The exclusive Druids Glen Golf Club in Co Wicklow has told the club that the proliferation of non-essential housing "erodes the landscape value of these areas and seriously detracts from views of special amenity value". The council's strategy, according to the planners, is to encourage growth of existing settlements and to restrict rural housing.

Curiously enough, the council has granted planning for a 150-bedroom hotel and a housing scheme in the same general area overlooking the existing golf club and backing on to 180 acres, which have been set aside for a second 18-hole course. The housing will include 10 two-storey detached lodges, three three-storey blocks with 18 units and 36 terraced houses. Not surprisingly, Druids Glen will be appealing against the apparent inconsistency.

The K Club, which is to stage the Ryder Cup, is hoping it will be successful first time round in its attempt to get planning for 40 detached houses on the Co Kildare estate. The last house to come on the market on the estate, at around £600,000, was bought by none other than Michael Smurfit, founder of the club, who also lives there. He also bought in a two-bedroom apartment.