Northern Ireland

Ryder Cup winner McGinley joins bid to relocate Balmoral Golf Club

The 149 acre Newgrove Estate, earmarked as a potential location for Balmoral Golf Club
The 149 acre Newgrove Estate, earmarked as a potential location for Balmoral Golf Club

A DUBLIN property group has proposed relocating a south Belfast golf course to a new Paul McGinley-designed championship course on a former country estate, four miles away.

The Merrion Property Group (MPG), which owns the Down Royal Racecourse and Down Royal Park Golf Course, has put a proposal to the loss making Balmoral Golf Club on the Lisburn Road.

Former Ryder Cup captain McGinley outlined the proposal in person to members at the Wellington Park Hotel on Thursday night.

The south Belfast course, synonymous with former Open Champion Fred Daly, was established on a 75 acre site acquired in 1947.

The club has rebuked lucrative offers in the past to vacate its parkland site between Finaghy and Balmoral.

But in a presentation to members on Thursday, the club’s committee outlined the issue of its continuing losses and its surging costs.

Revenues from membership, green fees and competitions all fell last year, while course maintenance costs and repairs soared.

The club also paid £38,000 interest on a debt of £1.2m.

The location of the course on a flood plain continues to impact play, particularly during winter months, while the course itself has gradually decreased in size over the years.

Dublin property magnate Michael Roden, who bought the Down Royal Racecourse in 2005, is eyeing the site for a major residential development.

Under one proposal, it’s understood that the club would take a cut of every property sold past the 600 mark.

A previous bid put to the club in 2000, reportedly involved an offer of £37.5m.

The latest offer is more modest, but would cover the cost of relocating to a new championship course, one of only a few Paul McGinley has put his name to.

It involves the development of £15m club at Ballylesson, in the outskirts of south Belfast. It’s understood that the site in question is the former Newgrove Estate. The sprawling 149 acre site and its 18th century country house, was recently put on the market for £2.1m.

The house was formerly residence of the agent for the Purdysburn Estate, of which Narcissus Batt, a pioneering banker of the time, was the owner. Newgrove House subsequently passed through numerous hands, most recently into the Hillis family, who placed it on the market.

It’s believed MPG has acquired the site from the family, which had owned the estate since 1940.

If developed, the course would be located on the other side of the River Lagan from Malone Golf Club. Along with Dunmurry, it would bring to three the number of clubs in the area.

The Merrion Property Group has proposed turning the listed country home into the Balmoral Club’s new clubhouse, and harnessing the River Lagan and the Mill Race Trail, as water features.

MPG has brought Irish golfer Paul McGinley on board for the bid. The Ryder Cup winning caption attended Thrusday night’s meeting himself in a bid to make the case to members.

The developer claims the new course could eventually host European and international tour events.

Other carrots placed in front of members on Thursday included an offer to clear the club’s debts along with a multimillion pound lump sum.

A previous proposal in 2004 was voted down, but according to some members, the latest bid represents a much more attractive proposition for the ailing club.