Fore! Plans near for new golf club close to Lisburn
Could the countryside near Lisburn be the proving ground for the next Rory McIlroy?
That could very well be the case, as plans are being readied that would turn a disused 18th century building and its surrounding fields into a new golf club.
A Dublin-based property firm wants to transform the New Grove Estate on Drumbo’s Ballylesson Road into an 18-hole course, with its Georgian central building to become the clubhouse.
Notification that Merrion Property Group will soon to begin the process of submitting a planning application was delivered to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council's planning committee this morning, a necessary step when dealing with large-scale projects.
Documents published by the council describe the New Grove scheme as an “18-hole signature golf course of championship standard”, which will see the area heavily landscaped including new footbridges and water features, while listed building Newgrove House will become a new clubhouse and golf equipment storage cottage with “additional clubhouse accommodation” to be constructed in a standalone detached single storey building.
Access routes from Ballylesson Road will also be upgraded, while new laneways and pathways will be built inside the site.
Details released by Merrion reveal the course will be designed by DP World Tour golfer, 2014 Ryder Cup captain and international golf course architect Paul McGinley.
The project is being built to give Balmoral Golf Club a new home, after more than a century on its current site in south Belfast.
The design is underpinned by a commitment to complement and enhance the natural landscape of the Ballylesson site, state the people behind the move, and will drape over the existing natural contours and topography throughout the 149-acre site.
In fact it’s one of two golf clubs currently being planned out after decades in which no new facilities were built, as it’s hoped a links course on Co Londonderry’s north coast near Bellarena will open in 2029.
The Bellarena club will be around 20 miles from Royal Portrush, which in summer of last year saw a huge influx of tourists when it played host to the prestigious Open tournament.
Even with plans for two new courses being drawn up simultaneously, this still isn’t Ulster’s busiest time for golfing construction.
There was a huge flurry of golf courses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and from 1890 to 1905 more than 25 new clubs opened in what would become Northern Ireland.
In Drumbo, Merrion Property Group hope the course and clubhouse will establish a distinctive new identity for Balmoral Golf Club, one that honours its heritage while positioning it for long-term success.
CEO Robert Conan said: “We have been working in partnership with the members of Balmoral Golf Club to facilitate a planned, smooth relocation to this new site.
“This consultation reflects our commitment to a transparent and inclusive approach to protecting both the future of Balmoral Golf Club and the environmental and historically significant landscape in Ballylesson.
“This project will deliver golfing, economic, environmental and social benefits and represents a significant investment in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area, supporting regional growth and aligning with local tourism and community strategies.
“Balmoral Golf Club in its new location will contribute hugely to Northern Ireland’s reputation as a premier global golf tourist destination.”