Killarney facing ‘tough challenges’

KILLARNEY bucked the trend with green fee income rising 10% in the wake of the Irish Open, but the Kerry club still faces “tough challenges” in 2011, the club’s general manager Maurice O’Meara has warned.

O’Meara told last night’s club agm that while Killarney is on a sound financial footing and reaped the rewards of the Open, it’s been a difficult year generally. He told members: “If the loss situation is not addressed in the intermediate term we may find ourselves in a very serious situation in the coming years.”

The club’s debt position stands at €3.8m and it recently signed new agreements with the banks to repay the debt over fifteen years, O’Meara reported.

The club is seeking a modest €50 increase in full members’ subscription in 2011 (from €770 to €820) and hopes to accrue additional revenue from membership and golf society initiatives.

Mr O’Meara said the full benefits of the Irish Open and the global exposure that followed won’t be fully felt until 2011. Green fee income increased by 10% in August, September and October to offset losses suffered as a result of the early year flooding of the courses. The €1.145m in green fee income is roughly in line with 2009.

The club has undertaken a drive to attract more societies in 2011, taking their offering on the road to specially organised presentation evenings. One recent event in Cork proved very successful, he said. The club is offering 10% reductions on the night for society bookings plus a fourball as a prize. O’Meara said Killarney has also attracted 97 new members in 2010 after rolling out a new €2,000 a year (including subscriptions) over ten year deal.

The club has developed a covered, fully operational driving range on the Lackabane course and undertook a range of works in conjunction with the Open, which Mr O’Meara said had been “hugely beneficial” in terms of putting Killarney back on the golfing map.

The general manager said he was quietly confident the 2011 renewal would return to Killarney.