Dunmurry Springs

Kaisr Sose

Hi all,
I played this course with a view to joining it. Great track but, possibly a bit far from Dublin. Everything was great till I seen there still is no club house-which their web site refers to as being there! When I asked told the builder went bust-though am a bit skeptical of that answer!
At that time they had 3 cats of membership-normal pref share-€12k, Tradable Pref Share €16/18k and assoc member -5k (not redeemable). Got a letter last week saying there is a new offer-you can lease a membership from the club for the cost of the annual sub-€960 i think. Sounds like a good deal -no up front outlay. However I am a bit concerned that the club may be short of money-hence the cheaper options.
I got to hand it to them for at least trying to make it easier to join-I cannot understand why there is such a premium ticket price attached to all clubs near Dublin. Would they not be better off to have a greater turnover of members by having a yearly fee approach-even if its loaded above what it would be if there was a joining fee?

f22

Played it when it opened and thought it was quite a nice course. Was since told that money was a problem and they will willing to do a "deal" on memberships even back then.

Best of luck with it.

WHIP IT!

I think it's a super trek, one of my favourites in fact... The share-lease arrangement is nothing out of the ordinary, but I too have heard rumours about it struggling financially. But then again, don't most golf courses struggle these days?

I've played it about four times, and all four times (spaced out over months) the clubhosue was in the same stage of half-builtness (new word!), so that wouldn't be a good sign.

Kaisr Sose

Tks for replies..I think there is a big shortage of money there alright. I will not be commiting any money -even leasing a membership, on that basis-you would be last in line to get anything if the Property company folds. Its only a matter of time before there is one that goes-not including the one in Meath, which I believe is being run as a going concern by the bank.

Looking to join a club -near Dublin, that I could play. Live in stepaside and would be great if Dun Laoighaire opened up for some new members-wishful thinking I suppose.

Any other suggestions..open to mew members and not going to cost the earth? Otherwise its back to the distance membership and playing adhoc games. A golf society here would be a good idea..seen it mentioned on other posts?

FRM

Is Citywest just green fees for the year ?

Also you should try Bellewstown, it wasn't a bad price the last time I looked and didn't have a joining fee.

Kaisr Sose

FRM wrote: »

Is Citywest just green fees for the year ?

Also you should try Bellewstown, it wasn't a bad price the last time I looked and didn't have a joining fee.

Def not citywest-its society/corporate first..you have no say in it at all.
Stepaside to Bellewstown would be the same as me playing in Carlow-played seapoint a few weeks ago and it was over 2hrs each way-not my cup of tea!

Mister Sifter

What about Dublin City or Slade Valley? Both under 1k per year afaik.

putts18

I was interested in the comments about Dunmurray Springs. I played it last year and thought it was a fine course. I was tempted to join at the time but the distance was the problem. I have heard since that they have been struggling but that would not be unusual these days when courses are being built all over the country. They have a lot of competition within a few miles of them.

With regard to your search for a club, I am a member of Dublin City, maybe not the greatest course, but its reasonably well kept, its reasonably priced, its not to far away, you can get a tee time without difficulty, and there is a very friendly membership.

milltown

Only played it once but wasn't impressed. We got half price on an Open Fairways card but I still felt like asking for my €30 back. We were asked to hang on for half an hour after our booked time as they had sanded the course the previous day (this was around June) and they wanted the staff to get a few holes ahead of us brushing it in. I'm not sure the staff ever actually showed up 'cos from tee to flag it was like playing in bunkers. The fairways were bad enough but the sand had the greens rock hard, so they wouldn't hold a ball, and once you got on them you had to lash the ball to get it through the mini sand dunes. Pure pot luck!

There was also a couple of holes where we stood on the tee and said "hang on, have we not played this one already?", only to look three fairways over and find we had played a hole that looked identical.

I'd be very reluctant to give them another green fee, never mind a membership.

