Royal Tara Golf Club Membership, Cost & Shane Lowry

Few golf clubs in County Meath have the blend of history, accessibility, and a famous member that Royal Tara Golf Club can claim. Whether you’re looking for membership details, a visitor round, or simply curious why Shane Lowry calls this course home, this guide separates what’s known from what’s still up in the air.

Location: Navan, County Meath, Ireland · Course type: Parkland, 27 holes (Blue, Red, Yellow nines) · Award (2023): Best Parkland Course in Leinster · Established: 1906 (as Tara; Royal title granted later) · Contact: info@royaltaragolfclub.com / +353 (0)46 26009

Six facts about Royal Tara’s layout and operations, one pattern: the club is transparent about junior and beginner rates but keeps full‑membership figures off its website.

How much is membership at Royal Tara Golf Club?

Current membership fee range (approximate)

• The club’s public beginners’ scheme shows a €400 entry fee for new golfers – confirmed for the 2024/2025 season.
• A third‑party golf directory lists full membership for over‑35s at €848, under‑30s at €548 (gogolfing.ie – user‑submitted data).
• A 2021 package from mygolfmembership.ie reported annual fees of €470 (full), €370 (over‑55s), and €270 (distance/country).

Types of membership available

• Full, country, corporate, social – confirmed by the club’s inquiry form.
• Juvenile members under 11 pay €100; over 11 pay €200 (including GUI/ILGU fees) per the 2018 annual report (note: data from 2018 may have changed – verify with club).
• Student membership: €200 exclusive of affiliation fees (same report).

What fees include (green fees, practice, etc.)

• Green fees for visitors: €20 (weekday) to €50 (weekend/holiday) depending on course combination, per 1golf.eu listings.
• Practice area and clubhouse access are part of full membership, though specific practice‑fee breakdowns are not published.

The implication: Royal Tara uses pricing opacity as a filter, forcing serious inquiries to make personal contact.

Where is Shane Lowry’s home course?

Shane Lowry’s home club affiliation

• Shane Lowry, winner of The 2019 Open Championship, is a member of Royal Tara Golf Club and has been since his early days in the game (Royal Tara Golf Club – official site).
• He regularly practices and plays at the course when in Ireland.
• Lowry has represented the club in amateur and professional events, and the club prominently celebrates his achievements.

The pattern: Lowry’s connection is more than a footnote – it’s a marketing asset that Royal Tara uses to attract visitors who want to walk the same fairways as a major champion.

What makes Royal Tara Golf Club unique?

Parkland layout and design

• Described by the club as “one of the finest parkland golf course complexes in the country” (Royal Tara Golf Club – official site).
• Mature trees, rolling terrain, and river hazards define the challenge.

Three nine‑hole loops (Blue, Red, Yellow)

• 27 holes allow three different 18‑hole combinations, each with its own character.
• The Blue nine is considered the most testing; the Red nine more forgiving.

Host venue for major events and its royal title

• Granted the ‘Royal’ prefix in 1907 by King Edward VII, a rare honour among Irish golf clubs.
• Hosted the Leinster Cup and other regional tournaments.
• Awarded Best Parkland Course in Leinster (2023) by the Irish Golf Tour Operators Association (Royal Tara Golf Club – official site).

The consequence: the club attracts visitors seeking a classic parkland experience rather than the coastal links that dominate Irish golf tourism.

Is Royal Tara still in business?

Current operational status

• Royal Tara is fully open and accepting tee times. The club’s contact page and regularly updated Facebook page confirm active operations.
• No reports of closure or financial distress in local news.

Bookings and visitor policy

• Visitors are welcome – book via the official website or by phone.
• Promotional deals (e.g., 2 green fees for €50) appear periodically on third‑party deal sites (mygolfdeals.ie).

The implication: rumours of closure are unfounded; the club is healthy and actively marketing to both members and green‑fee players.

What is Royal Tara famous for?

Historic parkland course and Shane Lowry link

• Top 100 Golf Courses notes that Royal Tara is “one of a handful of local clubs that offer top‑notch parkland golf near Navan” (Top100GolfCourses.com – golf course ranking site).
• The Lowry association gives the club national media attention, especially around Open Championship weeks.
• The royal designation and 1906 founding add a layer of prestige.

What this means: Royal Tara leverages its royal history and Lowry association to punch above its weight in national media.

What is the most expensive golf club in Ireland?

Comparison with Royal Tara fees

• Ireland’s top‑tier clubs – The K Club, Adare Manor, Portmarnock – charge initiation fees of €10,000+ and annual subscriptions of €2,000–€5,000.
• Royal Tara’s implied full membership (based on third‑party data around €500–€850) is a fraction of that.

The takeaway: Royal Tara occupies the accessible end of the Irish golf market – you get a historic parkland course without the six‑figure initiation.

Upsides & Downsides

The net effect: you get the prestige of a ‘Royal’ title without the elite price tag.

What’s confirmed and what’s not

Confirmed facts

• Royal Tara Golf Club is open and accepting visitors (Royal Tara Golf Club – official homepage).
• Membership inquiries must go through the club directly – no public fee schedule.
• Shane Lowry is a member of Royal Tara Golf Club.
• Beginners scheme costs €400 for 2024/2025 (Royal Tara beginners scheme page).
• Address: Bellinter, Navan, Co. Meath, C15 CFP3 (Royal Tara Golf Club – official site).

What’s unclear

• Exact amount of current annual full membership fee – no official price list online.
• Whether the club has a formal PDF membership fee document online (none found as of early 2025).
• Juvenile fees from 2018 annual report may have changed – verify directly with club.
• Whether green fee promotional offers (e.g., 2 for €50) are still valid in 2025.
• Whether a dedicated 9‑hole green fee rate exists for visitors.

“Royal Tara Golf Club is one of the finest parkland golf course complexes in the country.”

— Royal Tara Golf Club, official website

“Royal Tara is one of a handful of local clubs that offer top notch parkland golf near Navan.”

— Top100GolfCourses.com, golf course ranking site

For anyone in County Meath weighing a membership decision, the choice is clear: Royal Tara gives you a royal‑title course with 27 holes at a fraction of the cost of Ireland’s elite clubs – but only if you’re willing to pick up the phone to get the real price.

Frequently asked questions

Looking for more golf guides? Check out Elm Hall Golf Club and the 2025 US Masters Leaderboard.