AFTER 102 years in their modest home at Ravenswell Road, Bray Golf Club are to change location in a major development deal. The all-clear was given at an extraordinary general meeting of the members last weekend.
During the last 15 years, club officials were preparing for such an eventuality, in anticipation of a compulsory purchase order being placed on key areas of their 50-acre site. Now, they are set to make way for a development which is expected to involve two or three GAA pitches, an Irish school and apartments and shops.
The construction of a new road leading to the centre of Bray is also anticipated, including a second bridge over the River Dargle. This would facilitate a one-way traffic system from the recently-completed N11 bypass.
At the e.g.m., Bray's members voted 204 to 11 in favour of a move which will take them to a fully-developed 18-hole course at Ballynamuddagh, on the Greys tones side of Bray Head. "It is only about two miles from our present home, which adds to its attraction," said Mr Paddy McLoughlin, club vice-captain.
Effectively, the club will double their playing facilities, from nine to 18 holes. This will make it possible to increase membership from the present levels of 273 men and 150 women.
It is understood the deal will also give them a fully equipped, £2.5 million clubhouse and £500,000 of golf-course machinery. And as a bonus, Bray GC are to receive £2 million in cash, out of which they have anticipated costs of £300,000.
The club own only 30 acres of their present site, the other 20 being on a sporting lease. This was sold last year by the owner, Lord Meath, to Dwyer Nolan Development Ltd, so accelerating the prospect of a move to a new location.
"My understanding is that we will see a new road into Bray, running through our present seventh fairway," added Mr McLoughlin.
Their new home will be on 178 acres of farmland where, subject to planning permission, a course will be laid out by the design team of Ryder Cup golfer Des Smyth and his partner, Declan Branigan. The anticipated time-scale is for work to start next September, with the move being completed 18 months after that, in 2001.
The urban council chairman, Mr Michael Lawlor, said yesterday that the deal would be a major boost to Bray.
"Bray Emmet's GAA Club, which presently occupies a site in the centre of the town, is hoping to move to part of the existing golf links to allow that site to be redeveloped.
"The development here is a theatre, hotel, health centre, civic offices shops and offices valued at £40 million. Taken with the new site which is estimated roughly at over £100 million it is a very welcome development."
However, at a meeting earlier this year, the Save Our Head Organisation (SOHO) heard some members criticise the plans for the new course on the grounds that the land should be open to all.