Club Development
Breaking Ground for the New Clubhouse
Tuesday 19th March 2001 saw the first sod being turned for the clubhouse development. As the ground staff removed the two cherry-blossom trees that for 14 years had adorned the gable of the clubhouse the first sod of the development was turned by the President, Jim Brady.
Jim was assisted by the Vice-Captain, Kieran Gregory and the Lady Captain, Joan Doyle. Let us hope the bright sunshine, after a St. Patrick’s weekend of atrocious weather was a good omen of the many successful years that we will enjoy the new facility.
Under Construction!
The builder moved in and the construction began during the last week in March. There is no disruption to the course and only minimal inconvenience about the car park as yet. For those of our members overseas, we will post updated photographs of the development as the weeks progress.
June 1st, 2001
Nine weeks on and the development has reached a stage where disruption is nearing its height. We can see the extension grow day by day but unfortunately the front entrance is dug up as the foundations for the wheelchair access ramp are installed and the shuttering for the ramp itself is built. The gable wall of the restaurant is being demolished day by day with a level of noise, dust and vibration that would not be out of place on the fields of Armageddon. Looking at the positive side, things can only get better from here on. The new carpets and furniture have been chosen. The tiling and colour schemes for the new toilets and changing rooms have been decided upon and will be a quantum improvement on the present facilities. All we have to do is to hang in there until September!
The building work has reached a defining stage with the closing of the roof to the elements. The building now gives the impression of its true size and of its promise of comforts to come. The most impressive feature of the building so far is the massive opening that has been left for the expansive wrap-around window that will make up the northern & western walls of the restaurant. This feature was apparent in the architect’s blueprints but only now is the true size of this area of glass beginning to reveal itself. The bad news is that it can not be long before the builders are ready to start to dismantle the interior of the existing building. We can only prepare to steel ourselves against the disruption that will be caused.
July 1st, 2001
Halfway through the summer and the building is really coming together on the outside. The roof tiles from the front of the building are being removed and used to cover the roof on the rear of the building while new tiles are being used to roof the front of the clubhouse. This will help to disguise the joining of the new part of the building to the old. Unfortunately it can not be long until the interior of the building is tackled and we begin to suffer some real disruption to the normal life of the Club.
July 23rd, 2001
With the builders on holidays for two weeks the progress can be expected to slow on the outside of the building. However inside the work will continue apace. The glazers, plumbers and electricians will continue their work and the specialist kitchen fitters will install the state-of-the-art kitchen equipment. In the progress photographs below, note that the new front steps are about to be laid over the old obstacle course.
October 8th, 2001
We are now truly into the worst part of the disruption in the Clubhouse. The changing rooms are now torn apart and the bar is nonexistent. There are no longer any weather-proof windows in the building and no floor coverings that are not impregnated with plaster dust.
The good news at this time is that even the least foresighted can imagine the magnificence of the finished product and despite the disruption the social life of the Club continues. The hard-core members continue to play mixed competition and entertain in the makeshift bar afterward. The Friday night card school will begin very shortly in order to give a wayward flock of turkeys a home for Christmas.
November 11th, 2001
With the festive season rapidly approaching, the clubhouse is beginning to take shape. The men’s changing rooms and showers are complete and waiting only for the laying of carpets. The windows are all installed and the two bars are fully built.
Work has begun on the ladies changing rooms, toilets and showers and when this is complete the final phase of constructing the administration areas will begin. The function rooms and bars are almost fully decorated and we already have the luxury of new armchairs and sofas. Even the carpets will be laid in time for the A.G.M.s to take place over the next fortnight.
God willing, the heating system will come into operation before we lose any members to frostbite!
December 30th, 2001
As the year closes, the clubhouse is within a whisker of completion. The men’s changing rooms and showers are now fully complete. All scaffolding has been removed from the outside of the building and the walkway from the car park is now open.
No member could fail to be impressed by the impact of the new granite entrance steps and ramp. The bars and the restaurant await only the hanging of window blinds and the replacement of wall decorations. Downstairs only the ladies showers and the administration area remain to be completed. We can look forward with confidence to completion of the project by the end of January.
Paul Bradbury Selected as Builder for New Clubhouse
The builder for the clubhouse extension has been appointed and is due to start work on Monday 21st March. The builder is Paul Bradbury and he comes very highly recommended. It is hoped that the work will be complete by early September.
A compound for builders’ machinery is being set up on the area of car park behind the 10th tee. The administration office is being moved out of the clubhouse immediately into temporary accommodation and will remain there for the rest of the summer.
Final Date for Tendering Approaches
The final date for the tendering process is 5th of February. A builder will be chosen as soon as practicable after that and it is hoped that the chosen builder will be able to begin construction work almost immediately.
Planning Permission Granted for New Clubhouse
Planning permission for the work has now been granted and no appeals were lodged. The work has gone to tender and a number of builders have entered bids to carry out the work.
