Ballinlough Castle or Portlaoise Golf Clubs?

golfman

Hi guys,

Money is tight this year so I am cutting my cloth to suit with regards to which golf club I join. I am only joining a club so I can get my GUI handicap and enter some competitions with the lads in the Summer.

I've seen 2 fantastic offers for country membership with Ballinlough Castle Golf Club and Portlaoise Golf Club.

Country membership at Ballinlough is only €250 and they'll give you your 1st 3 rounds free so you can get your GUI membership.

Portloise country membership is only €200.

Has anyone had any experience of either club? I live in Dublin so both are an equal distance away. I doubt I'll get much use out of either club once I get my handicap sorted (unless they are good courses) but I'd prefer to join the better of the 2 so I'll enjoy the 3 rounds I play at the beginning. Also has either club got a better "status" than the other?

Trampas

Played Ballinlough and nothing special at all.

I would have thought Portlaoise would have been easier as motorway all the way.

Not look at corballis, elm green to join.

Really depends which side of Dublin you are from

golfman

Trampas wrote: »

Played Ballinlough and nothing special at all.

I would have thought Portlaoise would have been easier as motorway all the way.

Not look at corballis, elm green to join.

Really depends which side of Dublin you are from

I'm in Artane so technically Ballinlough would be closer to get to as its the Blanch turn-off. Corballis and Elm Green are more expensive but the Corballis offer seems pretty good. How tough is Corballis?

jonas7

I've never played Ballinlough but have played Portlaoise and i would not recommend joining it. To be fair i suppose it has got a couple of nice holes but it is located right beside an ESB substation so the whole course is COVERED with poles and power lines.Personally i really did'nt like it. I would recommend Mountrath golf club though,it's only about an extra 5-10 minutes more than Portlaoise on the motorway and i have to say its a lovely course. I dont know how much country membership is but doubt its any more than Portlaoise. By the way i've no affiliation with Mountrath,just like their golf course.

Kevinmarkham

Hi Golfman,
I have to disagree with Trampas about Ballinlough Castle - the potential for the golf course is huge. It's in an old estate so it's densely wooded with lots of space and character. It was designed by Pat Ruddy so you know there's going to be some quality backbone. The downside is that they don't seem to have the money for the upkeep/clubhouse - it's a bit scruffy in places.

As for Portlaoise, it's not in the same league at all. Lots of par threes, congestion and no great shakes.

I'd go for Ballinlough every time.
Good luck
Kevin
http://golfcoursesireland.blogspot.com/

aocallaghan

Evening Folks,

I recently took up the distance membership at Ballinlough Castle, and I have to say, in terms of course layout, and setting, this course is a diamond. With money, I have no doubt this would be one of the top courses in the country. The club Secretary, Tony, is an absolute Gent, and the love he gives the course has to be seen to be believed. They are offering distance membership for 199 now, and it's 45 minutes from the Blanch roundabout. Considering it can take about 6 hours to get around Elm Green on a saturday and sunday, surely it's worth your while driving a bit down the road and playing something unique? Every single hole you play is like stepping in to a new setting, you are pretty much on your own all the way round, there's no up and back past each other. Do yourselves a favour and give it a spin.

NapoleonInRags

aocallaghan wrote: »

Evening Folks,

I recently took up the distance membership at Ballinlough Castle, and I have to say, in terms of course layout, and setting, this course is a diamond. With money, I have no doubt this would be one of the top courses in the country. The club Secretary, Tony, is an absolute Gent, and the love he gives the course has to be seen to be believed. They are offering distance membership for 199 now, and it's 45 minutes from the Blanch roundabout. Considering it can take about 6 hours to get around Elm Green on a saturday and sunday, surely it's worth your while driving a bit down the road and playing something unique? Every single hole you play is like stepping in to a new setting, you are pretty much on your own all the way round, there's no up and back past each other. Do yourselves a favour and give it a spin.

