Punters turn to putters

Faced with closure, the management of Navan Racecourse hope to find salvation through golf. In fact they believe that the sharing of facilities by the two sports will ultimately make both enterprises self-sufficient.

Details were announced yesterday of a £2.3 million development plan which will lead to the formation of Navan Golf Club and the completion of modern facilities before the end of this year. By that stage, it is expected that the club will meet the necessary criteria for affiliation to the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies' Golf Union.

Encouraged by the highly successful marriage of golf and racing at Leopardstown, Navan built a nine-hole course outside the racetrack two years ago. Now, to a design by Bobby Browne, they have completed 18 holes, with a further nine inside the track.

The plan has received the blessing of the Irish Horseracing Authority (IHA), who are giving a £900,000 grant towards the racing side of the development. 'Based on 13 days' racing last year, the racecourse couldn't break even without auxiliary activities,' said John White, chief executive of Navan and Leopardstown.

Up to now, Navan depended on green-fee revenue from their nine-hole facility. With a high-quality golf course and clubhouse, however, they will be seeking members at an initial fee of £1,350 (full) and £950 (woman associate) to include the first year's subscription.

As a proprietary club, they are offering those prices for the first 150 members. But prices are expected to rise when further members are admitted, up to a maximum of 500. The golf course will be closed on racing days, but, by way of compensation, members will each receive an annual racing member's badge.

Indicative of the far-reaching improvements is that the existing, hexagonal racecourse restaurant area is to undergo extensive refurbishment and enlargement to double as a golf clubhouse. And a driving range doubles as a car-park.

'We had to accept that attendances were falling and the racecourse had become customer unfriendly,' said Joe O'Sullivan, chairman of the 181-acre Navan complex. 'As far as the IHA were concerned, it had to be either upgraded or closed. We believe that golf can provide the answer.'