It was once all the rage to have a weekend bolthole in a luxury golf resort, and mix with the rich and famous at the first tee. Today many of these luxury holiday homes are now used as full-time family homes. Far from bijou, some of these weekend houses stretched to 6,000sq ft and were purchased for sums in the region of €3 million, at a time when some owners would rather forget.
Number 33 Leinster Wood, at Carton House outside Maynooth overlooks the 18th green on 1,200 acres within a walled estate.
Originally home to the Dukes of Leinster, Carton House and Golf Club developed 140 houses on the grounds and initially the houses designed by Murray O'Laoire, started at €990,000.
This house was the Duke showhouse – interiors were designed by Cavey Interior Design, who also designed the Merrion Hotel in Dublin.
The Scandinavian influences shine through with floor to ceiling wooden windows, calming neutral interiors and a high spec kitchen – all set in magnificent woodlands. With four bedrooms and 226sq m of elegant living space – for sale through REA Coonan asking €700,000.
Up a notch was Ladycastle at The K Club. When originally for sale, commercial vehicles were not permitted to park outside these houses – presumably they lowered the tone of these trophy homes. Now prices have lowered and there are bargains to be had – compared with original selling prices. The club briefly became the busiest helipad in the world during the Ryder Cup, with 700 flights a day running from the five helipads.
A house owned by DJ Carey and Sarah Newman who paid €3 million in 2006, was for sale in February of this year for €650,000 and is now for sale asking €705,000 through Hunters Estates.. Membership of the golf course is now included, but it is mandatory new owners pay annual membership fees which range from €6,430.
On a more modest level, 5 Highfields Lodge – part of the Highfields Golf Resort is asking €110,000 through CME Auctioneers.
Built as part of a complex of 10 cedar lodges, which featured on RTÉ's Showhouse, the three-bedroom log home has buggy paths all the way to the greens. Interiors feature exposed log walls, an open plan living area and mezzanine.
Club fees are €495 or €195 for the reduced membership option.
