Balmoral Golf Club is planning a move to a new Paul McGinley-designed 18-hole championship course.
As part of a move from town to country, the 75 acre Belfast club will be moving to the Ballylesson Road, Drumbo.
The decision to move Balmoral from its current Lisburn Road site was taken at a recent EGM where club members overwhelmingly endorsed the Council proposal to relocate, an idea first mooted a quarter of a century ago.
Golfing legend McGinley was the guest of honour at Balmoral last weekend, as part of the new partnership between Balmoral Golf Club and the Merrion Property Group, based in Dublin, who will bring McGinley’s vision to life.
The move provides financial certainty to the cash-strapped club.
Former Ryder Cup captain McGinley was there meet club members and share his plans for the design of the new 149 acre New Grove Estate.
“We’re going to move just over three miles from where we are now to a new facility, a wonderful piece of land in my view, to build a wonderful golf course,” he told UTV.
Vice-captain Bernie McNally told the broadcaster: “I think now we’re absolutely ready to move because it’s all about long term sustainability for the club, it’s about making sure we have a good strong membership, it’s about making sure we have a history and bring that history with us, but most important it’s about the future.”
Paul also wanted to meet younger members and answer questions in the club house, sharing some of his experiences as a professional golfer, including that iconic putt to win the Ryder cup for Europe in 2002.
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News Catch Up – Monday 17 February