Golf club faces legal action over non-resident fees

NON-RESIDENT, or so-called “country members”, of the prestigious Waterville Golf Links in south Kerry have begun legal proceedings against the American owners of the club, in search of what they claim is “fair play” after new rules which have seen their fees rise to almost double that of locals.

Some 120, or one-third of members in the club, are non-resident, residing most of the year outside a local radius.

Waterville is one of the most sought-after links courses worldwide, and is listed as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world. Its non-resident members are mostly people with holiday homes in the area and they have been asked to pay fees of €1,100 — a hike of around 60% — a sore dose for some, coming on top of the holiday home tax.