Miracle in Ballyneety 2013-2027

The golf course is on the Ballynagarde Estate which was owned by the Croker Family, prominent landed-gentry in the Limerick area. Ballynagarde House, now in ruins, was built by John Croker in 1744 for IR10k. The estate was eventually sold to the Land Commission and divided into plots for local farmers.

Ballyneety is a 183 acre parkland course, designed by renowned architects Des Smyth and Associates (incl. Declan Branigan and later his son Ronan). It was a IR10m investment being developed by GMR Leisure Holdings, a Limerick based property development company. The golf course (IR2.5m) and elevated clubhouse (IR1m) would require IR3.5m while the 66 houses and 24 holiday villas envisaged for the site would cost a further IR6.5m. The project financing was partially funded by redeemable preference shares in exchange for long term membership (20 years) which would appeal  to corporations. Initially membership started at IR2.5k and was expected to rise to IR3k based on the demand. Albert Reynolds was present at the official opening of the new club which took place on 13 June 1994. David Leadbetter also held a clinic and took some individuals aside for some private coaching. The clubhouse was designed in maple beech, glass and stone by the architect Michael Healy (who also designed the Hydropool complex at the Adare Manor Resort).

The financially-distressed owners offered a deal to the members which involved a purchase price of Eur3.5m, an annual rent and ancillary terms all of which were rejected by the membership. The club went into liquidation in 2011 with Eur2.5m in debts at which stage it was on the brink of extinction. The main creditors were Allied Irish Banks and the Revenue Commissioners. In 2013 it was purchased, with the support of Sean McSweeney’s Investment Group, from the liquidator (Gearoid Costelloe of Grant Thornton) for Eur1.428m and was renamed Ballyneety Golf Club. There were other suitors at the time including the Limerick Garda Sports & Social Club, but their commitments waned as the condition of the course was deteriorating. The driving force to purchase the club by an interim management group and eventually the members originated from the past captains Liam Lawlor (and volunteer General Manager 2013-2021), Minie O’Brien and the Lahinch golf professional Donal McSweeney and subsequently Hugh and Finola O’Donnell who added a wealth of expertise in project managing the operation. Donal McSweeney who had been involved with the predecessor club almost from the outset put a business plan in place to take over proprietary control of the driving range. Interest free loans, 15-year and life memberships and founding member donations filled the coffers and all was in place by the December 2015 AGM and a press release issued on 11 September 2016 confirmed its status as a member-owned golf club.

Several holes at Ballyneety Golf Club stand out as particularly memorable. The par-3 13th hole, with its elevated tee and lake hazards, is a classic risk-reward hole that demands accuracy and courage. The par-4 17th hole is another standout, featuring a dogleg right fairway and a large pond guarding the green. Ken Kearney carried out a bunker re-modelling, lake expansion, tree and drainage management as part of a phased course improvement plan up to 2025. The plan also involved overseeding fairways and brown bent grass on the greens. In 2025 the club won the Great Britain & Ireland Golf Course of the Year awarded by the London-based Golf Business News. The site also incorporates a community driven Innovation Hub and Men’s Shed. Ballyneety will host the 2027 Junior Ryder Cup form 14-15 September with the final day singles being played over Adare Manor, the venue for the 2027 Ryder Cup.