East Clare Golf Club's future secured with €20 million investment plan

EAST Clare Development Village, the new management company behind East Clare Golf Club, has announced details of its ambitious €20 million redevelopment plan for the course and surrounding resort.

The redevelopment of the Bodyke club will take place over the next five years in four or more separate phases that will see an increase in the number of holiday homes adjacent to the golf course and the development of a new leisure centre that will comprise a swimming pool, gym and spa facilities.

The plans also contain the construction of ten luxury private homes next to the golf course and the development of apartments aimed at the active retired.

The plans were set out by East Clare Development Village at a meeting of the golf clubs members where the company received significant majority support from the members to take over the management of the golf course and facilities with immediate effect. 

The company – through sister companies - already manages holiday home accommodation in the area (including the adjacent East Clare Holiday Village) that attracts 15,000 visitors to the region each year, contributing significantly to the local economy.

Brian Martin, CEO of East Clare Development Village said: “The unveiling of our plans reinforces our ambitions for growing golfing tourism in the region as well as offering our local golf members additional benefits that they wouldn’t have had previously.

“We believe the future for local community golf is to enhance and vary the offering around the course for a family audience. This will help position the course at the heart of family breaks and lifestyles, even if some family members don’t play golf.

“At East Clare Golf Course, we want to offer more in terms of leisure facilities, modern accommodation, excellent food and drink and all at good value”.

Martin added: “One of the biggest advantages for current and new members to the golf course will be the knock-on effect on fees. Increased revenue from the surrounding facilities will contribute toward golf course running costs and help reduce membership fees for golf over the coming years and we will be making an announcement on our commitment to reducing fees in the coming weeks”.

East Clare Golf Course, was founded by the late Tom Murray, Michael Hogan, Michael Fahy, John Joyce and TJ McNamara and designed by Dr. Arthur Spring, spans over 150 acres at Bodyke.

The course, first opened in 1997, is a par 71 course with over 6,500 yards of fairway. It is located just five minutes from Lough Derg and within a half hour from Limerick, Shannon and Ennis, making it ideal for golfers in the surrounding region.

On the ownership of the golf course, Martin commented: “The ownership of the golf course up to this point has always been with the members.

“We recognised the importance of this membership involvement and have structured the new management company, East Clare Development Village Limited, so all members have the offer of shareholding to maintain the connection with the ownership.

“All members will be given one share in the company with an option to match the overall shareholding with the company directors. We wholeheartedly believe this is the best way forward for the future of East Clare Golf Club and will preserve the sense of community ownership”