| In 2005, at the height of the Celtic Tiger boom, a | | | | County Meath. It was one of the few |
| new golf course opened in County Kildare. | | | | membership clubs that added a second course |
| Moyvalley Golf and Country Club was a dazzling | | | | from their own resources and they made a |
| affair with a hotel and spa plus on-course houses | | | | magnificent job of it. In the mid-noughties, they |
| available to buy or rent. Membership was pitched | | | | charged EUR75 per round green fees. It was, in |
| at a signing on fee of EUR75,000 with annual subs | | | | fairness, not an exorbitant amount for the times |
| of EUR3,000. Initial take up was good but as the | | | | that were in it and given the outstanding quality |
| signs of a slowdown became evident, customers | | | | of the course. The K Club were charging EUR225 |
| dried up. Today you can join Moyvalley for | | | | for a round at the same time by way of |
| between EUR5,000 and EUR10,000 depending on | | | | comparison. Now, Headfort are happy to take |
| your negotiating skills! | | | | EUR30 per round and there isn't a line out the |
| As recently as 18 months ago, the price of a four | | | | gate to play it. The K Club, we understand, are |
| ball in The Old Head of Kinsale Golf Links was | | | | happy to negotiate deals. You bet they are! |
| EUR1,100 when you included buggies. That's | | | | All across the country, members are leaving clubs |
| EUR275 per head without food or refreshments. | | | | in an effort to cut back on outgoings as the |
| Four friends played it in September last for | | | | implementation of budget cuts hits home and |
| EUR70 each, including buggy and the club were | | | | uncertainty regarding jobs becomes the priority of |
| glad to take their money. In the new golf scene in | | | | people whose only previous concern was their |
| Ireland, the customer is king - and long live the | | | | handicap. Where once there was a waiting list to |
| king! | | | | get into almost all Irish clubs, now you will be |
| For if ever a hobby mirrored the worst excesses | | | | welcomed with open arms at considerably less |
| of the boom in Ireland it was golf. Since the late | | | | than those who might be with you on the first |
| nineties, green fees at even the most humble of | | | | tee paid. Many golf courses are on the brink of |
| golf clubs have quadrupled. Similarly, the increase | | | | closure whilst many others have cut back on |
| in membership fees went out of control. Back | | | | maintenance costs, which is not a good omen for |
| then, it seemed to be only a matter of building it, | | | | the future quality of those courses. |
| naming your price and they will come. But in the | | | | However for the moment survival is what it is all |
| Ireland of 2010, they don't come any more. | | | | about for these clubs and for those visitors |
| Reality has taken a grip on the situation. We live in | | | | coming to Ireland or Irish golfers travelling to |
| a society that has a deflation rate of 6% across | | | | other parts of the country, there is outstanding |
| a broad range of goods and services that | | | | value to be had on the fairways of Ireland. Even |
| comprise the cost of living index in Ireland. Golf | | | | those US and UK visitors who are suffering from |
| green fees would form no part of that index but | | | | the strong currency that is the Euro, the deals |
| if they were examined, incredible reductions of | | | | stack up as worthwhile. It makes 2010 the year |
| 100% to1000% are evident across the island. | | | | to be considering a golfing holiday in Ireland. |
| Headfort New is a stunning creation in Kells, | | | | |