Agree completely with this post. This course really is a rough diamond. With further investment it could be another Druid's Glen. The first nine holes are fantastic - and while a couple of holes on the back nine are a bit open, there are a couple of real gems in there too. Don't be put off by the greens as they've just been scarified.

Dr_Colossus

Thanks, like the OP I'm also thinking of joining a course for GUI handicap reasons and Ballinlough Castle is pretty much top of my list but haven't been there yet to check it out. aocallaghan's post was like an advertisment written by the course management but good to see it supported by NapoleonInRags. One question, how easy is it to get the 3 cards, do you have to play with a member of Ballinlough Castle or can anyone mark your card, if it can be anyone does that person need to be a GUI member?
Thanks

Unglika Norse

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Thanks, like the OP I'm also thinking of joining a course for GUI handicap reasons and Ballinlough Castle is pretty much top of my list but haven't been there yet to check it out. aocallaghan's post was like an advertisment written by the course management but good to see it supported by NapoleonInRags. One question, how easy is it to get the 3 cards, do you have to play with a member of Ballinlough Castle or can anyone mark your card, if it can be anyone does that person need to be a GUI member?
Thanks

What do you need to check out, your only looking to Join for GUI purposes. Ya have to laugh, the Op's looking to get a GUI handicap, but he wants to join a good course or he wont play it and it must have status, lol and all for a few yoyos

I'd be very interested in getting distance membership in Ballinough as well.
Is the application tricky?

heavyballs

jonas7 wrote: »

I've never played Ballinlough but have played Portlaoise and i would not recommend joining it. To be fair i suppose it has got a couple of nice holes but it is located right beside an ESB substation so the whole course is COVERED with poles and power lines.Personally i really did'nt like it. I would recommend Mountrath golf club though,it's only about an extra 5-10 minutes more than Portlaoise on the motorway and i have to say its a lovely course. I dont know how much country membership is but doubt its any more than Portlaoise. By the way i've no affiliation with Mountrath,just like their golf course.

i love it too but it won't be anywhere near €200 for country membership,don't even know if they offer it

Squeaksoutloud

Just a note on Portlaoise. Up until a few years ago this place was just a pay and play par 3 course and even then there wasnt much to talk about. They've got some more land and extended it since and started calling it Portlaoise GC. Not a great place by any means and traditionally The Heath would have been the main members course for Portlaoise.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Would redommend Mountrath too, but I have a strong affiliation with it so I may be biased.:P

Ah no, it's a lovely course and I can find out the memberhip price(I should really know it:o), if ya want.
It's a lot better than The Heath, imo. Never played Portlaoise but I've never heard anyone say it's as good as Mountrath.

heavyballs

baz2009 wrote: »

Would redommend Mountrath too, but I have a strong affiliation with it so I may be biased.:P

Ah no, it's a lovely course and I can find out the memberhip price(I should really know it:o), if ya want.
It's a lot better than The Heath, imo. Never played Portlaoise but I've never heard anyone say it's as good as Mountrath.

nobody here did either,it serves a different purposehowever i think the price will reflect that.If it was anything like €200 i'll be all over it

3hn2givr7mx1sc

heavyballs wrote: »

nobody here did either,it serves a different purposehowever i think the price will reflect that.If it was anything like €200 i'll be all over it

Never said anyone did, just letting the OP know the opinions of the local golfers in my experience.

It's €600 for full membership in Mountrath, €300 for country membership.

heavyballs

baz2009 wrote: »

Never said anyone did, just letting the OP know the opinions of the local golfers in my experience.

It's €600 for full membership in Mountrath, €300 for country membership.

cheers,i'm all over that,i played in their open week a fair bit,very friendly club and grub was good also

3hn2givr7mx1sc

heavyballs wrote: »

cheers,i'm all over that,i played in their open week a fair bit,very friendly club and grub was good also

Could have seen ya so, I was working behind the bar.:D

heavyballs

baz2009 wrote: »

Could have seen ya so, I was working behind the bar.:D

i remeber the woman who worked there all the time was very helpfull and knew her stuff

Gophur

baz2009 wrote: »

Never said anyone did, just letting the OP know the opinions of the local golfers in my experience.

