Cut-price paradise at K Club in Kildare for €525,000

Must love golf. Seriously, not only does 901 Ladycastle have views across the K Club golf course to the clubhouse itself, it also comes with a pair of mandatory golf club memberships, which will set you back €8,000 a year for the two.

On the other hand, you’re getting a bargain, when you consider that the asking price is €525,000, in a receiver sale through Savills.

Compare this to the €1.6 million loan former minister for finance Charlie McCreevy drew down from Nationwide for his Ladycastle apartment purchase in 2006, the year the Ryder Cup was held at the K Club.

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At the height of the boom, rumours of famous residents at Ladycastle, which is reached through not one, but two sets of security gates, abounded. Bill Clinton was said to have bought one – he hadn't – but prices were definitely stellar.

In 2008, No 917, which is similar in size to 901, was for sale for €2.495 million. Save for during the Ryder Cup itself, 901 was never actually occupied. One of the showhomes, it’s still in pristine condition, and if anyone wanted to make a film set during the property boom period, this would make the ideal spot.

Marble floors
So, Celtic Tiger-era décor aside, what does your money buy you? You get a well-built house on a picture-perfect gated estate.

There are four large bedrooms, all en suite, a large garage, sunny conservatory, living room, dining room, kitchen and utility room. There are marble tiled floors, as well as carpeted spaces, and underfloor heating upstairs as well as down.

You get a statement staircase, gas fireplaces, dressing rooms in two of the bedrooms, and an integrated sound system. Oh, and there’s a built-in espresso machine, and a wine fridge too.

The Ladycastle estate was built to cater for well-heeled golf lovers, and it still fills that bill – you just don’t have to be quite so well-heeled to enjoy it nowadays.

Dublin is just 30km away, along the M7 or M4, so it could make a handy bolt-hole for anyone whose dreams are full of birdies, eagles, and even the occasional albatross.

In December 2011, the neighbouring 902 sold for €585,000. Residents also pay an annual service charge of €3,234.