Increased green fees set to push Lahinch Golf Club income to €3.8m
Record green fee income of €3.3m at Lahinch Golf Club last year contributed to the club making an operating surplus of €1.72m.
This year, the club has increased green fees to €375 for non-members to play a round of golf at its 'iconic' Old Course.
In his report to members, outgoing chairperson John Gleeson said that on foot of the 2025 green fee increase, 'we expect our revenue from green fee activity to exceed 2024 levels'.
The 2023 US Masters champion and now LIV tour member, Jon Rahm won the Irish Open staged at Lahinch in 2019 which raised the course's international profile.
US golfers usually make up a sizeable chunk of the green fee income and the annual report shows that arising from green fees increasing to €375 from April 22 to October 10, Lahinch Golf Club is projecting that its green fee income will increase to €3.8m in 2025.
Mr Gleeson said that while members' annual subscription income increased to €1.23m in 2024 'we continue to rely very heavily on revenue generated from green fee visitors'.
Last year, the club's golf shop alone generated €1.38m in revenues from the sales of Lahinch GC branded clothing and accessories and other items, contributing a gross profit of €611,318 to the club's finances.
Mr Gleeson said that the operating surplus of €1.72m 'has allowed us to rebuild our finances with our contingency fund of €2m in place, while providing additional funding for our clubhouse project'.
Construction work continues on the upgrade of its clubhouse, which is now almost 60 years old and Mr Gleeson said that 'the tender price was €6.6m which is a major undertaking for the club'.
"We look forward to having the 'new clubhouse' completed ahead of the Walker Cup in 2026,' Mr Gleeson said.
Mr Gleeson said golfing activity was at record levels by both members and guests and the Castle Course saw a large increase in usage by members.
The club's finances were also boosted by new members spending €245,000 on 'overseas life memberships'. The €3.32m in green fee income along with €1.23m in members' subs and the €681,141 golf shop gross contribution contributed to overall revenues last year of €5.42m.
Staff costs in 2024 increased from €1.88m to €2.08m. At the end of December, the club's equity increased to €10.7m. The golf club's cash funds increased from €3.57 million to €3.78m.
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