Golf club owner locks out members

THE owner of a private golf course was criticised yesterday for playing hard ball by locking club members out.

Michael Bowes, the owner of Fernhill Country Club in Carrigaline, shut his 18-hole golf course on Sunday morning as a bitter row over membership rights escalated.

Up to 30 club members who turned up to play found the course entrance blocked. They staged a protest at the gates until mid-afternoon and vowed last night to stage another protest next weekend.

The course lies on what is understood to be the preferred route of the new N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road project.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) has earmarked six holes for compulsory purchase.

However, there is no firm date for when the CPO’s will be issued or when the road project will proceed.

It is understood work may not start until mid-2007.

But Mr Bowes’ legal representatives wrote to club members last March informing them that their membership would end on December 31.

Green fees would be required from then on for people wishing to play, they were told. They played the course for free last year after Mr Bowes declined to take membership fees.

But Fernhill Golf Club president Philip Murray said their dispute centres on the membership termination date.

“We were advised that we required 12 months notice. And as far as we are concerned that notice runs out on March 31 of this year,” he said.

“Our members should be allowed play the course until that date at least.”

The club is taking legal advice on the current situation. Mr Bowes was unavailable for comment yesterday.

A spokesperson at the facility said they had no comment to make on the situation.

“All we want to do is play golf,” said club trustee John O’Rourke. “Any protests we stage will be non-confrontational.”

Fernhill Golf Club is 12 years old and has about 80 members.