Prospective members of the Greg Norman-designed £12.5 million golf links resort at Doonbeg, Co Clare, could be asked to pay over £52,000 to join. The enrolment fee being considered for an initial select and limited membership of about 300 would make Doonbeg the most expensive golf club in Ireland. Construction work on the course has yet to begin.
The membership is likely to be drawn mainly from the US, according to Mr Gerald Barton, who heads the US-based developers, Landmark National Ltd, whose Irish subsidiary, Irish National Golf Club Ltd, runs the project.
In a recent newspaper interview in the US, Mr Barton is quoted as saying: "I wanted a positive image of the Irish-American. That is my market. Not many people in Ireland are going to join, but people in Boston and New York will."
One US citizen who probably will not have to pay the proposed fee is Senator George Mitchell, since he is the chairman of Irish National Golf Club Ltd. Senator Mitchell is expected to occupy one of the 46 holiday homes at the site, which will also include a 51-bedroom hotel and conference centre.
However, locals - many of whom played a large part in securing the project for west Clare and who could be ruled out of playing golf on the course because of the prohibitive cost of joining - have been offered a local membership deal, according to Mr Barton's son, Mr Doug Barton.
Attempting to distance himself from the US news report and his father's comments, Mr Barton added: "As membership details of the golf club are not yet finalised, it is too early to speculate either on fees or the number of members."
According to a recent survey of fees at Irish golf clubs, the $70,000 enrolment fee per member would make Doonbeg by far the most expensive club to join in Ireland.
The exclusive K Club and Mount Juliet golf clubs would not reveal their entry fees, but people wishing to join Druids Glen, Co Wicklow, must pay £30,000 plus VAT, with green fees of £80.
Malahide and Clontarf golf clubs charge £6,000, St Margaret's, near Dublin Airport, charges £7,500 and Royal Dublin, Dollymount and Rathfarnham Castle charge £4,000.