Golf Pro

Played it during the Christmas break and the clubhouse has moved on. Still no commitment from them on a completion date but atleast progress is being made.

JuJuYNWA

The club is definitely short of money. When i enquired about membership late last year i was practically hounded with calls every second day for about a ten day period. I was even made a better offer on the 5G non redeemable membership option.

If they get the clubhouse sorted i will be seriously thinking of joining next year as i plan on moving to that part of the county. And i love the course!

At the moment though its just too far away for me.

I ended up leasing a membership in Millicent for 1000 for the year. Was up there today and its held up really well with the crappy weather in the last week.

Woodlands have a new membership option where you can join for 3000 and then pay your yearly subs, which are 720 this year. They are also in a spot of financial bother at the moment.

Kilcock are also doing a good deal as far as i know because they are in the process of doing up the course, nine this winter, and nine next winter. Not too sure on the details though.

ratem

There is good value to be had in quite a few courses at present. Woodlands near prosperous in Co Kildare is also doing a good offer on membership which you could check out.

jimjo

Played Dunmurray Spring and must say its a fine track, really pleasant. Great value at €20 (open competition). Think they could do with changing some of the index's, index 1 isn't that bad, just a nasty bunker in front of the green over the water. One hole really caught me out, the 8th, no room left and I was out! One hole that stuck out was the par 5 13th, elevated green.The greens are tricky which really holds the course up well. The course off the whites is a bit short, it would be a great test of the blues, if theres members here do you play medals of the blues?

You can lease a membership for under €1,000. If I lived anywhere close I'd seriously think of joining. There's a half built clubhouse, and portacabins for locker rooms.

A nice Irish parkland, well worth a trip down folks.

heavyballs

milltown wrote: »

Only played it once but wasn't impressed. We got half price on an Open Fairways card but I still felt like asking for my €30 back. We were asked to hang on for half an hour after our booked time as they had sanded the course the previous day (this was around June) and they wanted the staff to get a few holes ahead of us brushing it in. I'm not sure the staff ever actually showed up 'cos from tee to flag it was like playing in bunkers. The fairways were bad enough but the sand had the greens rock hard, so they wouldn't hold a ball, and once you got on them you had to lash the ball to get it through the mini sand dunes. Pure pot luck!

There was also a couple of holes where we stood on the tee and said "hang on, have we not played this one already?", only to look three fairways over and find we had played a hole that looked identical.
I'd be very reluctant to give them another green fee, never mind a membership.

this is another situation that could have been avoided if the club in question had informed you of the state of the course,in fairness i always ask anyway.
However i think you're getting a bit carried away with your criticism,this was just a case of bad timing,they deserve another chance surely.

dexter50

I agree you should give it another chance because it's one of the best courses around and I do think you caught them on a bad day. Love the 3rd hole and the par3 10th.

Burgerman55

theres prob 10 - 12 good holes in it IMO
I think the designer ran outa steam half way through to be fair
good course, but i left feeling like it had been a long (and sometimes boring) trek
at anything around/under €35 tho its worth a look

L.O.F.T

jimjo wrote: »

Played Dunmurray Spring and must say its a fine track, really pleasant. Great value at €20 (open competition). Think they could do with changing some of the index's, index 1 isn't that bad, just a nasty bunker in front of the green over the water. One hole really caught me out, the 8th, no room left and I was out! One hole that stuck out was the par 5 13th, elevated green.The greens are tricky which really holds the course up well. The course off the whites is a bit short, it would be a great test of the blues, if theres members here do you play medals of the blues?

You can lease a membership for under €1,000. If I lived anywhere close I'd seriously think of joining. There's a half built clubhouse, and portacabins for locker rooms.

A nice Irish parkland, well worth a trip down folks.

