Cheap Memberships?

Kimbot

Folks,

I'm in work and my internet is blocked from sports for the day but I am looking to get membership to a golf course really soon after my day on Glasson yesterday. I have only been playing since last May so this is a big step for me.

What I require:

Cheap Membership < €700 per year if possible.
Has to be close to the following locations: Dublin/Longford/Mountmellick Co. Laois. (Somewhere central for all three would be ideal)
Has to have some practice facilities.
Has to be a nice course aswell.

Does anyone know where would suit?

Kimbot

Anyone at all???

******* Tumble Weeds Slowly rolling by *******

Mister Sifter

Jonny, can you be more specific about where the club should be. That's a massive area you've pinpointed there.

I'm sure most club members would agree that the course you join should be close to your house as possible, easy to get to at times you will most likely be able to play.

Failing that somewhere between work and home. I'd be pretty confident you'd get somewhere for around that price, but just try narrow down your search a bit.

Kimbot

Graeme,

My local (Longford GC) is nice and all but one of the lads lives in Mountmellick and the others live in Dublin.
What I would be looking at is anywhere between Mountmellick and Longford so we can all join and play away when it suits.

Mister Sifter

How about Moate or Mount temple? They spring to mind. Going by this thing here...

http://www.gui.ie/membership_search.asp?pid=140&area=1

... they are just a little over your price range, and would likely involve a joining fee too, but they seem the most reasonable available.

New Forest is great by all accounts, but obviously it's a steep joining fee.

Kimbot

Graeme1982 wrote: »

How about Moate or Mount temple? They spring to mind. Going by this thing here...

http://www.gui.ie/membership_search.asp?pid=140&area=1

... they are just a little over your price range, and would likely involve a joining fee too, but they seem the most reasonable available.

New Forest is great by all accounts, but obviously it's a steep joining fee.

They look ideal mate, cheers.

Mount Temple looks the better course, its no Glasson but maybe next year I might be able to afford Glasson.

Anyone played Moate and Mount Temple, which would you go for?

Mister Sifter

The Mount Temple website has an offer of €600 for membership. Seems like great value. They also have a driving range and decent practice facilities by the looks of it. From the pics, the course looks pretty nice too.

Moate also looks pretty nice from the site. Been around since 1900, but upgraded to 18 holes in the mid-90s. Full membership is 611 euro.

Two decent options there i'd say, but going purely on the websites, i'd go for Mount Temple.

Kimbot

Graeme1982 wrote: »

The Mount Temple website has an offer of €600 for membership. Seems like great value. They also have a driving range and decent practice facilities by the looks of it. From the pics, the course looks pretty nice too.

Moate also looks pretty nice from the site. Been around since 1900, but upgraded to 18 holes in the mid-90s. Full membership is 611 euro.

Two decent options there i'd say, but going purely on the websites, i'd go for Mount Temple.

I'm thinking that alright, I will ring them and book a round and see how I like it.

So far I have the following played with a view to joining:

Glasson: Waiting on them to ring with price..... should be a big price.
Esker Hills: No way I would pay 900 a year for this place, didn't like it at all. Blind high hills that you have to drive over but not know where on earth you are going.

Sionnachster

jonny24ie wrote: »

Esker Hills: No way I would pay 900 a year for this place, didn't like it at all. Blind high hills that you have to drive over but not know where on earth you are going.

That's crazy talk, , Esker is one of the finest courses in the midlands!! Course knowledge sorts out avoiding blind shots in time but it's a wonderful trek, albeit exhausting. It's challenging and will improve your game which would be one of my main conditions when joining a course - which I'm also trying to do - Glasson is another lovely option.

You're in a good area to be looking but again it is vast so maybe narrow the search down a touch.

Good luck...

Kimbot

Sionnachster wrote: »

That's crazy talk, , Esker is one of the finest courses in the midlands!! Course knowledge sorts out avoiding blind shots in time but it's a wonderful trek, albeit exhausting. It's challenging and will improve your game which would be one of my main conditions when joining a course - which I'm also trying to do - Glasson is another lovely option.

You're in a good area to be looking but again it is vast so maybe narrow the search down a touch.

