Golf clubs around Ireland are beginning to feel the effects of the economic downturn, with business down by as much as 25 per cent in some areas. Golf courses on the west coast are being particularly affected, as the tourism industry on which they are so reliant suffers a slump. The difficulties faced by golf clubs can be seen in membership levels. Having more than doubled to over 200,000 in 2007 in the space of 20 years, golfers memberships dropped by more than 2,000 last year.
Killarney golf club is an example of a golf course suffering from the slump in the tourist industry. Maurice O’Meara, general manager of Killarney golf club, revealed that American tourists usually account for 14 per cent of their visitors, but that figure would drop to just 5 per cent this year. Consequently, the club’s 46 staff have been reduced to working a three day week, with further reductions in the pipeline.
Golf courses on the east coast aren’t feeling the pinch to the same degree, however. Paul Muldowney, manager of the Royal Dublin golf club at Dollymount, Dublin, said that its big membership was so far protecting it from the worst of the downturn.
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