Legend Jack Nicklaus has accepted the first overseas Life Membership of
Royal Dublin.

The Dollymount club is in the process of increasing its intake of members
from outside the country and the presence of the Golden Bear is likely to
make overseas membership an even more attractive prospect.

Nicklaus famously visited the venerable Bull Island links in 1986 when as
reigning Masters champion, he played an exhibition match with Spaniard
Severiano Ballesteros, then at the very height of his powers.

The American recently accepted the first Life overseas membership offered by
the club, cementing a relationship that began with the "Toyota Challenge of
Champions" against Ballesteros.

Ballesteros won the match with a two-under-par 70 to a 71 from the Bear, but
Nicklaus went on to strike up a relationship with Toyota boss Tim O'Mahony
and returned to design Mount Juliet several years later.

One of the most prestigious clubs in the country, Royal Dublin currently has
in excess of 1,100 members in all categories - full, five-day, pavilion,
overseas and junior.

Of those, 67 are currently in the overseas category but plans to increase
that number significantly are already well in hand.

"It will add a global dimension to the club and of course it will also be
good for revenue," said club captain Liam Meaney. "We will build a solid
base of global contacts which will be of great benefit to the club."

The North Dublin club is also planning to spend over ¤1 million (euro) on
alternations to the course to be carried out by golf course architect Martin
Hawtree over five years.

Hawtree has also worked on alterations to Lahinch, Portmarnock and Royal
Birkdale in recent years.

"In the last 18 months we've taken the view that we have got to put quite a
lot of work into our golf course to keep it up there at championship
standard," said Royal Dublin captain Liam Meaney.

"Martin Hawtree has done a preliminary survey of course and has started
detailed work on the entire course and how improvements can be made on each
and every hole."

Damage to the course and clubhouse, caused by flooding in February, cost in
excess of ¤150,000 euro to repair and forced Royal Dublin to rethink its
tidal defences.

A Special General Meeting approved the changes to be carried out over a
five-year time frame that also include improvements to irrigation, fencing
and flood defences.

Starting with the par three ninth, Hawtree plans to introduce more
undulation on some fairways, raise the level of greens and make others less
receptive to approach shots.

Added Meaney: "The greens committee has been working very hard with our
superintendent Gordon Farrington to bring about changes already. Our intent
is to maintain the prestige of the links itself."

The course hosted memorable editions of the Carroll's Irish Open between
1983 and 1985 when Seve Ballesteros (twice) and Bernhard Langer took the
title.

"Our intent to not to bring a professional event to Royal Dublin," said
Meaney. "We're keen to maintain our links with amateur golf because the
standards in the amateur game are rising all the time.

"We believe the golf club should be up there in championship ratings and
lengthening the course will come into the reckoning to combat new
technology."

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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