Good luck...

Well yesterday the 12th-18th greens were beaches!! On the 12th (Long straight fairway then the green at the top of the hill) we drove down the fairway, got half way up the hill on the second shot, when i hit my wedge to the green I just seen a huge splash of sand. The greens were unplayable.

It is a nice course don't get me wrong but I personally think the price is just a tad too high for what it is.

Glasson is €1250 (You get €250 worth of green fee vouchers for your friends aswell) for the year and IMO is far better value than Esker.

Mister Sifter

jonny24ie wrote: »

Well yesterday the 12th-18th greens were beaches!! On the 12th (Long straight fairway then the green at the top of the hill) we drove down the fairway, got half way up the hill on the second shot, when i hit my wedge to the green I just seen a huge splash of sand. The greens were unplayable.

It is a nice course don't get me wrong but I personally think the price is just a tad too high for what it is.

Glasson is €1250 (You get €250 worth of green fee vouchers for your friends aswell) for the year and IMO is far better value than Esker.

Most course are currently in the same condition re greens with sand. You just caught it at a bad time of year. In 3-4 weeks they'll be in tip top shape once more.

Kimbot

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Most course are currently in the same condition re greens with sand. You just caught it at a bad time of year. In 3-4 weeks they'll be in tip top shape once more.

Yeah I would say thats all it is, but alot annoyed me about the course other than that, buggies were not allowed near certain fairways etc.

Also one of the holes had fencing about 3 foot behing the green. If your ball rolled off the green it was gone throught the fencing and you have to take a drop shop even though your ball is just sitting there with a nice chip available back onto the green.

Sionnachster

That's a shame you caught it like that, it's been a while since I played it but always enjoy it and find it a good test of shots you don't always get a chance to use inland.

I won't hog your thread so i'll start my own but I'm in a similar position and need to bite the bullet and join a course. So many factors to consider.

Keep us posted as to how you get on...

Kimbot

Sionnachster wrote: »

That's a shame you caught it like that, it's been a while since I played it but always enjoy it and find it a good test of shots you don't always get a chance to use inland.

I won't hog your thread so i'll start my own but I'm in a similar position and need to bite the bullet and join a course. So many factors to consider.

Keep us posted as to how you get on...

I don't see a problem if you want to use this thread mate, too many threads around tend to mean the board gets clogged easily.

So far the deals I have found are:

Glasson €1250 Full membership per year. You also get €250 worth of vouchers so you can bring friends, the staff are really helpful and if your stuck for playing partners they will find you one.

Currently I am being offered membership for €1000 a year if I get 4 or more to join and they will all get it at the same price as me.

Esker Hills €950 per year, however we were told yesterday that this was not a proper full membership and that proper full members basically have the course booked out at the weekends. So to me that sounds like a 5 day membership.


If anyone has more courses maybe pop the prices in this thread and we can start a superthread with updated prices in courses around the country?

Sionnachster

Thanks for that invite! It does get crowded!

Like yourself, I'm going for it this year as I'm tired of the range, lessons and the occasional round with green fees being my entire golfing calender.

I'm just outside Celbridge so my 30-min catchment area are mainly the Kildare clubs, some south Meath and even Dublin. Loved Castleknock but they want 3k, loved Moyvalley but they want 2k basic option and not really a member until you pay the 10k fully. I heard of a place called Woodlands offering 1200 to join with 800 annually on top of that which seems reasonable in todays climate. I know very little about Woodlands, 'Rate my Golf Course' ranks it 83rd in Ireland out of 450 I think but that website seems dated at times.

Dunmurray Springs had some excellent articles supporting it which is in the area you are looking and I think are negotiable on payment options and have a low offer of €28 a week for GUI handicap and playing rights?

I'm waiting until the budget before making a decision but if I don't join a new course this year and get competitive again I'll crack up. I could potentially, possibly, plausibly but at a massive stretch find 2k to join Moyvalley this year but what about next year? - Another 2k just for annual playing rights but still not a full member? There was a thread here a few months back with excellent advice from the Golf Boardies I'll look for.... However, I'm keen for all opinions too (without hijacking this thread obviously!)

