It features a new seven-acre driving range, practice facility upgrades, and a newly remodeled upstairs bar and dining area.

With a new downstairs Irish pub with outside patio that opened Friday, the future appears bright for Blue Shamrock Golf Club in Palmerton.Located at 2230 Fireline Road, Blue Shamrock Golf Club opened April 5. It replaces the former Blue Ridge Country Club, which was sold in February.Since then, the golf course has been made into a public facility, as opposed to a private facility as it had been under its predecessor, said Ray Silnik, PGA Golf Professional."All the facilities are open to the public," Silnik said. "There are still people who think we're private."Greens fees are anywhere from $17 to $59, depending on whether or not the golfer uses a cart and time of the day or day of the week.Silnik said one of the most important changes is that the course's 10th hole had to be redone to accommodate a practice range facility. The hole is under construction, and once completed, will feature a Shamrock-shaped tee, Silnik said."A number of people are happy they can play here, and certainly like the facility and what we've done with the golf course," he said. "We've had a lot of positive feedback."Another improvement Silnik alluded to is the remodeled Blue Shamrock Golf Shop, complete with a snack bar area.The golf course is open seven days a week at 7 a.m., while the bar and restaurant are open seven days a week at 11 a.m., Silnik said."We are a public daily fee facility," he said. "Business is picking up."On tap this weekend is the golf club's first tournament, the Shamrock Open, which will be held on Saturday, with a shotgun start of 1:30 p.m.In October, Blue Ridge Country Club's executive committee announced that a "deed in lieu" had been signed, and as of Nov. 30, First Northern Bank and Trust Co., Palmerton, took over the property.The restaurant closed Nov. 17, and the club closed its doors on Nov. 27. The course and all property at BRCC was closed to everyone on Dec. 1.Blue Ridge LLC, based in the Lehigh Valley, purchased the 315-acre property from First Northern Bank and Trust Co., Palmerton.Blue Ridge LLC comprises Tim Nagle, president, his wife, Lisa, his father-in-law Bruce Ebert, and his sister-in-law Tari Ebert, who are all equal partners.Together, they own Pipeline Petroleum Inc. of Macungie, which has been in operation for 65 years, as well as Pocono Oil & Propane of Stroudsburg, which has been in business for 40 years. In addition, they are involved in Blue Mountain Ski Resort near Palmerton.