The privately owned McNicholas Group has taken a 30% stake in Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club, which is located in spectacular surroundings at Templenoe near Kenmare.
The McNicholas Group is a long established and major force in the construction industry. Tommy McNicholas is chairman of the group, one of Britain’s most successful privately owned enterprises. Pat McNicholas (Tommy’s father) and Michael McNicholas started the business in 1949, working from a one-roomed office.
Now the company employs over 3,500 people and operates throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America, servicing dozens of major utilities companies. The Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club represents a new venture for the Group as its first involvement with the leisure business.
The par 72, 6,923-yard course, based upon a routing plan by Eddie Hackett, opened in 1999. It is operated by Universal Golf Consultancy Limited with Ed Edwards as the general manager.
Under the ownership of McNicholas Group, together with Dominic Reid and Tommy McNicholas – the founding shareholders who retain 70% of the business – the property will now undergo a major expansion programme including new dining, conference and timeshare facilities.
“We are really excited and fully supportive of these plans,” says Ed Edwards. “The new housing is tremendously good news. I could not be more delighted.”
This major investment underlines the confidence of McNicholas in the future of the golf club and associated leisure operations. Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club is featured in Golf World’s calendar ‘Greatest Golf Courses in the World‘ which was available free with the January edition.
McNicholas Group www.mcnicholas.co.uk
Ring of Kerry G & CC www.ringofkerrygolf.com
Construction group backs Irish golf club development