Kimbot

Sionnachster wrote: »

Thanks for that invite! It does get crowded!

Like yourself, I'm going for it this year as I'm tired of the range, lessons and the occasional round with green fees being my entire golfing calender.

I'm just outside Celbridge so my 30-min catchment area are mainly the Kildare clubs, some south Meath and even Dublin. Loved Castleknock but they want 3k, loved Moyvalley but they want 2k basic option and not really a member until you pay the 10k fully. I heard of a place called Woodlands offering 1200 to join with 800 annually on top of that which seems reasonable in todays climate. I know very little about Woodlands, 'Rate my Golf Course' ranks it 83rd in Ireland out of 450 I think but that website seems dated at times.

Dunmurray Springs had some excellent articles supporting it which is in the area you are looking and I think are negotiable on payment options and have a low offer of €28 a week for GUI handicap and playing rights?

I'm waiting until the budget before making a decision but if I don't join a new course this year and get competitive again I'll crack up. I could potentially, possibly, plausibly but at a massive stretch find 2k to join Moyvalley this year but what about next year? - Another 2k just for annual playing rights but still not a full member? There was a thread here a few months back with excellent advice from the Golf Boardies I'll look for.... However, I'm keen for all opinions too (without hijacking this thread obviously!)

Just outside celbridge, athlone with the new M4/M6 is less than an hour from Dublin mate, course is unreal.

Dunmurray is nice but was too busy when I was out there.

As i said Glasson is €1000 a year if you can get a group to buy in at the same time. Its a 7 day membership and the only restrictions are that you can't win the captains prize in your first year.

With no joining fee its Glasson for me hands down at the moment.

Sionnachster

€1000 for Glasson seems good considering the course is a great trek. Even for 1 year you could justify a grand and see what happens at other clubs. So many people advising me to wait one more year but I need golf now!!

For me though, if I can't hit in within 30-35 mins I'll get frustrated on a Thurs/Fri evening wanting 9 holes with traffic on M4/M6 and would be worried about arriving there to a packed tee-box etc etc... Couldn't justify it to myself.

I heard great things about Dunmurray, it's 40-45 mins back roads but if someone tells me it's a great option with good layout and easy course access, I'd consider it at €28 a week.

Moyvalley will be great with a few more members soon but for now that means easy access to playing times and teams etc...

Would it be fair to assume lads (& Ladies) that all the 2009 offers are now on the table and have been voted on so can expect very little to change this year?

Kimbot

Sionnachster wrote: »

€1000 for Glasson seems good considering the course is a great trek. Even for 1 year you could justify a grand and see what happens at other clubs. So many people advising me to wait one more year but I need golf now!!

For me though, if I can't hit in within 30-35 mins I'll get frustrated on a Thurs/Fri evening wanting 9 holes with traffic on M4/M6 and would be worried about arriving there to a packed tee-box etc etc... Couldn't justify it to myself.

I heard great things about Dunmurray, it's 40-45 mins back roads but if someone tells me it's a great option with good layout and easy course access, I'd consider it at €28 a week.

Moyvalley will be great with a few more members soon but for now that means easy access to playing times and teams etc...

Would it be fair to assume lads (& Ladies) that all the 2009 offers are now on the table and have been voted on so can expect very little to change this year?

Glasson is only busy at the weekends from what members and staff have told me and even then its not too bad at all.

Have you looked at Mullingar? Or Highfield?

http://www.highfield-golf.ie/the_society.htm

looder

have you ever tried the heath golf course its just off the the motor way outside of portlaoise i think membership is 1500 a year levy is 600 for the first year plays like a lynx course or you could try Portlaoise golf course 600euro for 18months and even more off if you get a friend to join... best for beginners as this course is handy to get sharp on but does leave alot to b desired hasn really left the old par three it start up as behind.. but it cheap and close to the motoreay as weel

niallo32

looder wrote: »

have you ever tried the heath golf course its just off the the motor way outside of portlaoise i think membership is 1500 a year levy is 600 for the first year plays like a lynx course

I'm a member in the Heath and find it great.

