*Photograph: Brian Arthur
AN OPERATING surplus of €2.5m was recorded by Lahinch Golf Club last year on the back of record green fee income.
Lahinch Golf Club’s financial statements for 2025 show that green fee income last year increased by 26 percent from €3.3m to €4.19m. Last year, the club increased green fees to €375 for non-members to play a round of golf at its ‘iconic’ Old Course.
From April 27th to October 16th this year, green fees for non-members is to rise to €450 for a round of golf at the Old Course.
In his report to members chairperson, Brian Hanly said that “2025 has produced another set of strong financial results” with actual figures coming in ahead of budget.
The club’s overall income increased by 20 percent from €5.42m to €6.48m and “this was mainly due to an increase in the green fee rate” that was applied in 2025.
Last year, green fee income of €4.19m was ahead of the projected €3.8m and made up 65 percent of the club’s overall income of €6.48m.
In a bumper year for the golf club, the club golf shop alone generated revenues of €1.62m which is 18 percent ahead of the shop revenues of €1.38m in 2024.
The sales of Lahinch GC branded clothing and accessories and other items including caddy car hire income at €41,195 contributing a gross profit of €878,245 to the club’s finances.
After taking into account non-cash depreciation costs of €1.06m, the golf club recorded a surplus of €1.55m, which was double the surplus of €752,712 in 2024.
2023 US Masters champion and LIV tour member, Jon Rahm won the highly successful Dubai Duty Free Irish Open staged at Lahinch in 2019 which raised the course’s international profile.
US golfers usually make up a sizeable chunk of the green fee income and in his report, Mr Hanly states that the hosting of The Walker Cup at Lahinch on September 5th and 6th next will result in a loss of green fee revenue of approximately €600,000 for 2026.
Mr Hanly says that “while the green fee has increased in line with all other marquee golf clubs, we are hoping to keep green fee income at around the same level as last year”.
He said that the Lahinch Golf Club “is already looking at the numbers for 2027 and in line with our peer clubs, a further increase in the green fee rate will apply”.
The club is budgeting to generate €4.2m in green fee income this year despite the anticipated €600,000 hit from the hosting of The Walker Cup.
Last year members paid €1.26m in subs and Mr Hanly said that “we are looking at allocating more tee times for members while still maintaining the required level of income”.
Mr Hanly states that Lahinch “has one of the highest number of members of any sporting club across the island of Ireland”.
Mr Hanly said that the Old Course last year hosted in excess of 35,000 rounds of golf.
In addition to ordinary subs of €1.26m the golf club also generated €150,000 from Overseas Life Membership.
Construction work on an upgraded club house is nearing completion and Mr Hanly says that “while there is rarely a building project that does not have some overruns, we are not currently seeing anything of major consequence in this area”.
He said that the aim is that the clubhouse “will be available to members for the May bank holiday weekend”.
At the end of December last, the club’s total funds amounted to €12.32m while its cash funds increased from €3.78m to €4.6m.
The spend on all aspects of the course totalled €2.53m in 2025.
Staff costs last year increased from €2.08m to €2.27m.
In his report, Mr Hanly reveals that a ‘Go-Pro Day’ for member, Áine Donegan staged last August at the club “was a great success with members and their guests raising over €80,000 on the day to help Áine in her early years as a Golf professional”.
