GolfAt an extraordinary general meeting (e.g.m.) on Monday night, the members of Dun Laoghaire Golf Club voted, for the first time in the club's history, to expel a member, Mr Patrick Coen.

Around 300 of the club's approximate 420 members attended, and voted by 85 per cent in favour of the motion, with 15 per cent against.

Mr Coen had, over the past 18 months, consistently questioned issues pertaining to the club and how it was being run. The club committee believed his queries to be vexatious and a waste of club time and resources.

The committee, having taken legal advice, finally decided Mr Coen's persistence was injurious to the club and called the e.g.m. with the express view of expelling him.

Dun Laoghaire Golf Club recently agreed a deal with developers Cosgrave Brothers to sell their valuable land for €100 million. In turn, Cosgrave Brothers agreed to build a 27-hole course and clubhouse in Ballyman, an area close to Bray and Shankhill, as well as give the club €20 million in cash.

The deal is contingent on the lands of the present course being rezoned for housing. While the first planning application was turned down, the club are hopeful further applications will succeed.

"They (club) were well prepared and well orchestrated. It was hard to combat that," Mr Coen said. "Whether it was 15 per cent or 25 per cent, it wasn't going to make much difference. At the end of the day I'm a realist.

"I do not consider I have done anything wrong to warrant my expulsion."

Dun Laoghaire Golf Club would not comment.