Kildare County Council have sanctioned a re-zoning of land for the construction of a second course at The K Club, which is to host the Ryder Cup in 2005. If there is no objection to the project within the next month, the Jefferson Smurfit Group will have the all-clear for a course, clubhouse and 40 detached houses.

The new 18 is planned for a 200-acre site on the other side of the River Liffey, bordering the existing lay-out at the seventh, eighth, 16th and 17th holes. It is essentially flat pastureland sloping towards the river, which means that considerable shaping will be necessary in the construction process.

A large road-bridge would join the courses at the rear of the seventh hole, known as The Weir. The course, with a planned length of 7,176 yards, is to be designed by the Arnold Palmer organisation, who were responsible for the existing course which was officially opened in 1991.

"A decision on going ahead with the development would have to be taken at group level," said the director of golf Paul Crowe yesterday. "Even if everything were to go according to plan, it is unlikely work would start on the project until early next year."

The popularity of the venue is certain to be enhanced by Ryder Cup publicity. And Crowe has estimated that the absence of a second 18 is costing the owners an estimated £50,000 a week in lost green-fee earnings.