Gowran Park Membership

Kevinmarkham

Licksy just put up a post on the 'Recession Golf' thread, as follows:

"Gowran Park in Kilkenny is offering full membership now for €859... anyone who pays in now has the remainder of this year and all of 2010 for that figure."

As he's a member of the club, and a mod on here, he's being quite low-key about it. I have no such qualms. Gowran Park URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/sets/72157621930638700/"]photos[/URL is a peach of a course and great fun to play because of the variety. It's not hilly, it dips in and out of the race track, it has the tallest clubhouse in Ireland and it's in great condition.

€859 is superb value if someone wants to join. For those who think it's a bit far away, the new motorway will be finished soon (recession permitting) which will make it 40 to 50 minutes from Dublin (Licksy, correct me if I'm wrong). For all those people looking to join a club for little money, Gowran Park is well worth a look.

PhilipMarlowe

The section of the M9 between Kilcullen and Carlow is due to open later this year which will mean motorway all the way to Leighlinbridge... Gowran is a little over 10 minutes from here.
When the section of Motorway opens from Leighlinbridge to Waterford (2010) then you'd stay on it until the next exit at Paulstown which is about 5 minutes from Gowran Park...
Probably 30 minutes from Kilcullen when it's all motorway, maybe 35-40 when the Kilcullen-Carlow section opens shortly.

Trampas

It is probably a little bit longer but the time will come down as the new roads come in.

Well worth a visit.

I am not a member there

I see they have updated there web site

Benny Cake

I played there in a society outing at the weekend and was very impressed with the place... lovely course and the clubhouse/locker-room are first rate. I'm a member in castlecomer at the moment but unless comer drop their sub (749) I'll be giving serious consideration to joining Gowran in the new year!

heavyballs

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Licksy just put up a post on the 'Recession Golf' thread, as follows:

"Gowran Park in Kilkenny is offering full membership now for €859... anyone who pays in now has the remainder of this year and all of 2010 for that figure."

As he's a member of the club, and a mod on here, he's being quite low-key about it. I have no such qualms. Gowran Park URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/sets/72157621930638700/"]photos[/URL is a peach of a course and great fun to play because of the variety. It's not hilly, it dips in and out of the race track, it has the tallest clubhouse in Ireland and it's in great condition.

€859 is superb value if someone wants to join. For those who think it's a bit far away, the new motorway will be finished soon (recession permitting) which will make it 40 to 50 minutes from Dublin (Licksy, correct me if I'm wrong). For all those people looking to join a club for little money, Gowran Park is well worth a look.

kevin i thought i saw you walk in after about 13 holes in the scr cup this year down there,,very surprised by you son,it's a crackin track though

Kevinmarkham

heavyballs wrote: »

kevin i thought i saw you walk in after about 13 holes in the scr cup this year down there,,very surprised by you son,it's a crackin track though

Yep, that was me. But you have to appreciate that I was playing with two Gowran Park lads who had won their Barton Cup semi-final the previous day (against my own cub, Greystones) and were very much the worse for wear after a night of celebration. It was not a pretty sight, and neither was the golf!

heavyballs

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Yep, that was me. But you have to appreciate that I was playing with two Gowran Park lads who had won their Barton Cup semi-final the previous day (against my own cub, Greystones) and were very much the worse for wear after a night of celebration. It was not a pretty sight, and neither was the golf!

yeah we've all been there and besides you'd obviously played the course before,i think playin a course for the first time it would be almost impossible to do a legger

Matt Santos

I have to say its one of the best courses in the price range in the country. I think that it has something for all types of handicap. Tough Par 3's and some great tempting length in some of its Par 5's.
I do remember there were serious issues with who ever was booking in Societys in the past as there was no deal whatsoever to be gleaned from him no matter how many were coming!! I do know that this has indeed been rectified and they do offer great deals now for big bookings..

Trekker09

Wey hey, joined last Saturday. Absolutely love the course and I only live 10 minutes away. Was gona join next year no matter what!!

jacket222002

Lovely course

madharry

lovely course but can be very wet although i hear some drainage work done on it

Benny Cake

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread but as I posted a few months back I'm considering leaving my current club and am thinking of joining Gowran. Ive played it a few times and really liked it. I know there are a few members post here so I was hoping ye could answer a few questions:
1. What effect do the races have i.e. how many times during the year is the course unavailable?
2. How hard is it to get out for a casual round in the evening during the summer months? - Allot of my golf tends to be 9/15 holes after work.....
3. How frequently do they run singles comps?
4. As a relative newcomer to golf in Kilkenny are members fairly ok playing with strangers?

Thanks folks.....

PhilipMarlowe

15 days of racing a year I think.
1 in Jan, 1 in Feb, 2 in Mar, 1 in April, 2 in May, 1 in Jun, 1 in Jul, 1 in Aug, 1 in Sept, 2 in Oct, 1 in Nov, 1 in Dec.
2 wednesdays, 2 thurs, 3 friday, 5 sat & 3 sundays.

Some of these are evening meetings in the summer and golf can be played on the outside holes earlier in the day once you're finished a couple of hours before racing starts but I've never done this. Competitions are usually held over the weekend meaning that you can play on either the saturday or the sunday in the same competition (whichever suits).
Early on Sundays, you must enter the competition (3-balls early, 4 balls allowed after lunch).
9 hole competitions are held in the summer on wednesday evenings.. starting on 7th April I think. Good social things because you can arrive on your own and join up with whomever is waiting there. Some people will arrange with their buddies but plenty of people will be willing to play with anyone.. bit of grub and a cidona afterwards... a good way of meeting and mixing.
Interclub teams another great way of mixing.. it's how I would have met most of my golfing buddies there.
Casual stuff on summer evenings is usually brilliant. Sometimes the odd society will have the place busy but mostly after work there's no problems at all in getting out.
You can play the front 9, also continue to play 10 & 11 if you want a bit more and then come in or sometimes just play 1, 2, 17 & 18 if you want to just get a 'fix'.

Sometimes you'll be bursting for a game when the races are on... but it doesn't matter too much to be honest. If you're going to join, PM me and I'll give you my number and introduce you to a few others too.

lotie

The €859 is the joining fee in year 1 including subs. Presuming it's €859 a year for following years?

Do they do a direct debit type deal?

How easy is it to get on sat am and sun am timesheet?

Moved to Kilkenny a couple of years back and still have not joined anywhere but am really interested in Gowran as it's a great course and you guys seem to be saying that it is not difficult to meet new members and to get a game with existing members?

Benny Cake

Ive decided to make the move and join Gowran. I went down on Sunday afternoon and paid green fees and it was a very enjoyable round (met 2 members on the 1st tee and they made me feel right at home). The course is in excelllent nick and I'd imagine the greens will only improve as the year goes on...... Heres to a season of good golf!! :D

Loite: If you do decide to join up PM me and I'd be more than happy to go for a round...

PhilipMarlowe

Good stuff!
The Captain's Drive-In is on next Sunday... gather at 11am in the bar... draw for tee times and then shotgun start at noon... 18 hole scramble. Good social day.
Hopefully I'll be fit enough to get out there and play. If not I'll join you for a game sometime soon.

Sorry lotie, I missed your earlier questions.
859 is Annual sub +gui levy +club levy and it's been that for the last few years so presume it will be similar next year.
Not sure on the DD type deal.
Timesheets aren't too bad - Sunday am is peak so that's the most difficult but usually not a problem. Online teetimes should be in place but aren't yet for whatever dumb reason... That will make things much easier, particularly on new members.