Premier Golf will tee off on September 1 with four outlets in the greater Dublin area and its backers are projecting first-year turnover of more than €8m. The new company will go head-to-head with established players such as McGuirks Golf and Golf Works. AIB has provided the finance for the launch.
Premier will open new shops in Santry and beside the Red Cow roundabout in south Dublin. It will also have outlets in Kilcoole in Co Wicklow and Newbridge in Co Kildare. The latter two were previously owned by Golf Works but are being rebranded. The new retailer will employ about 50 staff.
Premier has been set up Lillian O’Brien, a leading former amateur golfer; Ruairi Kelleher, son of Davy economist Robbie and a former Dublin minor footballer; accountants Eamonn Dunne and Dave O’Toole, both of whom previously held leading positions with Golf Works.
“Over the past 15 years the success of the economy has given people the money to spend on top-class equipment,” said Kelleher. “We hope to tap into that and think we’ll have something different to offer.”