Our History
From Farmlands to Fairways, a golfing vision set out by Larry and Mari Byrne came to fruition in the early 1990’s and after much pain staking patience, planning and preparation, the golf course we enjoy today, designed by Irish Ryder Cup star Philip Walton, opened in 1993. The golf course was previously a par 3 golf course owned and run by the Rackard family for many years until its successful transformation into an 18 hole par 72 championship golf course.
It was part of a combined golf course and holiday home development which was one of the first of its type in Ireland. While the holiday homes are privately owned and managed separately from the golf course, the two complement each other and provide a first class golf and holiday experience.
Over the years the golf course has gained a reputation for providing a fair and challenging experience for golfers at all levels. With its’ combination of parkland and links terrain, along with its stunning finishing holes overlooking the sea, St. Helen’s Bay is a firm favourite with both members and visitors to the region.
In 2013 the company that owned the golf course went into receivership, and the course was threatened with closure. As a consequence a group was formed, comprising golf club members, holiday home owners and other interested parties, in order to save the club. They established a public limited company under the name of Bing Bay Holdings plc (BBH) to raise the capital required to purchase the course, clubhouse and associated facilities from the receiver. BBH completed the purchase in mid-2014.
The Golf Club Structure
St. Helen’s Bay Golf Club is a member managed, equal rights club. The rules of the club are determined by the club constitution first approved by the members at a general meeting in 2014. The constitution may only be changed by a vote of members at a general meeting. The structure of the club comprises:
Bing Bay Holdings, as owners of the facility, manage the business affairs of the facility, including finances, course management and development, clubhouse, and marketing/business development.
A Club Committee manages the administration of the golf club while a Men's Committee and a Ladies Committee look after the golfing aspects of the club.
There are a number of employees/contractors to look after the day to day running of the club such as course maintenance, shop and clubhouse services.
The Ladies and Men's golf sections hold their AGMs each November, while the BBH AGM is held in April each year. There are a number of membership categories within the golf club.
Depending on the membership category individual members are entitled to attend and vote at AGMs, and put themselves forward for committee.