The business consortium which wants to buy the Island Golf Club from the members has increased its purchase offer to £15.4 million. In a move timed to coincide with tonight's emergency general meeting at the club - when a motion to create a new club rule that would effectively block any such sale will be voted upon - the businessmen have added a further £2.2 million to the initial bid made last month.

Tonight's e.g.m. has been called by the members to seek further information on that bid and, also, to vote on a motion from two long-standing members that would establish a new rule requiring 90 per cent of members "present and voting" at a properly convened annual general meeting to agree to any such sale. In essence, if tonight's vote were to be carried, it would make it next to impossible for any sale to go through.

Only small sections of the more than 150-acre site actually belong to the club, which operate on a long-term sporting lease from Fingal Co Council. Even with the financial inducements involved, which would see the club's 665 full members each receiving in the region of £20,000, with smaller amounts due to members in other categories, the general mood among club members and council is against selling the course and facilities.

It is believed that the businessmen involved in the bold bid are keen to develop the course as an exclusive facility aimed primarily at the golfing tourist market. If the vote at tonight's e.g.m. goes as anticipated, then the club members may get to stop the businessmen in their tracks before they have really got started.