€6.5m investment to attract golfers to Kerry

A €6.5 MILLION investment in two Kerry golf clubs is expected to lure more golfers to the county.

It is reckoned that top-of-the-range golfing visitors spend €12 off the course for every €1 they spend on green fees, when accommodation, food, car hire and other transport costs are taken into account.

Links in Tralee, Ballybunion and Waterville have become hugely popular with American visitors and are key components of tourism in their areas.

Other Kerry clubs are now hoping to get a bigger slice of the tourism cake.

Dooks Golf Club, on the Ring of Kerry, has spent €4.5m on a major redevelopment of its links, while Killarney Golf Club has re-opened its flagship Killeen course following a €2m makeover.

Dooks attracts 12,000 visitors each year, but improved facilities will make it an even more attractive destination for golfers, according to Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue.

Following the construction of 18 new greens, Killarney’s Killeen course is expected to regain its place among the top Irish courses.

Killarney is in the unique position of having three championship golf courses, which are regarded as a major selling point for golf in the area. A €40,000 marketing campaign is currently underway to promote Killarney’s lakeside golfing attractions.

Kerry clubs are also hoping for a big spin-off from the Ryder Cup competition, being held in the K Club, Co Kildare, in September.