Joining fee is gone so it's now €710 a year including €80 (I think for a bar sub) - it's genuinely 40 minutes from Newlands Cross, has great greens and is generally playable all year round.

I'd recommend it if you're living in West Dublin or further out that direction.

ShriekingSheet

niallo32 wrote: »

I'm a member in the Heath and find it great.

Joining fee is gone so it's now €710 a year including €80 (I think for a bar sub) - it's genuinely 40 minutes from Newlands Cross, has great greens and is generally playable all year round.

I'd recommend it if you're living in West Dublin or further out that direction.

+1

It ain't PGA National but in fairness to the Heath it's an enjoyable course with some very decent holes on it. It's wide open with no serious rough (the sheep eat it!) but long enough so you can bash the driver all day. The turf is great - heathland/marle kinda stuff that's somewhere in between links and parkland, similar to Courtown golf club. Plenty of run on the ball in the summer and I would imagine it's very resiliant in the winter.

Sure, it's a little shabby around the edges but it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not and there's definitely a certain charm about the place.

Patrick_K

Sionnachster

I joined Woodlands as a result of one of these threads about 18 months back and havent regretted in for a minute.

From Celbridge you'd get there in just under 30 minutes - its a couple of miles past Prosperous.

The course is a good test. It might not host any big championships in the near future but it certainly is a good challenge for any golfer - I play off 16 myself.

I've noticed it improving since I joined it, just small things but they seem to be investing in it which is encouraging.
Timesheet went online recently which is a big help too.
I find it a very friendly unpretentious spot.

As with any course try it out and see what you think. One piece of advice I would give is to really try to find somewhere within a half hour of home or you'll find you just wont get the use out of it.

PK

Sionnachster

PK - That's exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for. Glad to hear the move has gone well for you. I will make the effort now to go out and play it and see what I think. I don't want money to be the main concern but facing reality, €800 is pretty good right now.

What's it like for busy periods? Are they represented in competitions or mainly focused around the Sunday Competition?

Anybody here got any thoughts on moyvalley?

Patrick_K

There's a big active membership in Woodlands Sionnachster with the result that there are big turnouts for weekend comps. They actually run the comps over Saturday and Sunday (and I think even Friday evenings when they evenings are long enough.

I thought this might be a bit of a pain as I imagined myself playing in a few competions at the weekend but the reality of it is that I only get out once at the weekend and the fact that the comp runs all weekend means I can choose when suits me to play rather than be tied to Sundays.

Because the comps are on over a few days it is relatively easy to get a slot that will suit. The weekends are busy for sure but if you book in time you'll be fine.

In terms of interclub comps they play in all the regular ones, I've put my name down to play on one of the teams to see what thats like.

PK

Trampas

Woodlands have a semi open on Thurs (9 hole 3 ball scramble) where people go out as they arrive.

Even if you arrive in a group of 3 doesn't mean you will go out as 3. very social comp as it give people a chance to meet up members.

No limit on drives.

charlieIRL

To the OP,
i'm from Athlone and have played New Forest, Esker Hills, Castle Barna x2 and good few times in Moate.

Wasn't too pushed on esker but it was my second full round of golf and was way in over my head at the time. Am going back again shortly though.

Loved New Forest - and raved about it here for ages!! They have offers of membership starting at €33 / week

Castle Barna - easy course for a beginner. Cheap membership too and no sub as far as i know.

Moate - excellent for a beginner / improver but you'd prob bore of it after a while. €679 for year and no sub.

Mount Temple - from the website they have some good facilities and i heard its a lovely place to play. Heard they are doing away with sub but can't confirm this. Am going for a game today so might head there for a look.

Am going to play Athlone on sunday so can let you know what that is like monday

THEFRIDGE

Im also in the same boat.. Really want to get my membership sorted for the summer. I was a member in Beech Park a few years back but the funds they were looking for were crazy. Think it was 7k to go from junior to full membership which is crazy....
At the moment i am looking at joining portlaoise for 200 distant membership just really to get a GUI again to enter opens.
If anyone can post the best deals around it would be great..