Glad you enjoyed my home course. Index 1 is pretty tame off the whites, indexes are based off the blues and the third tee box in question is about 90 yards back behind the white tee. Our Medals are played off the blues, one this weekend actually. Playing off the blues as with most courses changes the course and scoring and it’s a different game from back at the blues. I don’t know if it was windy / breezy yesterday but generally the course is affected by the wind, I could leave my house 15mins away and all would be calm but by the time I get out there as the course sits on Dunmurry hill its always affected by the breeze.
It is short off the whites but as you said the greens offer protection. Clubhouse should be completed by early 2010 including the surrounding car park and landscaping. I know its predictable of me to be positive but the owners have worked hard to keep the golfers coming during the recession offering €10 golf and opens for €10 / €20. Long fescue is cut for the winter making the course play easier and the trees are starting to get big giving certain holes more definition. I think you will enjoy your golf if you get a chance to play.

jimjo

L.O.F.T wrote: »

Glad you enjoyed my home course. Index 1 is pretty tame off the whites, indexes are based off the blues and the third tee box in question is about 90 yards back behind the white tee. Our Medals are played off the blues, one this weekend actually. Playing off the blues as with most courses changes the course and scoring and it’s a different game from back at the blues. I don’t know if it was windy / breezy yesterday but generally the course is affected by the wind, I could leave my house 15mins away and all would be calm but by the time I get out there as the course sits on Dunmurry hill its always affected by the breeze.
It is short off the whites but as you said the greens offer protection. Clubhouse should be completed by early 2010 including the surrounding car park and landscaping. I know its predictable of me to be positive but the owners have worked hard to keep the golfers coming during the recession offering €10 golf and opens for €10 / €20. Long fescue is cut for the winter making the course play easier and the trees are starting to get big giving certain holes more definition. I think you will enjoy your golf if you get a chance to play.

Yeah come to think of it the third and forth is a big difference off the blues, I remember on the 4th looking back from the whites and thinking right that would be tight enough driving off the blues. I seen now on your competition results page that the CSS is 33 or 34 off the blues, so that can only indicate how difficult it is. No it wasn’t windy at all, flat calm, which made things easier for me.

I said to my playing partners on the 9th green that Dunmurry Springs must be the busiest golf club in Kildare yesterday as there us on the 9th, a fourball on the 1st tee, with another one waiting behind, a fourball on the 13th, a fourball on the putting green with another four ball walking off the 18th. Business hat on if that clubhouse was open there would to a few bucks to be made with your soup and sandwich and/or special lunch. The offer of €20 from the clubs management is a proactive approach for the clubs stability for the long term, wise move.

Yeah will play the course off the blues when I get a chance but I must say it’s nice to go down and just have an enjoyable day off the whites as you say the greens offer real protection, but I swear next time I’ll get the better of them !

MB74

Yeah criticism is a bit heavy for what is a good track. Also progress on the club house too!

Curly7

JuJuYNWA wrote: »

I ended up leasing a membership in Millicent for 1000 for the year. Was up there today and its held up really well with the crappy weather in the last week.

Woodlands have a new membership option where you can join for 3000 and then pay your yearly subs, which are 720 this year. They are also in a spot of financial bother at the moment.
.

Millicent is a grand track, never closes and has great practise facilties. I'd stay away from Woodlands (I have a couple of friends there) the course is always closed it was built on terrible land and the fairways / greens are always soggy. I leased again in Killeen for the year, was out there on saturday and the greens are superb at the moment

copacetic

Any up to date comments on the condition at Dunmurry, thinking of having a look in the next few weeks.

stiltskins

played a couple of weeks back, course is in great nick, rough is cut right back so it is playing quite easy.

clubhouse is open at last and food is good!

stevire

Playing it this Saturday, looking forward to it. Haven't played it since it first opened! Will report back on condition of course...

Mat the trasher

I'm a member there, played it yesterday, in good shape given the recent weather, no wet spots on the fairways one or two areas of heavy traffic, ie approaching tee box are cordoned off. The greens are good for this time of year.

Will be playing there most days this week, happy days!!