Ballybunion Golf Club took in €5.6m in last year – and expects tourists to provide even bigger boost this year

Tiger Woods in action at Ballybunion, Co Kerry. Photo: Francis Bennett

Jimmy Woulfe

Ballybunion Golf Club, ranked among the top golf courses in the world, took in a record €5.6m last year, latest figures show.

The earnings were made up of €4.67m in green fees (€300 a golfer for a round) and €985,000 in takings at the golf shop, which sells branded golf wear as well as equipment.

The omens for the current year are for a new record in earnings at the Kerry golf club.

Club manager John Eggleston said: “Last year we had full occupancy for the months of June, July, August, and bookings already indicate it will be the same this year.

“This year, the green fee increases to €350. Visiting golfers have the course from 7am to 1.30pm, Monday to Saturday.”

The club is currently closed to new membership.

“We have over 2,500 members, which must be one of the largest in the country and we must be able to ensure our members have plenty of golf time,” Mr Eggleston said.

Club chairman, Frank Fenn, said: “During 2023, we had some very famous golfers such as YE Yang, winner of the US Open in 2009, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.”

The club has a team of more than 80 caddies, whose fee is €120 for two bags and €95 for one bag.

Senior caddy Teddy Julian (64), who has been caddying for 50 years at Ballybunion, said: “My father brought me to the club on his bike when I was 14 and I carried a bag for Dr Jack McGuire from Listowel on my very first outing.

“Since then, I have caddied for many of the great golfers such as Tom Watson and Byron Nelson.

“I refused to caddy for Michael Jordan, the famous basketball player, when he came a few years ago as I heard he was not pleasant to caddies in the United States.

“I am usually one of the first out in the morning as senior caddy and I usually get around in about four hours.

“This helps set the pace for the rest of the day for the other caddies with no hold-ups.”

Martin Donnelly, Fáilte Ireland’s golf product sales and distribution manager, said US golfers spend two-and-a-half times more money than any other recreation-pursuit visitors to Ireland.

Mr Donnelly said: “We estimate that each US golfer spends about €2,500. We have the (British) Open back in 2025 and the Ryder Cup in Adare in 2027.

“With these great events coming, we have an unparalleled opportunity to maximise Irish golf throughout the world.”

​Last year, 220,000 golf visitors came to play in Ireland.