Kimbot

THEFRIDGE wrote: »

Im also in the same boat.. Really want to get my membership sorted for the summer. I was a member in Beech Park a few years back but the funds they were looking for were crazy. Think it was 7k to go from junior to full membership which is crazy....
At the moment i am looking at joining portlaoise for 200 distant membership just really to get a GUI again to enter opens.
If anyone can post the best deals around it would be great..

Does anyone here know if you have to be a member of your "Home" club to avail of Distance anywhere else?

My local pro was asking me about joining and said I should go for Distance in the club with my Dublin address.

THEFRIDGE

For country membership you have to be a member in another club but for distant membership you don't as far as i'm aware

Wobs

With distance membership you just have to be a certain number of miles from the course. I think it is usually about 50 miles but Im sure each club has their own distance.

I had distance memebership in Portlaoise before. Its fine to get your handicap but the course it self is no great shakes. It used to be a par 3 and is still quite short. If all your looking for is a handicap to play opens for €200 it does the job!

uberwolf

Sionnachster - I'd try Millicent out, close enough to you and should be open to a discussion on a leased membership. Not sure what the sub is. I enjoyed the course when I played it

Carpenter

http://www.tulfarris.com/news/detail/tulfarris_new_memberships_no_joining_fee/
And a friend told me that you can get all this for 1k with a haggle (He is a member years now)

Sionnachster

Millicent is quite close but I think it's 12k basic and 1200 or so a year. Might be worth enquiring about a lease as you suggested.

A quick Google search (They have it on computers now you know) shows me that Tulfarris is only 38 minutes from Celbridge? Not too bad is it? I had eliminated it earlier as I thought I read on the threads that it was closing/administration or something? If it is safe, that deal sounds great does it not or are people avoiding it?

Is Tulfarris the course worth a visit?

THEFRIDGE - it's a tough choice between picking someplace now just to get playing and waiting to see what happens in 2009 before looking into a long term club perhaps? If that's the case it would be silly to spend a shed load for one years golf...

uberwolf

Sionnachster wrote: »

Millicent is quite close but I think it's 12k basic and 1200 or so a year. Might be worth enquiring about a lease as you suggested.

I'd pay a joining fee nowhere at the moment.

I've leased in http://www.killeengolf.com/ for the year. Sub €1350, I paid less than that. Couldn't be more than 20 mins away from you, and certainly in no financial trouble.

Sionnachster

Uberwolf - Not far at all and somewhere I had tried to find info on but struggled. A simple phone call would have sufficed so i'll do more of that this week.

What's it like as a course? Handy to get out on?

uberwolf

Sionnachster wrote: »

What's it like as a course? Handy to get out on?

If you're there on a Saturday, you'll get out the following Saturday. If you rock up on the day, you'll probably get out reasonably quickly.

Course is good. Relaxed atmosphere about the place too.

THEFRIDGE

Yeah there could be trouble on the horizon(or some cheap ones coming up). Think i'll just do the portlaoise thing for now and lie in wait for my prey....a weak debt ridden club looking to load up on members on the cheap

Sionnachster

uberwolf wrote: »

If you're there on a Saturday, you'll get out the following Saturday. If you rock up on the day, you'll probably get out reasonably quickly.

Course is good. Relaxed atmosphere about the place too.

Am I reading that right in saying you'll never get out on a Saturday as it's packed? Is it the usual Sunday competition? I took a number down from the site and might visit tomorrow for the spin... Without getting into your own figures, I presume there is room for negotiation with it being April?

uberwolf

Sionnachster wrote: »

Am I reading that right in saying you'll never get out on a Saturday as it's packed? Is it the usual Sunday competition? I took a number down from the site and might visit tomorrow for the spin... Without getting into your own figures, I presume there is room for negotiation with it being April?

the leases are owned by members - so it was individual negotiation, albeit the club may put you in touch.

I'm only there this year, so don't know what it's actually like. I've got out every Saturday I've wanted to so far, including the day I hadn't a tee time and just showed up.

Busy time is due shortly apparently, May, June, and after that it quietens again.

Sionnachster

Spent the morning driving about and checked out Killeen, Woodlands, Citywest and Tulfarris. Eliminated Citywest pretty quickly, Killeen and Woodlands win the proximity vote. Killeen looked like a good old fashioned golf club unlike Citywest!

