Adare Manor Sold

The 18th - a dramatic par five, with the green on the left
bank of the River Maigue, beneath the manor.

There are so many hotels and resorts and golf courses being snapped up at the moment, you get the sense the country is being purchased piece by piece. On the positive side of things comes the news that Adare Manor has been sold for an alleged €30 million. Even more positive is that this 5 star, 62 bedroom resort has been sold to Irish business man, JP McManus.

JP loves the place - his charity event, held in 1990 and 2010, was a roaring success.

It raised millions, and now that he owns the resort and its elegant golf course, the charity event could return - although the issue behind JP's withdrawal from hosting the event came down to residency tax reasons... not ownership.

The 16th at Adare - a par three with a backdrop (usually) of tall
copper beech trees  

He will undoubtedly be investing in the 840 acre resort on the outskirts of Adare village, but this is already a magical place. Once home to the Earl of Dunraven, the 19th century neo-gothic manor is striking, even foreboding with its dark turrets and arches, especially where it stands imposingly over the 15th and 18th greens. It is glamorous, luxurious and unique, too. Take a look around the website and you'll see why.

Views down the frosty par four 15th

Anita Higgins, Adare Manor General Manager, had the following to say about the official change of ownership:

“I am very happy to confirm that as of 30^th January 2015, JP, Noreen and the McManus family are now the owners of Adare Manor. 

We look forward to working with our new owners who have previously hosted two JP Mc Manus Pro-Ams here in the past.”

Many rivers to cross... and everyone underclubs.

The golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr, was added in 1995. It is one of the best parkland courses in the country - a big golf adventure with bigger trees and even bigger drama as you hit the closing stretch on the River Maigue, where the manor overlooks it all and laughs at your attempts to cross the river to reach the par five 18th green. I was there this past Saturday/Sunday (when the above photos were taken) and I watched three groups of four golfers attempt to cross the river. Of the 12, only two made it. At 511 yards you won't be surprised to discover that it's Index 2. 

Good luck to the 'new' Adare Manor... and good luck to you when you play the 18th.