An offer of £22 million for The European Club has been turned down by owner Pat Ruddy. It came from a consortium of Irish-based businessmen who clearly appreciate the rarity value of top-quality links terrain.

"Naturally, I had to consider an offer of such proportions, but I have rejected it in writing," Ruddy said yesterday. Then he added with a grin: "Fortunately, I am in a position to do so without having to apply for social assistance."

This is far and away the biggest offer to have been made for an Irish links, indeed for any Irish golf course. The last major links to come on the market was Waterville, which was brought 15 years ago by a group of American businessmen for a reported £1.5 million.

Since then, Nick Faldo has tried without success to buy Ballyliffin where, incidentally, Ruddy designed the second, Glashedy Links, in partnership with the late Tom Craddock. And big things are expected of Doonbeg, where a links designed by Greg Norman is expected to be ready for play in 2002. The fact is there are only about 150 first-class links courses in the world, of which about 70 are in Britain and 39 in this country. "If I were to sell at this stage, it would leave a huge hole in my heart," said Ruddy. "I have nursed this project like a baby since I bought the 200-acre site back in 1986 and my ambition is to see it take its place among the game's truly great courses."

In the view of many respected observers, it has already gained that status. For instance, Walker Cup captain and golf course designer Peter McEvoy, said of The European: "It is unquestionably one of the finest links courses in these islands I have played and I'm sure that, in time, it will be right up there with the best."

Having started work on the course in 1987, Ruddy opened it for play on St Stephen's Day, 1992. As he recalled: "We cut the grass sufficiently to make it possible to find about 50 per cent of balls and we charged a green-fee of £10. Over the years, I estimate that our re-investment would produce an overall figure in the order of £8 million."

Apart from a huge personal involvement in the facility, Ruddy also sees it as a legacy to his family. Indeed his son Gerry and daughters Sidon and Bernardine are officially listed as managers of the club.

European captain Sam Torrance has told Nick Faldo he stands a great chance of being picked for the Ryder Cup next year. "I love his keenness," Torrance told Golf Weekly. "He definitely wants to make the team and I'd definitely like to have him there. But he has to be on his game, I won't pick him because of who he is."