Golf resort in the rough as fees row flares

A TOP golf course builder who blockaded a tourist town’s championship course yesterday said he is prepared “to do time” to secure the €500,000 he is owed.

Mel Flanagan, a director of Longford-based Irish Golf Design, blocked the entrance to the Kelcar Developments-owned Blarney Golf Resort in Co Cork for several hours in a desperate bid to secure payment.

He and his workers used a tractor to prevent dozens of golfers from using the John Daly-designed course.

Gardaí were called to move them from the entrance but the peaceful protest continued a short distance away. Talks between both sides took place at a local hotel later.

A statement from Kelcar last night said it is “hopeful of an early outcome”.

Irish Golf Design was engaged to build the 18-hole course in 2005.

But a dispute arose towards the end of the construction phase and the firm was kicked off the project. The dispute ended up in the High Court.

Following a lengthy arbitration process, a judge ruled last year that Irish Golf Design be paid just over €544,000.

The court also stipulated an interest rate be applied for late payments. But not a cent has been paid, Mr Flanagan said.

“We’ve gone through every court in the land and they have a fully operational golf course. They can’t have their cake and eat it.”

The High Court heard that Kelcar had terminated his firm’s €3 million contract to build the course and had employed sub-contractors to finish the work, which it was alleged was 95% complete.

Kelcar lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court but subsequently withdrew it.

“We are reasonable people and we are willing to sit down and talk to them to discuss the situation. But we won’t take promises,” Mr Flanagan said.

He called off his blockade around noon after Frank McCarthy, a director of Kelcar, and Conor O’Toole, the resort’s general manager, met him at the gates.

Kelcar said the dispute is a private legal matter which will be resolved in due course.

“Currently, all facilities including the restaurant, spa, golf facilities and the hotel itself are fully functioning as normal,” a spokesperson said.

Irish Golf Design Limited is one of the country’s top golf course design and build firms.

It built the award-winning Dunmurray Springs in Kildare, named Ireland’s number one golf course by the US magazine The Golfer.

It worked on Longford Golf Course, and designed St Oswalds in Austria, Forest Hills in London, and Hollywood Lakes Golf Club in north Co Dublin.

Mr Flanagan has also worked with Nick Faldo on the Lough Rynn Golf Course in Co Leitrim.

A native of Boyle, Co Roscommon, Mr Flanagan is well-known in golfing circles, has taught golf, written several books, and was the golf expert on RTÉ’s Live at Three programme.