The European Club is sold to former motor dealers

One of the highest rated links golf courses in the world, The European Club in Wicklow, Ireland, has been sold.

The venue was put up for sale last year with a guide price of in excess of €35 million, about £30 million.

The 193-acre site was founded by Pat Ruddy in 1987. Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington have won national championships at the venue, while legends of the game such as Tiger Woods, Johnny Miller and Gary Player have played there.

Ruddy turned down previous offers for The European Club but it has been reported by the Irish Independent that former motor dealers Raymond and Nicky Conlan are the new owners.

The property listing said: “Privately owned, a purposeful decision was made to maintain a small membership, currently in the mid-80s, to give comfortable golf to the owners and members while affording the opportunity to accept visiting paying patrons to a level suited to financial planning.

“This gives a new owner the choice of remaining private, going ultra private or maximising commercial golf traffic through world visitor play and an enlarged membership.”