THERE is to be no leasing deal between Ballyliffin GC and Nick Faldo. The offer of, such an arrangement, made by Faldo in November, was rejected overwhelmingly last night by an extraordinary general meeting of the club members.

"As far as we're concerned, the idea of a lease is now a dead issue," said Ballyliffin honorary secretary, Karl O'Doherty last night. "In saying that, however, we wish to make it clear that we feel honoured by the interest shown in our club by the reigning US Masters champion."

Effectively, the members had to decide whether they agreed with the decision of the club council in turning down the Faldo offer on November 25th. According to O'Doherty, the majority in favour of council was so great that "there was no need to count hands."

The meeting, which lasted two and a half hours, was attended by about 200 of Ballyliffin's 1,000 members. They considered every aspect of a deal in which Faldo was to have a 33 year management lease of the club in return for clearing the overdraft of £600,000, building a new clubhouse and generally upgrading the 36 hole facility.

While endorsing the council's action, the members also made it clear that there should be no counter proposal from the club. "The ball is now very much in Faldo's court," added O'Doherty. "We would still be interested in an association with him whereby he would do some design work here in return for a small fee."

This was the offer that sparked Faldo's initial interest in Ballyliffin in 1993, when he played the Old Course as part of a buildup to the Irish Open at Mount Juliet. While acknowledging that it was "the most natural course" he had ever played, he pointed to the bunkers as being of poor construction and in the wrong places. The upshot of it was that he offered to re design them.

Events of recent weeks, however, threatened to split the membership into opposing factions. In fact Tony Doherty, a 56 year old member who had won $4 million in a US lottery, was prepared to match the Faldo deal if only to save his colleagues from a damaging rift.

"W don't want the club to change and, no offence to Nick Faldo, we don't need him," he said before last night's meeting. "I'll match whatever money he wants to nut in to keen him away." Either way, the club were not under any pressure financially. As the honorary secretary pointed out: "It's our heritage. The club is for our kids and their kids and, quite simply, it's not for sale."

Though the Faldo deal looked good on paper, I understand that it was the sort of tough, business arrangement one would expect from his IMG trained manager, John Simpson. For instance, it contained a five year opt out clause for Faldo's side, but not for the club.

Either way, no further meetings are planned, so last night's decision could mean an end to the whole affair. But O'Doherty concluded: "If Faldo wants to come back to us with another proposal, the council will decide whether it is worth putting to the members."

Meanwhile, with a potential split averted, it is hoped that life at the country's most northerly club can now get back to normal.