‘Anger and resentment’ over closure of golf centre
By Aideen O'Flaherty
There’s “a lot of anger and resentment” about the closure of the Carr Golf Centre in the Spawell, Templeogue, according to the centre’s manager, and more than 1,000 people have signed a petition urging the landowners, Dublin GAA, to keep the centre open.
Staff of the centre, which employs eight people, were informed of the imminent closure at a meeting on August 31 and were told by the centre’s parent company that “options will be available” to them.
Dublin GAA bought the site of the Spawell Complex last year for a reported €9m, with plans for the development of a Dublin GAA Centre of Excellence on the 35-acre site.
The golf centre will close when their current lease comes to an end on September 30.
Kevin Hughes, the manager of the Carr Golf Centre at the Spawell, told The Echo: “There’s a lot of anger and resentment [about the closure] from the people who use the driving range.
“It’s not just the local community in Templeogue that’s affected, it’s people from the whole southside that come over here, from places like Tallaght and Inchicore.”
Carr Golf has operated the Spawell Golf Centre for the past seven years, however, pitch and putt and driving range facilities have been located at that site since 1983.
Great growth opportunities
The CEO of Carr Golf, Marty Carr, said: “Following discussions with the new owners of the complex, Carr Golf has decided to terminate its management agreement due to lack of visibility regarding the long-term plans for the site.
“The decision to end our relationship with this iconic golf facility in Dublin was a tough one.
“However, we are focussed on some great growth opportunities within the game that are more aligned to the future of golf – whilst continuing to deliver experiences that will help meet your needs as golfers and our clients to grow sustainably in what is a congested and competitive golf market.”
Dublin GAA were contacted for comment but they did not respond in time for print.
