and more. With names such as "Ladies View", "Cill Airne" and "Derrynane," you're left in no doubt you're in the Kingdom. A unique feature of the course's construction is that all of the fairways were made of sand, brought in from a local quarry.

Membership of the club is strictly limited - a ceiling of 250 is in place - and, so far, there is "a mix of international members and locals, and a number who have second homes in the area", according to director of golf, Vincent Devlin. Although golf tourism revenue is important, members are given preferential tee-times.

Hollystown GC, Co Dublin - £250-£900 Annual Fee

The beauty of joining this club as a member is there is no big entrance fee, no lump sum to part with. "Our sales pitch is that the member can choose a category to suit his lifestyle," said Ciaran Barry, secretary-manager of the 27-holes facility that has a number of enticing categories to offer members.

Originally designed by Eddie Hackett, with an additional nine holes added by course superintendent Joe Bedford, which has given extra length and raised the standard of the course, Hollystown has shown its quality by playing host to the Leinster Youths' championship in recent years. However, it has also earned recognition in the Dublin area for the membership categories that provide flexible golf to those who join.

There are three membership categories available:

Category A: £250 - Gives members tee-times all day Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) and Sunday from 1 p.m.. Benefits: 20 per cent discount on green fees at these times.

Category B: £600 - Gives members tee-times Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) and Sunday from 1 p.m.. Benefits: No green fees payable mid-week and 20 per cent discount on Sunday from 1 p.m.. No green fees payable on medal days, captain's day or president's day.

Category C: £900 - Gives all day unlimited golf seven days a week. Benefits: No green fees payable.

"We've found this type of membership is particularly attractive to young people with new mortgages who simply couldn't justify forking out £4,000, £6,000 or whatever, on an entrance fee to join a club," said Barry. Indeed, Category C has proven so popular the club is shortly due to close this particular option. "We discovered that a lot of people who took out other memberships last year wanted to upgrade which is a sure sign that they are happy with what is happening," he added.