Club membership

jdf

What should a person be looking out for if they are looking to join a specific club?

I've read a few comments about not needing to pay for membership but the 2 I'm looking at both command a joining fee. They are member owned btw.

pistol_75

Where are you thinking of joining jbf?

clg23

You may need to clarify what your looking for in a club. It depends on what your after really...

Some things may be important to you but not to others. For example, some people would be interested in the social side of things and would be looking for a nice clubhouse, good bar, good food etc.

Others would be more interested in the course, how busy it is at the weekends, the availability of tee times etc.

SalthillGuy

I would hold off until the AGM's are over.
Lots of levies will be dropped.
Certainly in the short-term.
There will be some bargains as clubs seek to maintain / attract membership.

uberwolf

when will these AGMs be?

I've heard casually in the office of people who are members in various places, and have been paying the annual subs without much thought year on year, and now will not renew this year because they're nto using it.

Will the clubs only get this feedback post AGM?

I'm looking for somewhere for myself for this year and don't want to jump at something too quickly

SalthillGuy

Most clubs have their AGM in December.
New committees meet in Jan to plan for new year.
Some clubs will see the light soonerr than others.
By mid Jan there shouldbe some deals.

uberwolf

I see on the back of today's Times that Druids Heath membership is €1500, no joining fee for the year ahead.

Not convenient for me unfortunately, but that's a price I'd go for

SalthillGuy

You are going to see a lot more of this.
There will be many more affordable than Druid's Glen.

Brewster

Thats a phenonemal offer to become a member of Druids Heath..... I have never played either Druids Glen or Druids Heath but Id imagine theyd be top quality!

1916

Are both courses (Glen & Heath) not on the same tract of land, or are they in totally different places?

1916

Brewster

They are beside each other as far as I know...... Not 100% sure though!

jdf

This is so typical - in theory joining fees are disappearing everywhere except the two specific clubs I am interested in!

To answer the questions raised - I'm looking to play golf and also take advantage of the social side. I'm confining myself to two specific clubs because one is right beside me and the other is only out the road.

Mister Sifter

Donabate aside, still a serious lack of deals north dublin and meath.

Mister Sifter

Interesting ....

http://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/great-club-bargains-the-silver-lining-of-recession-1552781.html

d2ww

Just called the pro shop in DG, as the DH course is closed Monday to Thursday. They seem to have gotten a good reponse as there was talk of interviews
They are not setting up a club as such, no captain or commitee just playing rights, competitions and GUI. It's totally separate from DG and you won't even get reduced green fees there.

Brewster

Ah yeah, its still a fantastic opportunity in all fairness. Its a course than charges a green fee of 90 euro per round in summer, so to get in there for 1500 euro all in is fantastic value. Id imagine there will be alot of interest as confirmed by Druids Heath, would interviews suggest that they may cap the member numbers??

arg

jdf wrote: »

What should a person be looking out for if they are looking to join a specific club?

I've read a few comments about not needing to pay for membership but the 2 I'm looking at both command a joining fee. They are member owned btw.

The practice facilities and travel time are important considerations. I ended up having to pay a bit extra for somewhere near but I'm delighted I did - course is just 5 mins away by car and I can pop up for half an hour on the practice area and putting green.

Obni

For me playing 18 holes on full greens all year round is too tempting an offer. My info pack is in the post.
Anyone else thinking of taking up the Druid's Heath deal?

copacetic

Obni wrote: »

For me playing 18 holes on full greens all year round is too tempting an offer. My info pack is in the post.
Anyone else thinking of taking up the Druid's Heath deal?

It's certainly an interesting one, I'm undecided on it though, not sure how the comps etc will work if it isn't a 'real' club. What is the story with clubhouse access etc?

Obni

Good question. Don't know yet.
Anyone else got any questions I should ask before committing?

My only concern I have is that in the absence of a club, and therefore a committee, how will our handicaps be maintained. I assume they'll be administered from the Druid's Glen club, but I don't know yet.

