Questions: | Q. Is Ballinlough Castle a members club. A. Yes, one of the principal thoughts in the setting up of Ballinlough Castle was that it would be a members club in the traditional manner. This means that members (after the development stage) will have the full and total control of their own destiny. We see this as a huge advantage over some of the private golf courses, in which members of clubs have little or no say in the management of the course or in their security of tenure.
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| Q. Is Ballinlough an equal members club. A. Again yes,It is our view, that everyone within the club should pay the same rates and have an equal status.The only concession made is to a husband & wife joining at the same time.
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| Q. Does the Club own the land. A. No, the 180 acres on which the course has been designed and is being developed has been taken under a renewable 35 year lease. This means that the club will always have a right to renew its lease.
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| Q. What is the cost of the entrance fee. A. Currently the entrance fee is set at what we consider a very modest €4500. ( €8500. For a husband & Wife).
But this will increase in proportion to the scale of the work done.
It is a fair view, that the more development done should equal more fee to pay. It must be born in mind that there are members within the club, who paid a fee even prior to planning permission being given.
We also now have an annual/7 day memberhsip, ask for further details
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| Q. Is this not expensive for what you have. A. No. there is a misconception by visitors that the holes they are now playing are the finished article, They are not.
New sand based greens to U.S.G.A. spec will be built.
Already 7 have been completed and will be brought into play this year.
Given this context, compared to comparative courses (which would currently charge in the order of €20,000) €4,500 (€8,500. For a Husband & Wife) represents huge value.
Again it must be stressed, that it is the clubs intention to build a golf course that will compare to anything in the country.
Furthermore a very attractive package has been put in place, which will allow a person to become a member for a fixed rate of €30 per week.
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| Q. Can I sell on my membership. A. No. When this issue was considered, it was our view that as Ballinlough is a members club in the true sense of the word. There would not be much point in allowing memberships to be sold on.
If for example 300 people bought "shares" in the club at current rates, which they could openly trade, the club would always have an inherent debt of €1,145,000
This would have the long term effect of reducing the clubs ability to raise extra finance by sale of memberships at a rate which will be much higher than is currently set, as the course progresses.
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| Q. Who is the architect. A. The club have been very lucky in securing the services of Pat Ruddy, who we believe is the best course architect in Ireland today and amongst the most noted in the world.
Among his many projects in Ireland, He includes in his portfolio, The European Club, Druids Glen, St. Margaret's, & Ballyliffens Glashedy Links. All top class world known golf courses.
Ballinlough will be in this class.
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| Q. what is the annual subscription. A. Currently the annual sub is €500 (plus the GUI/Ilgu levy of e17.00.and a competition levy of €50) As a members club this can only be increased by the agreement of the members at AGM.
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Q.
What is the time scale for building. A. This is a difficult question to be precise on, due in the main to the weather.
However as previously stated we have 7 new greens completed and playable . Thus giving us an 18 hole complex.
The speed of the further development will largely depend on the attraction of new members.
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| Q. Does the club have distance/country memberships. A. Yes provided you are a full member of another golf club contact us for details,
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| Q. Tell me more about the seniors rates. A. Due to new equality legislation, we are no longer able to offer this category of membership.
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| Q.What happens if I have taken out a loan and the golf club closes. A. Now that a lease has been signed and agreed, the likelyhood of the Golf Course closing is almost impossible.
Once the Club is able to meet its annual rent, golf will continue to be played in Ballinlough.
In a worst case scenario, development will be slower than anticipated but will continue at a pace dictated to by the income of new members.
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| Q.Is Ballinlough an affiliated Club. A. Yes Ballinlough was affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland in 1999
and to the Irish Ladies Golf Union in 2000. Indeed Ballinlough was amongst the first clubs in the country to embrace the new GUI/ILGU membership card system, which now makes handicaps available for viewing, online.
This means that upon joining the club you can be awarded a official handicap which will allow you to play anywhere in the world with a recognised handicap and in open competitions held by other clubs in Ireland.
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| Q. would it not make sense to bring down the entrance fee to attract members. A. This question has been asked many times. As the number of members
is limited by constitution, to 300, and the projected building of the course
is €1,700,000 it can be quite clearly seen that this ,is an average requirement of €5,500. per membership.
This figure would not include, the building of a new clubhouse or the machinery needed to maintain the course.
If memberships are sold at to low a rate, the project cannot be properly financed.
If for arguments sake the club took in 100 members at €1,270 another 100 at €1,900 and the next 50 at €3,800 that would generate, €510,000 of revenue. Leaving a minimal shortfall €1,200,000.
At the current projected entrance rates, €1,600,000 can be raised by staged increase in entrance fees. Which will rise to €10K at least for the last 50 memberships.
We would prefer that prospective members are fully aware of the
situation, rather than have to apply levies in time to come to complete
the course.
If further capitol is need , it may be considered by the membership to increase the base level number of memberships available.
For example an extra 100 members may be approved at an entrance rate of say €12.7k, which would give the club the oppourtunity to raise a further €1,270,000 for clubhouse development if needed, thus avoiding the need for massive bank borrowings.
Therefore the current rate of entrance at €4.5K represents fantastice value for money. Even moreso now given the ongoing work on the course, And prospective members would be unwise to miss this oppourtunity.
(the above rates are rounded and approximate)
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| Q. Does the club have a junior membership. A. The club is at present setting up a Junior membership. At this time we do not make a charge for Juniors whose Parent/Parents are already full members, although we will set a rate for this category in time to come. This category is intended for full time students. Once the Junior/Juvenile ends his/her studies the membership will be terminated and the person will be offered full membership of the club at the then rate of entrance fee. Always provided that there is an available place for that person as a full member.
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