Balmoral Golf Club in Northern Ireland is to relocate to a new site after the membership voted to sell the club to a Dublin-based property firm.
At an extraordinary general meeting held last week, an overwhelming majority of the 450-strong membership voted to sell the site to Merrion Property Group, and bring an end to months of financial uncertainty at the Belfast-based club, which has been in existence on its current site since 1914.
Under the terms of the arrangement, Balmoral will vacate its 75-acre site in the next three to five years and move four miles away to a new and, as yet, undeveloped 120-acre site, where a new 18-hole championship course designed by former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley will be built, along with a new clubhouse.
Balmoral club captain Michael Ewings said: “I am absolutely delighted with the decision made by the membership to secure the future of Balmoral Golf Club for generations to come. Balmoral has a proud history and a very loyal membership, and we look forward to an exciting venture on our new and modern facility.”