Pictured: Truffle Honey Directors Mike Hayes, Collete Hayes and Shane Edwards with Louise O’Donoghue, Group Head Chef, pictured with General Manager of Ballybunion Golf Club, John Eggleston on the 18th Hole at the announcement that Truffle Honey has taken up the catering contract at the world famous Kerry Golf Course. Truffle Honey also manages the food offerings at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club and Tralee Golf Club. Photo: Don MacMonagle.
Members and visitors at the world famous Ballybunion Golf Club are set for a delicious new food experience after the awarding of the catering contract to local specialists, Truffle Honey.
The Kilgarvan-based company already manages the food offerings at two other globally renowned golf clubs in Kerry, Killarney Golf and Fishing Club and Tralee Golf Club since 2020 and 2023 respectively. Truffle Honey was founded in 2015 by Mike and Collette Hayes who are dedicated to providing the highest quality private chef and personalised dining experiences across Ireland.
The husband-and-wife duo lead a team that is dedicated to ensuring every table is dressed to perfection, the food is expertly cooked and professionally served. Mike Hayes, who heads up the Truffle Honey private chef and kitchen team, said, “The management and members at Ballybunion Golf Club have put their trust in Truffle Honey to deliver a food service product that matches the golfing experience at one of the most famous golf venues on the planet. We are looking forward to serving food that is not only tasty but also comforting while showcasing the local ingredients that are on offer. Shane Edwards became a partner in the company when we branched into golf catering and he already manages the golf catering operations in Tralee and his native Killarney. There’s a very good core team already here in Ballybunion that are all coming on board with us. We’ll be taking their experience on board with the members and their knowledge of the club and we’ll be using that to add to our own experience and standards.”
Ballybunion Golf Club is located on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Restaurant overlooks the 1st Tee with a spectacular view of the majestic Atlantic Ocean.
70,000 rounds of golf are played on the Old and Cashen Links Courses every year with 20,000 being visitor rounds, primarily from the USA, and 50,000 from members and their guests.
The General Manager of Ballybunion Golf Club, John Eggleston, said, “We are looking forward to welcoming Mike, Collette and the Truffle Honey team to Ballybunion Golf Club. The catering is the last interaction that a guest has with our golf club so it’s vital to give a lasting impression at that touchpoint that is fantastic because it is a parting shot for Ballybunion Golf Club. As an experienced operator in the golf industry, with their other clients in Tralee and Killarney, we are confident that Truffle Honey understand our visitors’ and our members’ needs and will deliver a service and standard commensurate with the standards that Ballybunion has in all other aspects of this operation.“
Truffle Honey had a team of 65 people on its books during the 2024 summer season and with the awarding of the catering contract at Ballybunion Golf Club, this may grow to 80 staff in 2025.
For more information about Truffle Honey or to make a reservation,
visit https://TruffleHoney.ie or email info@TruffleHoney.ie.