It's €600 for full membership in Mountrath, €300 for country membership.

Country Membership is only for those who live a certain distance away and who are members of another club.


Virginia Golf Club Cavan are offering full membership €350 (approx) covering you from now up to the end of 2011.

heavyballs

Gophur wrote: »

Country Membership is only for those who live a certain distance away and who are members of another club.


Virginia Golf Club Cavan are offering full membership €350 (approx) covering you from now up to the end of 2011.

you don't have to be a member of another club,i joined Portlaoise this year for €200 for a 5 day country membership,gui included etc,i know some clubs insist you're a member somewhere else(probably the case in Mountrath)but it's not true for all courses

Gophur

heavyballs wrote: »

you don't have to be a member of another club,i joined Portlaoise this year for €200 for a 5 day country membership,gui included etc,i know some clubs insist you're a member somewhere else(probably the case in Mountrath)but it's not true for all courses

You may be confusing "Country Membership" with "Distance Membership".

For Country Membership, one must have another Club as one's "Home" Club.

Some clubs have created a "Distance Membership" to entice members who they know will not play very often


Check some of the options on this Google search?
http://www.google.ie/#hl=en&source=hp&q=what+is+country+membership+golf&aq=3m&aqi=g3g-m1&aql=&oq=%22country+membership%22&gs_rfai=&fp=a4d07e3912e4e9f5.

lfp

I'm a former member of Portlaoise - let it lapse due to newborn etc., - just wasn't playing enough.

Anyway, they are redeveloping 3 of the holes - supposed to start soon enough.
1. The third tee box is being pushed back to turn it from a Par4 to a Par5. Not only does it increase the length of the hole but it brings in a stream that was easily carried off the tee as a Par 4 to being in play as a Par 5.
2. The 11th is getting a new green which should take it from a tricky 300yrd Par 4 to a not so nice 400yrd Par 4.
3. The 13th is moving it's tee box (to create space for the new 11th green) creating a slightly longer hole, which will be slightly uphill as opposed to a simple elevated tee box.

Hopefully it will help to move the club away from the Par 3 course feel.

Also, they are developing a practice putting green, which up to now was a real headache not having one before a round. I always wrote off the odd 3 putts on any of the first 3/4 holes to "no bloody practice putting green on this course!" I used to use the excuse for the whole round until I was put in my box by a few mates:P!!!

A factor for anyone considering the course.

aocallaghan

The Ballinlough offer is for distance membership alright, as opposed to country membership. However, it does include GUI membership, so you do not need to be a member of another club. In the application for membership, you are asked if you want Ballinlough Castle to be your home club. Just looking through the thread, my original post was quite a glowing report! Pat Ruddy designed this course (European Club, Druids Glen), so that's quite a pedigree!

Dr_Colossus

I called into Ballinlough one Sunday in May/June as I was passing on the bike. Was expecting the place to be fairly busy as it was around 15:00 so was going to ask a couple of questions of whoever was in the clubhouse in terms of the requirement to getting your 3 cards signed. The main clubhouse was locked, two cars in the car park and didn't see anyone anywhere on the course. The greens looked fairly hairy also so not exactly a good first impression.

Unglika Norse

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

I called into Ballinlough one Sunday in May/June as I was passing on the bike. Was expecting the place to be fairly busy as it was around 15:00 so was going to ask a couple of questions of whoever was in the clubhouse in terms of the requirement to getting your 3 cards signed. The main clubhouse was locked, two cars in the car park and didn't see anyone anywhere on the course. The greens looked fairly hairy also so not exactly a good first impression.

every course can have an off day, maybe they have a small membership maybe they were doing work on the greens, email them or ring them to find out whats the story

ziggy

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