Ahead of an online auction set to decide the fate of West Waterford Golf Club on July 29th, a Committee is appealing to members and friends alike to invest in an attractive package in order to help protect the future of this stunning Munster parkland.
The home club of PGA Tour star Seamus Power, West Waterford GC has put together a structure inviting a minimum investment of €1,000 in return for a 3% Dividend on the money subscribed. The Committee is hoping for a large uptake on the proposal with individual investments secured by the Asset which will be owned Free of Debt by the ownership company.
Members of the golf club and the wider Waterford community are hoping to retain the golf facility which has been a cornerstone of the local economy since Eddie Hackett designed the course that was established in 1993. A real fear for the club is the possibility of an outside buyer attaining the property to convert it to farmland, something the people of West Waterford are determined to avoid.
“I am appalled at the prospect of this priceless asset to Tourism being lost to this area,” said West Waterford member, John Walsh.
“For its size, Dungarven is the only town in Ireland that can offer three championship 18-hole courses within a six kilometre radius of the town. All three courses have their own charm and own challenges for the discerning golfer.”
“Apart from seriously reducing Tourist footfall in the area, it is a tragic loss to the many loyal members, especially those who developed and maintained the course to an extremely high standard.”
“Golf cannot afford the loss of this facility.”
It is hoped that the consortium of members could purchase the club and retain it as a golf course but given pre-auction estimates have been reported as high as €1.2million, the club stress that help is needed to stave off any potential rival bid.
West Waterford Golf Club has been synonymous with Irish golf through the years, not only boasting Olympian Power in its playing ranks but also Alps Tour player Gary Hurley. It’s not just a vital institution for the local community who will be determined to see the facility continue as the superb golf course it has always been, but it also boasts a bountiful ecosystem and a variety of wildlife that has been carefully nurtured there for the best part of three decades and must be protected.
Our own well-travelled columnist, Kevin Markham was blown away after visiting the West Waterford track, writing:
Even the weaker holes (the 6th to the 9th) work really well here. They are separated from the course by a gentle hill and they go back and forth. As you walk down the long and dark path to the 6th tee box these holes look similar – but they’re not. They are of different lengths and offer different tests. he 9th green, by the clubhouse, offers the best views of the Comeragh Mountains.
It is the holes on the other side that are so wonderful where the creativity focuses on simplicity. West Waterford has used the hills and trees perfectly, nowhere more effectively than holes 2 and 3, two reverse dog legs. The 2nd hits down and demands a draw; the 3rd goes up and needs a fade. Both are tight, need exact shots, and are enticing: they are beautiful holes.
Like Tramore, this is a driver’s paradise. The variety of holes, both in terms of beauty and difficulty, will keep you excited all day and standing up on the next tee box never disappoints. The 12th, 14th and 15th run alongside the River Brickey, which is as natural and peaceful as the course itself. It warms the heart. The 17th and the 18th are two long and tough holes that will rattle the best golfers. When you climb that final slope, remind yourself that this course opened only in 1993. It is maturing spectacularly.
I was sitting in the restaurant when the President’s prizes were being handed out. The winning visitor remarked how warm the welcome was at West Waterford and I couldn’t agree more.
If you want to help out West Waterford Golf Club, we would encourage you to contact Pat Lynch Consultants Waterford. Email: Pat@lynchconsultant.ie Tel: 051-877581
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