The work is due to start at the end of January 2001 so the project is still on target for a completion date of July 2001. The greatest effect that the building work is likely to have on the playing season is that the Captain’s prize has been scheduled to take place in August rather that July.
New Clubhouse Development Agreed by Members
At a Special General Meeting of Beech Park members in the clubhouse on Wednesday 26th July 2000, it was decided to proceed with the development.
The building process will now begin with the architect producing the working drawings so that the project can go to tender.
Building work should begin in January 2001 and be completed in July 2001. There will be no disruption to the course during this time and the building work on the clubhouse will be on a phased basis to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.
History of Development
Beech Park Golf Club has developed from sheep-grazed parkland into one of the best maintained golf courses in Dublin. Its present condition is testament to the hard, selfless work of successive committees down through the years, and to the financial input of the members
What we have achieved as a club over 17 years should be a source of pride to every Beech Park member. However, as in all walks of life, the development of Beech Park must continue to move forward. There can be no standing still, no resting on our laurels.
The quality of our clubhouse needs to be improved to match that of the course in order that the facilities of Beech Park Golf Club are enhanced to meet the expectations of members and their guests.
Course Development
The initial construction of the course in 1983 was carried out within the financial resources available to the club at that time. Since then substantial capital investment has been put into the course. The highlights of these investments were:
- The greens rebuilding program, carried out at a cost of £250,000.
- The course drainage program, carried out at a cost of £70,000.
- The fairway sanding program, carried out at a cost of £170,000.
- The provision of an upgraded course maintenance fleet, purchased at a cost of £250,000.
- The rebuilding of the 13th tee at a cost of £5,000.
- The rebuilding of the 11th tee at a cost of £5,000.
- The ongoing tree planting program which has been carried out at a cost of £20,000 over the last decade.
In total, well over £¾ million of capital investment has been put into the course in recent years. As a direct result of the level of investment, we now enjoy a first-class golf course that is the envy of many other, longer-established clubs.
Clubhouse
In 1988 the present clubhouse was completed. The building was a compromise between the original design by Cantrell & Crowley, and the financial resources of the members at that time.
The original plans were abridged to bring the costs of construction down. The three main consequences of this were the loss of the upstairs toilet facilities, inadequate kitchen facilities and a narrow L-shaped bar area with long, bench seating.
The inadequate kitchen facilities have continually had an adverse effect on the provision of a quality catering service for members.
The passage of 12 years has seen a substantial deterioration in the fabric and furnishings of the building. In addition to this inevitable deterioration, all of our expectations, in terms of comfort and serviceability, have been increased by the "Celtic Tiger" phenomenon. It is time the clubhouse was improved to meet these expectations.
Need For New Land
It is vital to the long-term development of Beech Park that we be capable of purchasing any of the lands adjoining the course as soon as they become available. We are all aware of the damage caused to many courses by the building of houses close to fairways and the subsequent closure of those fairways.
More land will be required if we are ever to have an adequate practice ground or extra holes. The development program, includes proposals for future land purchase, as it becomes available
Clubhouse Development Brief
A development sub-committee, established in 1996, was given a threefold brief. They were asked to examine the following areas:
- Enhancements of the course.
- Upgrading of clubhouse facilities.
- Acquisition of adjacent lands to protect the boundaries of the course.
As part of their brief the sub-committee identified five areas of the clubhouse that were in need of serious upgrading to bring the facility into line with members? expectations.
- Men’s and ladies changing room and shower facilities.
- Provision of upstairs toilets.
- Increasing the size and capabilities of the kitchen area to meet requirements.
- Increasing the area of and comfort level in the bar.
- Replacement of the present windows with full-length, double-glazed units that would improve the visibility of the course from within the clubhouse.
Proposed Clubhouse Extension
Plans involving extending to the front of the clubhouse, to the rear, to the first-tee side and to the car-park side of the building have been considered. Even the possibility of carrying out the development in three stages, over seven years was explored and considered. Throughout all of this time, building costs have been subject to over 12% annual inflation. Even now, each month?s delay increases the cost of any development.
Finally, after a year and a half of deliberation, the present committee has settled on an extension of 9 metres to the car-park side of the building. Architect?s drawings, detailed floor plans and outside elevations will be displayed in the clubhouse in early July for perusal by club members.
Special General Meeting
Members have been aware that plans are afoot and must be wondering what the state of play is at present. Many rumours are circulating in the clubhouse about the purpose and cost of the proposed development.
No matter the amount of work put in by successive committees, nor what any individuals may wish to see happen, the ultimate decision as to whether or not the proposed clubhouse upgrading proceeds, rests with the members of Beech Park.
The committee’s proposals will be presented, in detail, to the members at a Special General Meeting.
This meeting will be held in Beech Park’s clubhouse on Wednesday 26th July 2000, at 8.00 p.m. In order to facilitate the S.G.M. the Competition of the day has been cancelled & the Course will be closed at 6.00 p.m.
I look forward to a full attendance of members at this meeting which I believe to be an important step in the history of the club.
Brian J Delaney, Captain
