Doonbeg Golf Club will stage its first international competition a week after its opening date on July 1st, and eight years after the Clare site was first proposed as a world-class golf links.
Developed at a cost of more than €28 million, the course has successfully run the gauntlet of an arduous planning process which centred notably around the protection of a 2 mm snail, Vertigo Angustior, and a rare grey-dune system.
From July 8th-12th, the US-based Golf Channel is expected to televise the Palmer Cup, an annual match-play competition involving college golfers from the US against a team drawn from Britain and Ireland. The competition will coincide with the annual Willie Clancy traditional music summer school a few miles away in Milltown Malbay. Together, the events will be a boon to accommodation-providers.
There has already been some play on the 72-par Doonbeg course, notably by former US vice-president Dan Quayle; legendary American footballer Dan Marino; and former president Paddy Hillery, who lives locally. Some last-minute planting has now been done on the instructions of the course designer, Greg Norman.
"For this opening year, we are going to be very careful about the golf course. We are just going to mind it very much as a baby and make sure it is not going to be over-used," Peter Houlihan, membership director, said.
Jim McKenna, the course superintendent, emphasises the stunning views and the roaring breakers of Doughmore Bay, a surf beach which flanks the course, as a major part of its appeal.
Mr Norman has signalled the riches to come for an economically marginalised area, indicating his desire to stage the Ryder Cup or the UBS Warburg Cup when the golf links becomes established and the right infrastructure is in place in 2004.
The seriousness of the project is reflected in the membership of the board. One of its more recent members is Michael Sullivan, the former US ambassador to the Republic. Also on it is former US senator George Mitchell, and several prominent US businessmen.
The course has been cited in the US magazine, Sports Illustrated, as number two in its selection of the top 10 new courses around the world. "We have an opportunity to be one of the best golf courses in the world. A lot of it is up to who rates it and who enjoys it," said Irish golfer Brian Shaw, who has been appointed as the first head professional at the course.
Shannon Development, which originally backed the scheme after being approached by the local development association, expects an annual spend of €14 million in the region as a result of golfers moving from Lahinch to Doonbeg to Ballybunion, and taking in lesser-known courses along the way. In the meantime, the developers, Landmark National and Kiawah Development Partners, are applying for planning permission for a new clubhouse, a five-star, 90-room hotel and 46 cottages.
Green fees have been set at €185. Membership, which is now open to about 700 people, costs $20,000 which is refundable, Mr Houlihan said. "You can sell your membership back to the club for the same amount that you put into it." Annual dues have been set at $1,750.
However, 150 locals will circumvent the down-payment and are expected to pay a more modest membership.