Golf enthusiasts and investors are the target market for a new phase of fairwayside houses at Mount Wolseley, in Co Carlow, which goes on sale today through Hooke & MacDonald. Designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr, currently this year's club president as well as soon-to-be resident, Mount Wolseley Hotel Golf & Country Club, Tullow, is a recent arrival on the golf circuit.
It was originally the home of the Wolseley family of Staffordshire since 1725, in whose Birmingham factory the first British car was built in 1895. The Patrician Brothers acquired the property in 1925 and used the Tullow base as their worldwide headquarters. The present owner, Donal Morrissey, took over in 1994 and developed the golf course and hotel and leisure facilities.
The first 12 investor properties at Wolseley Park with Section 23-type tax breaks go on sale today, along with the first four 1,850 sq ft houses with first floor living accommodation overlooking the third green. The final phase of houses and apartments at Wolseley Village, a residential development overlooking the course, also goes on sale this weekend and will comprise of five three-bedroom houses at 1,345 sq ft, along with two three-bedroom apartments at 910 sq ft.
The homes are designed to appeal to the Dublin weekender and corporate market. Designed to Feng Shui principles by Michael Rice, a Portlaoise architect, curved walls give a distinct layout and style to both developments.
The 12 units at Wolseley Park are aimed at investors as holiday homes for the rental market. They are located overlooking the 17th fairway and within a stroll of the hotel and clubhouse. The houses start at £180,000 and qualify for a Section 23-type allowance at 10 per cent per annum.
Under the tax incentives, the four-bedroom 1,650 sq ft properties, which meet Bord Failte standards, can only be used as rental holiday homes. This area of the country is a popular location for golfing holidays. Straddling the distance between Mount Juliet in Kilkenny and the K Club further north, Mount Wolseley can only benefit from the Carlow location.
Hotel and leisure facilities at Mount Wolseley are still being developed; a hotel swimming pool is planned for next year and a new restaurant is nearly completed. Discounted facilities and green fees are available for holiday home rental clients.
Taking all of these factors into account, Dream Ireland Holiday Rentals are forecasting a rental income of £8,500 for year one, rising to £12,500 for year 2, and by year three the development should be well established on Ireland's circuit.
For the weekenders, having a country home on a golf course - with concessions available on golf membership - only one hour's drive south of Dublin via Blessington outside of peak times, will be a pulling factor.
The three-bedroom houses have curved internal walls, high standards of finishings and raised kitchen areas with a breakfast counter and patio doors to the garden. Upstairs, the main bedroom overlooks the golf course. Prices start from £138,000 and the apartments are from £120,000.
The four houses at the nearby Wolseley Court are also curved, with open-plan living accommodation on the first floor. The main livingroom has patio doors to a large balcony with views over the course from the sofa. There are four bedrooms on the ground floor, the main room is en suite. These 1,850 sq ft family homes are priced from £220,000.
