Co Laois/from €610,000: A launch of four and five-bedroom detached houses on the edge of a fairway will make golfers sit up and take notice. The final phase has just been announced at The Heritage Golf and Country Club, a Laois country club with a course designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes.
The location at Killenard, between Monasterevin, Portarlington and Portlaoise, is about 40 miles from Dublin. When the Monasterevin bypass opens, it would be a feasible proposition to commute to the city.
Prices start at €610,000 for a dozen four-bedroom detached houses of 237 sq m ( 2,550 sq ft). There are also 17 detached five-bedroom houses of 273 sq m (2,940 sq ft), priced from €675,000. At a later date, a small number of on-course sites will be available, which can be developed to an owner's specification.
Construction of the championship course began in June 2001 and this July, it will host an exciting 4-ball competition between Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, John Daly and Seve Ballesteros.
The 7,345 yard layout - off the back tees - is set in undulating Laois countryside with challenging dog legs and water features that will impress.
In addition to the course, there is an indoor bowls facility, a floodlit jogging track, a theme pub, restaurant and the Seve Ballesteros Natural Golf School. Work has begun with a completion date of January 2005 on a world class spa and leisure facility, with healing and therapy rooms, a swimming-pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.
A five-star hotel and conference centre is due to open in mid-2005. The 1,858 sq m (20,000 sq ft) indoor bowling stadium with grass and synthetic pitches opened in February this year.
With all this happening about an hour's drive from the city, rental potential should be good. All the houses come with a membership share at The Heritage Golf and Country Club. This means the cost of joining amounts to an annual fee of €1,000 for this year.
Solidly-built houses have concrete upstairs floors and windows with timber inside and uPVC outside. They are also come piped for central vacuuming and fully alarmed.
Gardens are open-plan and fully landscaped to the front, with enclosed back gardens left for the owner's attention.
Annual maintenance charges for the grounds have not yet been decided. Houses bought now will be ready for occupation by spring 2005 onwards.
Those interested in investigating further can check ww.theheritagehotel.com
