Concern at impact of errant golf balls on new Limerick to Cork motorway

MEMBERS of a golf club have expressed grave concerns over the impact errant golf balls flying from its course could have on drivers using the proposed Limerick to Cork motorway.

Ahead of their annual general meeting (AGM) this Sunday, Charleville Golf Club’s management committee say they face one of their “biggest decisions” in recent years as plans for the M20 progress.

The route of the €1.2bn link is slated to run just 100m behind the sixth green of the popular club close to the Limerick-Cork border.

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Now, in an email to its more than 500 members, club bosses have said their biggest concern of the location of the M20 relates to liability if a golf ball leaves their premises.

“God forbid a stray golf ball finds its way onto the motorway and results in a serious accident or fatality. Should an occasion like this arise in the future, and lead to an investigation, the costs of same whatever the final outcome could be extremely prohibitive.

“While we accept this is a worst case scenario, it is something that will still have to be given serious consideration going forward,” the club stated in its letter.

As things stand, the golf club’s management committee say the sixth green is “one of the most peaceful and serene location within the golf club”.

They added that it is one of the furthest points from the course from the existing Charleville to Dromcollogher Road and is not impacted by traffic noise.

“This, however, will change with heavy volumes of traffic travelling on a 120 kilometre-per-hour road with netting being sited across the back of the green,” they added.

As referenced, the high netting and retaining wall are proposed to be installed by the road authorities, it is unclear whether the same body would pay for its upkeep.

If they did, they would require a right-of-way onto the club’s property in order to carry out works periodically, management has said.

A meeting was held with engineers behind the M20 project last month, and the club was informed a small triangle of land would need to be handed over to facilitate the road.

“The course belongs to the members and it is important we get a consensus as to how we should proceed,” wrote the club management committee.

“When the costs of the remedial actions required at the rear of the sixth green and the ongoing maintenance and certification of same are factored in, we believe we are in a strong position to negotiate the possible relocation of the green to another part of the course, which we hope would be cost-neutral to the club, which will in the long-run relieve us of the concerns associated with the sixth green,” the club added.

However, time is of the essence, with club management saying that M20 engineers need to be told if talks are to commence, it must take place before the end of 2025.

To this end, they have appealed for people to attend the AGM at 7pm this Sunday, in the facility’s clubhouse.

Jari Howard, the project co-ordinator of the M20 motorway, acknowledged the concerns of club members.

“It’s obviously different than an ordinary farm or someone’s house. They are doing the right thing and consulting with members,” said Mr Howard.

“At the moment, we do require some land off them. It’s behind the back of the green - it doesn’t go onto the green.

“We believe we can mitigate it with proper fencing, and they would be eligible for a compensation claim,” he added.

“We respect their members, we will allow them time to consult, and we will wait for a further meeting with them following this,” Mr Howard concluded.