The European Club golf course in Wicklow
The golf course, where Tiger Woods holds the record of 67 strokes, has just over 80 members. Above, Woods on the Jupiter Links club in Palm Beach in March. Photo Getty
The European Club, one of the best-known links courses in Ireland, is close to being sold to Raymond and Nicky Conlan, former motor dealers who offloaded their car garage business in a multi-million euro deal.
The Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, golf course was put on the market back in 2024 by owner and co-founder Pat Ruddy, a golf course architect and journalist. Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty sought offers in the €35m region.
David Ashmore of Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty confirmed a deal is contracted for The European Club. He declined to comment further.
Separate sources in the property industry would not be drawn on the exact figure of the potential deal, adding it was close to the guide price.
The sources said the potential buyers of the course were the Conlans.
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The father and son duo recently sold their Co Kildare car garage business, Conlans & Sons, to Frank Keane Motors – a BMW dealership for almost 60 years – in a deal understood to be worth over €25m.
When contacted about the potential acquisition, the Conlans declined to comment.
Mayo-born Ruddy founded The European Club in 1987, owning it alongside his wife Bernadine.
The 193-acre (78.3 hectares) property includes almost a mile of sea frontage and views of the Wicklow Mountains.
The golf course, where Tiger Woods holds the record of 67 strokes, has just over 80 members.
Selling agent Sotheby’s said in a brochure the figure gave new owners the choice of remaining private, going ultra-private or maximising golf traffic through “world visitor play and an enlarged membership”.
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