SalthillGuy

They must be affiliated to the GUI already.
So, there is a club. I would not be concerned about the handicap.

uberwolf

It is exactly what I'm looking for (clubhouse & handicap questions aside). But I need the N4, not N11!

Maybe Sunday mornings would be ok journey wise.

Mister Sifter

Was having a look about a few club websites tonight... i notice St Margaret's is offering annual membership at 1,995 for the year. Not sure if that's a reduction or not.

Also noticed that Corrstown's site gives notice of a special general meeting for all members next week. I know they were pretty keen on new members this year but they were pretty dear. I wonder what the meeting is all about!?

Trampas

I think St Mags is over priced compared to other places. You have VAT on top of that price.

Better of staying in Elm Green and playing opens every week.

SalthillGuy

Give it a few weeks and you will see a lot more offers.....

Obni

Druid's Heath have reportedly been flooded with requests for application forms.
If you are still thinking about it, just get onto them for a form anyway, or you may miss the boat.

SalthillGuy

When I saw this first, I though it was Druid's Glen.
Are they part of the same complex.
I would not rush. There will be lots of other offers as club AGMs approve similar motions.

Brewster

They are both part of same complex....

ShriekingSheet

I haven't looked much into it but it seems to me to be an excellent deal with few, if any, strings.

Certainly the club side of it - comittee, captain, comp organisers, interclub etc - if I was interested I'd want that all cleared up.

And someone mentioned club-house access?

I highly doubt DG/DH would put out such a public offer with a sting in the tail like second-class-citizen treatment as regards club-house access. Given the level of interest I think it's a safe assumption that the playing membership and in turn the competitiveness of golf will increase.

d2ww

As I mentioned before, "It's totally separate from DG and you won't even get reduced green fees there. "
They have a separate pro shop etc in the Marriott for Druid's Heath, and anyway they don't want to piss off the DG members who paid €50k by letting in the riff-raff.

shamco

I find Druids Heath to be an extremely difficult golf course for mid to high handicaps

Obni

The latest I've heard (from unofficial purple monkey dishwasher sources) is that from January, work will start to create new tee-boxes to shorten the course for non-competition golf. This will make the course more playable, and more importantly it suggests that the membership is seen as a long-term development.

Brewster

The rumour mill is in full swing so!! Anyone that has played the course has said its very hard, im a 24+ handicapper at the moment and it could be difficult for me! Then again, if you could tame Druids heath, youd be in a good position to play other courses.

Sammo13

I sent my app in this morning, I have'nt come across a better deal. City west is also offering yearly membership at 1600 a year.

As for Druids Heath, its a fine course, the blue markers are to far back and are only used for pros and top amateur events. Off the whites the course is 7000 yards long, tough test, some super holes on the back nine.

The Green markers are well forward (6400) and for the higher handicap golfers the course is a fair test.

I'm sure this offer will be taken up very quickly and could turn out to be a fine move by Druids Glen.

Worth having a look.

uberwolf

from the city centre - how far is druids heath (time wise)?

Have they clarified the clubhouse question?

Is there really enough pent up demand for golf courses from the floating vote that they could sell out?

Weekly comp sat or sun?

copacetic

Sammo13 wrote: »

I sent my app in this morning, I have'nt come across a better deal. City west is also offering yearly membership at 1600 a year.

As for Druids Heath, its a fine course, the blue markers are to far back and are only used for pros and top amateur events. Off the whites the course is 7000 yards long, tough test, some super holes on the back nine.

The Green markers are well forward (6400) and for the higher handicap golfers the course is a fair test.

I'm sure this offer will be taken up very quickly and could turn out to be a fine move by Druids Glen.

Worth having a look.

what was the situation with use of the club house and changing rooms? how many members are they taking in and how many comps a week?

Will they be entering inter-club competitions as a seperate club?

Sammo13

Druids Heath is near Kilcoole, from city centre probably 45 mins. From m50 at red cow, 30/35 mins.

