The Doonbeg dream comes to life in style

The opening last week of The Lodge at Doonbeg, the second phase of the magnificent

When Leonard L. Long Jr. suggested that the development of Doonbeg as a golf

resort was “an insatiable desire for quality,” the executive vicepresident

of Kiawah Development Partners was not kidding.

We already know the Greg Norman-designed Doonbeg course to be a classic links

track in the mould of the greatest this country has to offer – and that’s

a few – but now the facilities which have been built to compliment it

could, to some eyes, actually over-shadow it. The completion of The Lodge, the

clubhouse and the interconnected accommodation in the Garden, Norman and Courtyard

suites, are not only a fine example of exquisite design and taste, the sheer

attention to detail in the building and fitting out of the development has left

absolutely no stone unturned in the quest for perfection.

Speaking at the unveiling of what is a landmark development in this part of

the world, Long self-deprecatingly said that while himself and his partner Charles

P. (Buddy) Darby III were “not the brightest guys in the world”

their skill was being able to find those people who were and they used these skills to try and make the physical infrastructure

of the project complement the wonderful course Norman has designed.

Materials from all over the world were utilised to build The Lodge, the clubhouse

and the various ancillary accommodation and the only strict guideline applied

was that quality be paramount. Roof tiles of Vermont slate, wooden beams from

Kentucky and Pennsylvania, Irish textiles and a collection of antiques and art

works from all over the globe are just some of the ingredients that make such

a powerful statement about the development.

The level of input from the architects, through the builders, to the interior

designers and the landscaping (done by Diarmuid Gavin) is quite staggering and

certainly matches Long’s claims about their insistence on quality.

The four levels of accommodation – from the suites in The Lodge (estimated

to have cost their owners €1.5m each) to those in each of the other three

ancillary developments – are simply stunning in their execution and the

individual owners of each unit will undoubtedly have carefully weighed up the

potential investment return and balanced that against the personal satisfaction

they will garner from their new asset.

Each of the 47 suites in the second phase of the Doonbeg development have already

been sold and while they are privately owned, they are leased back to the club

to form a bank of accommodation which is available to visitors.

Every item of furniture in the entire complex is antique and while some suite

owners decided to furnish their own property, they were required to do so to

a certain standard, once again underlining the demand for quality integral to

the project.

This was emphasised by Buddy Darby, the Chairman and CEO of Kiawah Development

Partners, who said that in setting out to create the ultimate golf links experience,

the intention was to have a great golf course “with unparalleled amenities,

supported by uncompromising service”.

Here again, his and Long’s ability to find the right people for the job

was underlined by their bringing in the likes of Joe Russell as general manager,

Barry O’Connor as assistant general manager, Brian Shaw as head professional,

Jim McKenna as course superintendent and Peter Houlihan as membership sales

manager.

Each of these people is a recognised expert in their own field and the qualities

each brings to their own area, complements that of the others in theirs.

The design of The Lodge, which overlooks the 18th green and the first tee,

was completed by American architect John Denton Haley and, while claimed to

be in keeping with traditional Irish architecture, will have a familiarity to

it for people who have already experienced top line link golf either in Ireland,

England or Scotland.

A striking and truly outstanding piece of work, this is the sort of design

which will undoubtedly gather many awards for its combination of tradition and

innovation.

And, with the third phase of the project, seeing the construction of a further

nine suites and 80 cottages, due to commence later this year, the great Doonbeg

phenomenon, both in Ireland and internationally, is already writ in stone.

Already some 220 jobs have been created locally as a result of the development

of the course and the complex at Doonbeg and conservative estimates indicate

that there will be another 200 jobs created indirectly.

In economic terms, the €150m investment is expected to generate the same

again in indirect tourism investment, giving an estimated total tourism investment

of up to €300m along the West Clare coast and surrounding areas. Doonbeg

will also generate an stimated spend of €20m annually.

Of course, not everyone is going to be able to afford the five star Doonbeg

experience and the fact it is a private club with some public play, means that

accessibility will be reasonably limited.

International memberships are being offered and there is also a club component

for Doonbeg-area residents but, other than that, non-member green fees are being

offered at €185 from Monday to Thursday and €195 from Friday to Sunday.

The bottom line, however, is that Doonbeg, as both Long and Darby promised,

has raised the bar in terms of service standard for Irish golf and it also has

to be recognised that the luxury facility will attract a much wider audience

than golfers alone.

That was the aim back in the early 1990s when the local Doonbeg Community development

Group began to promote the idea of a golf course at the site. That aim has been

well and truly fulfilled.