Builders Joe, Peter and Michael Cosgrave will shortly have their own golf course to improve their game as they await a decision from the planners on whether they are to be allowed to redevelop the old Dún Laoghaire Golf Course.

All 1,000 members of the club are getting ready to move on August 7th to a new 300-acre, 27-hole course and clubhouse at Ballyman in Enniskerry built by the Cosgraves in exchange for the Dún Laoghaire land.

The brothers also sweetened the deal with a €20 million handshake which looks modest enough in today's money.

For all that, they will get possession of the much coveted 78 acres in downtown Kingstown where building land has been particularly scare over the years.

Dún Laoghaire planners will shortly decide whether to grant permission for the first 856 of 1,700 homes and, even if they give the green light, the issue will inevitably end up with the planning appeals board.

That exercise is likely to take another six to nine months, leaving the brothers with lots of time to reduce their handicaps.

Meanwhile, around the corner on the Sallynoggin roundabout developer Frank Gilmer has been given the thumbs down by An Bord Pleanála for his ambitious scheme at the Deerhunter Pub.

Gilmer's plans for a €140 million "urban village" did not impress the planning board who said it would set an undesirable precedent for the area and would cause traffic congestion.

A proposed eight-storey tower element of the scheme also came in for some criticism.

Gilmer has taken the precaution of demolishing the aesthetically challenged pub and will no doubt be back with another plan in due course.