The use of club house and changing areas are in Druids Heath, separate from Druid Glen, have bar/coffee bar, pro shop and locker rooms.

I don't know the score regarding inter club matches, but they plan to run a competition every weekend.

I'll hoping to get a reply and have a informal chat and will post what I find out..

copacetic

think that journey time is pretty hopeful, maybe at 7am on a saturday morning. It takes me nearly an hour to get there on a weekday evening before rush hour from D4. Say leaving at 4 would be there for 5. A fair bit longer during the actual rush hour.

Sammo13

Yeh, I'd be talking about sat or sun morning, its 20 mins on the m50 from red cow to the bray exit and its another 15 mins max.

Rush hour traffic would take well over an hour from city centre.

Brewster

Sammo13 wrote: »

I sent my app in this morning, I have'nt come across a better deal. City west is also offering yearly membership at 1600 a year.

As for Druids Heath, its a fine course, the blue markers are to far back and are only used for pros and top amateur events. Off the whites the course is 7000 yards long, tough test, some super holes on the back nine.

The Green markers are well forward (6400) and for the higher handicap golfers the course is a fair test.

I'm sure this offer will be taken up very quickly and could turn out to be a fine move by Druids Glen.

Worth having a look.

Sammo,
So there are different tea boxes to cater for different standards of player? So high handicappers could start off on the green tees and progress back then!?

Is there Ladys tees then further forward still of the Green??

Sammo13

Brewster,

I'd say they'll use the green tees most of the time, have competitions on the whites. There are ladies tees as well.

I'll hope to have a chat with them next week, membership if all is as seems will go ahead in 4 weeks, so I presume they'll be acting quick to process apps etc..:)

slumped

shamco wrote: »

I find Druids Heath to be an extremely difficult golf course for mid to high handicaps

Hey

Was chatting to a mate of mine who is a member of Druids Glen - he was telling me that Heath is not affiliated - so you cant transfer your handicap.

Bear that in mind.

S

uberwolf

what does affiliation mean? Would you not have a GUI handicap?

slumped

uberwolf wrote: »

what does affiliation mean? Would you not have a GUI handicap?

no - club must be gui affiliated to issue official handicaps.

s

Sammo13

Portmarnock Hotel and Links is the same, members don't have gui handicap. That'll be one of my Q's, do they plan to get GUI membership.

uberwolf

Sammo13 wrote: »

Portmarnock Hotel and Links is the same, members don't have gui handicap. That'll be one of my Q's, do they plan to get GUI membership.

presumably without a committee that'll be tough to get a handicap sec...

I'm not really sure what the implications of this are. I was beginning to consider the Druids Heath option seriously, but this would be negative (not entirely sure why, I'd just like the option to play opens...)

copacetic

Would be easy for them to do so, I understand they currently don't have it as there have been no members up until now. They will be affiliated from next year when the club is setup. The GUI will be happy for the extra levys...


edit - should say this is also anecdotal..

slumped

Sammo13 wrote: »

Portmarnock Hotel and Links is the same, members don't have gui handicap. That'll be one of my Q's, do they plan to get GUI membership.

there are no "members" at Links - there are different card holders etc. but there is no membership structure where there is a constitution etc.

Now that the Clontarf thing has fallen through, maybe Links will go for it??

Sammo13

Yeh links have gold cards etc..

I'm sure if they get their numbers in Druids Heath they'll look to get the course affiliated with the GUI.

I'm country member and Pay €150 (just for h'cap), so I'd be happy either way but would prefer to transfer my h'cap.

uberwolf

popped down (to Heath) today just to get my bearings.

20 mins from Dundrum junction.

Obni

1000+ applications for Druid's Heath, for 300 places.
Can't imagine they'll interview all 1000 people.
Probably half will be people that are local and/or can supply references from members of the Glen, and the rest is just a lottery.
Oh well, fingers crossed.