Membership fees at one of County Galway’s most popular golf clubs have been doubled for next year, as a new five-star hotel opens at the championship course.

Galway Bay Golf Club members have been offered membership renewal fees of €2,700 to rejoin in 2026 – twice the price of this year.

The owner of the picturesque course in Oranmore defended the decision and said it was a ‘world-class’ facility – but local members told this newspaper they were shocked and upset by the steep rise.

Currently, membership costs €1,350, which includes a mandatory €100 voucher redeemable against food purchased at the clubhouse.

The cost of renewal for 2026 includes a fee of €2,600, plus a mandatory voucher of €100 against food at the club house in Rinville, Oranmore.

On top of this, members who compete will have to pay €150 to the club committee for insurance, competitions, and Golf Union of Ireland affiliation.

That optional €150 for men and women is unchanged next year and is set by the golf club, not the course owners.

This means that for many members, the all-in outlay in 2026 will be €2,850, compared with €1,500 in total this year.

The new rates were communicated to members by email last Friday.

It’s all part of a new era at Galway Bay Golf, where the owners, Connacht Hospitality Group, has announced that the Hawthorn by Galway Bay, a five-star hotel, will open in early 2026.

In a statement to the Connacht Tribune, a spokesperson for Connacht Hospitality Group said it had been working on creating a “world-class golf destination with world-class golf facilities” for the West of Ireland.

“Since 2023, over €3 million has been invested in transforming Galway Bay Golf, with major upgrades to the championship course, equipment, sustainability practices and the clubhouse, reinforcing our long-term commitment to quality, sustainability and exceptional service for an elevated member experience.

“Our membership fees reflect this and are in line with other leading golf destinations on the island,” it said.

Caption: Fee hike…an aerial view of Galway Bay Golf Club.

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