Plans for Castleisland and Killorglin clubs to merge form new Maine Valley Members Club
A new golf club emerging from the ashes of the closure of the Killorglin and Castleisland clubs looks very much a distinct possibility this week, as discussions are continuing between members of a steering committee comprised of former members of both clubs.
Obviously it is at a very early stage of planning, and quite understandably none of the committee members when contacted were willing to be interviewed or go on record with a statement just yet, but there are a lot of positive signs that a new club can be formed, with their home base at the Killorglin course.
From information posted online and from letters circulated to former members of both clubs, it appears that following the closure of Castleisland, some members of the Killorglin club approached some of their Castleisland counterparts enquiring if they would be interested in forming a new club based at the Killorglin course.
Letters were sent to members of both clubs, and as the initial feedback was good a committee was formed, but obviously under the current Covid-19 restrictions they cannot meet in person, and all dialogue must be conducted on social media and conferencing platforms. A deadline date was set for Sunday last, April 19, by which time those willing to join the new club had to express their interest to the committee.
The Kerryman understands that the new club would be named ‘Maine Valley Members Golf Club’ after the River Maine, which rises outside Castleisland and enters the sea at Castlemaine Harbour, not far from the Killorglin course at Dromin West.
The initial number required to make the club a viable proposition was in the region of 200 and that figure was surpassed by almost fifty per cent on Sunday, which is a very positive step in the right direction.
However, those behind the organisation of the new venture were justifiably cautious after the passing of the deadline, as there is a lot of work to be done yet before the new club can be formed.
Aside from all of the legalities, red tape and paperwork, the forming of committees, the election of new officers and, of course, having the new club inspected and affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland and the ILGU, there is the important issue of converting expressions of interest into actual members who will commit to the payment of annual subscriptions.
It’s not exactly the ideal time to be looking for money from people to join a golf course under the present lockdown conditions with businesses closing down daily and severe job losses across the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but I’m confident that the right people are behind this project and they will get it done. I am sure all golfers in the county will join me in wishing them all the best and I shall look forward to bringing you their proposals, hopes and dreams for their new club in the coming weeks in this column.