Tulfarris are set to offer a €1,000 all in membership offer from May 1st. Course looks great, 48mins away from Lucan/Celbridge isn't ideal for an evening knockabout but for a grand it might be worth a punt for the year?

copacetic

1k is a good deal for Tulfarris imo, it's getting toward the sweet spot that most clubs are going to have to be at to get members these days. My only concern is that the receiver is running them at the moment, I wonder can you pay by the month so you have no chance of losing your money. Its a lovely course, only issue with it at all is that some of the fairways can be a bit bare through the winter. Some great holes out there, especially the last, it has cost me a few bob in its time!

Sionnachster

Agreed, it looks great and I was invited to play it next weekend. I saw a lot of Tulfarris Ryder Cup 2006 banners in place, were they in the running or was it seniors or did I miss something obvious? Only thing that worried me after checking the GUI site is the lack or regular competitions. If a 45 minute drive is acceptable then Dunmurray Springs becomes an option due to it's busier comp schedule. Still, a grand seems great for Tulfarris.. Someone decide for me, I can't take this pressure!!!

Carpenter

Sionnachster wrote: »

Agreed, it looks great and I was invited to play it next weekend. I saw a lot of Tulfarris Ryder Cup 2006 banners in place, were they in the running or was it seniors or did I miss something obvious? Only thing that worried me after checking the GUI site is the lack or regular competitions. If a 45 minute drive is acceptable then Dunmurray Springs becomes an option due to it's busier comp schedule. Still, a grand seems great for Tulfarris.. Someone decide for me, I can't take this pressure!!!

Just made a call and you can do it by the month for Tulfarris hope this helps

Sionnachster

Carpenter - just as I was out you pulled me back in again!! Cheers!

thegen

Lads,

The reason Tulfarris is doing it by the month is that they are in receivership. The receciver has agreed that the club pay them a monthly fee as against a yearly one to protect the membership in case the worst happened and it closed.

I have been told that they have a three year plan in place. Still 1k is a cracking price and monthly paid you are well protected.

copacetic

thegen wrote: »

Lads,

The reason Tulfarris is doing it by the month is that they are in receivership. The receciver has agreed that the club pay them a monthly fee as against a yearly one to protect the membership in case the worst happened and it closed.

I have been told that they have a three year plan in place. Still 1k is a cracking price and monthly paid you are well protected.

I think everyone knows this, I even mentioned it in my post above.

My only concern is that the receiver is running them at the moment, I wonder can you pay by the month so you have no chance of losing your money

thegen

Copa, sorry about that. Must stop trying to speed read.

Carpenter

Its going to be hard to get better than 1k for Tulfarris .
My friend joined 5yrs ago for 8.5k and @ 1 point it was worth 19k

ShriekingSheet

Carpenter wrote: »

Its going to be hard to get better than 1k for Tulfarris .
My friend joined 5yrs ago for 8.5k and @ 1 point it was worth 19k

Well it depends what you're looking for. It is a great price and a great course but by all accounts the place is extremely quiet, even on Saturdays. Empty time-sheets for weekend competitions would do my head in.

IMO it's not comparable to the Druid's Heath offer where they generate a lot of interest and got 300 guys in who'd be playing regularly, or the likes of South County that have an established playing membership & interclub teams etc.

Like I said though, depends what you're looking for.

Sammo13

Lovely Golf Course, played in October and it was pretty soft, but I'd say from now on it's a pleasure to play. The great thing about the month to month membership is you play for 2 months, if there is no buzz on sundays, quite timesheet etc., you can walk away..

Sionnachster

Going to play it this weekend and assuming the course is as enjoyable as the above posters suggest, I'd be 70% likely to Join.

Main worry is what SS highlighted above about the competitions and time sheets being quiet. That might kill my spirit! I would be intrigued to know if they do try emulate DH and go for a very public marketing campaign at that price.

Very good article in the Irish Times golf section today with a list of courses and membership options - excellent read to give a sense of the overalll picture... Apologies if this has been listed already.... *Thanks for pointing it out though!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0407/1224244146369.html